Meghan Markle Used This Unsurprising Label to Describe Herself & Fans Are Flocking to Her Defense

Ever since Meghan Markle left her role as a senior member of the British royal family in 2020, the actress-turned-Duchess has been open about her struggles with media scrutiny . After all, while she was getting her footing as a royal on the other side of the world, the British media, in addition to its people, spared no expense in criticizing her every move.

Every Time Meghan Markle & Kate Middleton Have Worn Princess Diana's Jewelry Over the Years

And while that troubling chapter may be behind her now, it seems Markle still carries a lot of that pain. In a recent visit to the nonprofit Girls Inc. in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Oct. 2., for instance, Markle opened up about her experience with bullying.

“We did an activity where we talked through a bunch of scenarios, and Meghan talked about being one of the most bullied people in the world,” founder of responsible-tech advocacy group #HalfTheStory Larissa May told Vanity Fair . “We had girls wave these little emoji signs and talk about how each one of these scenarios would have impacted them emotionally.”

In the outing, Markle was joined by May and Girls Inc. CEO Stephanie J. Hull as they bonded with teenage girls and opened up about their experiences with social media and bullying.

The visit also marked a new project from Markle and Prince Harry’s The Archewell Foundation. Together with Melinda Gates’ Pivotal Ventures and the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, they will support a partnership between Girls Inc. and #HalfTheStory, aimed at delivering essential digital wellness programming to girls in underserved communities across America.

“Through their work with The Archewell Foundation, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are dedicated to uplifting girls globally and ensuring their safety and wellness in online spaces,” read an official statement from Markle on her visit. “As they pursue digital wellbeing for all, they will continue to listen to young people, providing them with the resources needed to flourish.”

On social media, countless users are defending Markle’s label as “one of the most bullied people in the world.” “True, she is probably the most bullied person ever. Most of us would have crumbled under the pressure,” wrote one user. “She [definitely] was and still is one of the most bullied people in the world,” another echoed. “Happy to see her having the strength to even show up to do good. It’s a testament to her resilience and passion to make this world a better place.”

“Meghan Markle is not just one of the most bullied women in the world, she’s actually THE most bullied woman in the world,” another wrote. “The British national sport of tormenting Meghan has defined brand Britain as a miserable & racist lot.😩”

While much of the world agrees with Markle’s assessment, we’re just glad she’s in a new chapter now, and using her platform to raise awareness and help young girls.

Before you go, click here to see more of Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s milestones since leaving the royal family.