Meghan, who shares two children—Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three—with husband Prince Harry, was joined on the podcast by her “dear friend” and hair colourist Kadi Lee, founder of the wellness brand Highbrow Hippie. The two reflected on how they met during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has revealed the reason behind the rebranding of her lifestyle company, sharing that its original name—American Riviera Orchard—felt like a “word salad.” The venture, now called As Ever, aligns more closely with her original vision.
Speaking on the latest episode of her Confessions of a Female Founder podcast, the 43-year-old former actress explained how the shift came about, especially after entering a partnership with Netflix for both the brand and her upcoming television series With Love, Meghan.
“I had secured As Ever as a name in 2022,” Meghan said. “Then, as everything started to evolve last year, and bringing in a partner the size that it was, it was just so interesting. You remember, I said ‘I like American Riviera as an umbrella,’ and then be able to have verticals beneath it. And maybe have the Orchard really small. But when that’s not feasible… suddenly it became this word salad. I didn’t love that so much.”
She went on to explain her decision to revert to her first choice: “I was like, ‘OK, let’s go back to the thing that I’ve always loved.’ Let’s use the name that I protected for a reason that had sort of been under wraps. And then we were able to focus in the quiet and put our heads down and build on something that no one was sniffing around to even see about. It was really just helpful to have that quiet period.”
Meghan, who shares two children—Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three—with husband Prince Harry, was joined on the podcast by her “dear friend” and hair colourist Kadi Lee, founder of the wellness brand Highbrow Hippie. The two reflected on how they met during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was 2020 – it was very much 2020,” Meghan recalled. “My family had just moved to California. We were staying in our friend’s home and because it was the pandemic, I kept ordering boxed hair dye, and I thought I’m gonna look just like she does on the box. And instead it was this very inky, almost Elvira-esque black hair.”
Kadi responded with a laugh: “I remember meeting you guys, and you were so warm, and both you and H wrapped us up in these big bear hugs and I was like, ‘I don’t even know these people and I’m not a hugger but let’s do it.’”
Reflecting on the uncertainty of the pandemic and her own struggles with temporarily closing her salon, Kadi said, “It felt like such whiplash and it felt like, gosh we cannot get a break, you know?”
To which Meghan replied with a chuckle, “Oh, I understand.”
As As Ever prepares to launch in partnership with Netflix, Meghan’s candid reflections offer a glimpse into the personal and professional journey behind the brand—and her desire to build it on a foundation of authenticity and intention.
