Meghan Markle has had her fair share of ups and downs with her inner circle, but she’s not letting any potential awkward run-ins with seemingly former friends stop her from going after what she wants. On July 26, the Duchess of Sussex made waves at the GG9 Ventures Summer Summit in the Hamptons. Hosted by the influential Amy Griffin, this exclusive event gathered an impressive lineup of powerful women from various industries, particularly lifestyle brands — an ideal playground for Markle to get some final feedback before launching her lifestyle brand, American Riviera.
Markle’s appearance at the summit is particularly intriguing given the ongoing shifts in her social circle. She and Prince Harry’s recent attempts to reconnect with old Hollywood friends like Victoria Beckham and long-time family friends such as John Travolta haven’t exactly gone smoothly. However, this high-profile summit might be the fresh start she needs to expand her network.
Markle arrived from California to the Hamptons via private jet with entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima, per Page Six. Held at Griffin’s $13 million estate, the event featured a blend of Markle’s close friends and notable figures from various fields of influence. Among the familiar faces were designer Misha Nonoo and make-up guru Victoria Jackson, the latter of whom is considered to be a part of Markle’s “Montecito Mafia” inner circle.
But it wasn’t just old friends catching up. The guest list also included heavyweights like Goop Queen Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon — who is also the head of billion-dollar brand, Hello Sunshine, Spanx founder Sara Blakely, actress Laura Dern, and journalist Katie Couric. These women aren’t just famous — they’re business-savvy powerhouses who could offer valuable insights and potential partnerships for Markle’s upcoming brand launch.
Griffin, the host, is known for guiding early-stage startups and coaching brands like Goop, Athletic Greens, and Bumble. For Markle, whose new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard is already making headlines (and already has competition) despite not having officially launched yet, this summit seemed to be an invaluable opportunity. With plans to release products ranging from small-batch jams to rosé wine — a nod to her first date with Prince Harry — Markle is clearly aiming high.
So while we are still waiting for word on an official release of Markle’s lifestyle, wine, and jam brand, it’s doesn’t seem like Markle was going to let a few hiccups ruin the launch of American Riviera. Instead, she opted to meet with some of the most powerful women in the world to figure out how to make her mark in the business world.
Before you go, click here to see Meghan Markle’s best post-royal fashion moments below!
