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Meghan Markle partners with Procter & Gamble 27 years after she called out sexist ad: 'She's come full circle'

Archwell Foundation joins hands with conglomerate for gender equality and online inclusivity, even though Meghan once called them out for a 'sexist' dishwashing ad

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Archwell Foundation has entered a multi-year partnership with American giant Procter & Gamble (P&G). According to the official announcement, the two are joining forces to "build more compassionate communities". The partnership will focus on three core areas - gender equality, more inclusive online spaces, and resilience and impact through sport.

Details of the partnership are scarce at the moment, we don't know how much the deal costs and if the couple will make any appearances in P&G ads and events. But it is notable that Archwell Foundation is joining hands with the controversial giant. Over the years P&G has been criticized for animal testing, child labor and even price-fixing. In another interesting twist, it has been revealed that Meghan once criticized P&G's ads as a 12-year-old. We've even found a YouTube video of the segment, that shows Meghan as a child take on P&G in 1993. It's interesting that she's chosen to partner with them now. Has she forgotten about the sexist ads?

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'I was furious' says Meghan

The video in question comes from a segment on Nick News, a TV show that aired on the Nickelodeon channel. Run between 1992 and 2015, the show aimed to discuss important social, political and economic issues in a child-friendly format. It's unclear when exactly Meghan made her appearance, but it is reportedly some time in 1993. "When I first saw the commercial, I knew something had to be done because I was furious", a 12-year-old Meghan is heard saying in the video. 

She wrote a letter to the then-president of P&G, protesting the clear sexism in the ad for Ivory Clear dishwashing liquid. "When I heard this, the boys in my class started saying "yeah, that's where women belong"," she wrote. On her appearance on Nick News, she said, "It makes me feel they are going to grow up thinking that girls are less than them". She reportedly wanted P&G to change the commercial from saying "women all over America" to "people all over America". 

According to the segment, three months after Meghan wrote the letter, P&G changed the commercial. "Write letters and send them to the right people and you can really make a difference," she urges viewers at the end. Here's the full video we found on YouTube. 

It's surprising that Meghan is willing to partner with the same company, even though the sexist ad is far from the worst they have been accused of. Over the last several years, P&G has become embroiled in multiple scandals, including two campaigns. 

In the press release, Archwell says, "The partnership will elevate the voices of adolescent girls to ensure their point of view and lived experience is heard at the tables where decisions are made." Who better to nurture those voices than the very person who stood up to the conglomerate at 12? 

Apart from gender equality, Archwell and P&G will also work to increase the visibility for para-sports, an issue close to the heart of Harry, who founded the Invictus Games. Further details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks and months, but no doubt Meghan will continue to face some backlash for partnering with P&G. For now though, many are celebrating her decision to partner with the company online. 

'12-year-old Meghan would be proud of herself'

"The relationship between P&G and Meghan Markle is one for the books. What a beautiful story. A twelve year old Meghan would be proud of herself," tweeted one person. Another said, "This has come full circle! The Seeds Meghan sowed early on in her Life has now come to bear fruit 27years later P&G working with the Archewell Foundation will be an amazing collaboration Meghan is the gift that keeps on giving."

One person commented, "#MeghanMarkle and @ProcterGamble, a friendship in the making since she was 11. She reached out about a Ivory Soap commercial, and P&G answered the call, for girls and women. ~This day was always coming."  Another tweeted, "Full circle. Everything Meghan has announced she's been working on for years. I love this."

"Great news! Meghan writing P&G as a young girl rightly questioning sexist messaging to now working with them for gender equity I can’t wait to see the projects that come from this collaboration. The work ethic of the Sussexes is next level, so glad they are no longer restricted," tweeted another.

It seems like Meghan has won this round, with people willing to forget P&G's shady past. Will it come up sometime in the future? Only time will tell.