12 Ways Meghan Markle Is Modernizing the Monarchy

The American-born Markle has a refreshingly different background from most royals. While she is well-educated (having graduated from Northwestern University), successful (she starred on Suits for seven seasons), and a longtime humanitarian and activist, Markle differs from the royals in a few ways. First and foremost: she's American and she's biracial - and has spoken candidly about her experience as a mixed race woman. She's also an entrepreneur, having founded her now-defunct lifestyle site, The Tig, in 2014. And, Markle is a divorcée: she split from her first husband, Trevor Engelson, in August 2013.