What is 'The Tig'? Meghan Markle plans to revive lifestyle blog after filing for paperwork to keep trademark
LONDON, ENGLAND: Meghan Markle's lifestyle blog The Tig which was reportedly suspended before her engagement to Prince Harry, may soon be back online.
The Duchess reportedly submitted a trademark application for the name to the US Patent and Trademark Office last year, as per Daily Mail.
After her Spotify series 'Archewell' was canceled, a Hollywood power player criticized Markle as 'not a great audio talent,' so it's not surprising to find that she is preparing to return to more comfortable ground.
View this post on Instagram
What is The Tig?
Markle's professional background included acting, charitable work, and running a self-published lifestyle blog called The Tig before joining the royal family. She named 'The Tig' after her favorite red wine.
The website cited itself as "a hub for the discerning palate – those with a hunger for food, travel, fashion, and beauty."
It included interviews with prominent women like Elizabeth Hurley, Ivanka Trump, and Priyanka Chopra as well as recipes, travel advice, and beauty suggestions.
Reportedly, a 'revamped' version of Markle's blog The Tig, which she shut down in 2017 after becoming engaged to Prince Harry, will be released, as per reports.
As per Daily Mail, the US Patent and Trademark Office has now granted The Tig a so-called Notice of Allowance document after receiving its trademark application in November of last year.
This is because no other company has objected to The Tig's trademark application. For the trademark to be completely registered, Markle, 42, must now present a statement of use demonstrating that the blog is active.
Due to the six-month deadline for submitting this document, Markle must finish everything by October or pay for an additional six-month extension.
When was The Tig founded?
The Tig was Markle's lifestyle blog, which she started in 2014 while she was filming 'Suits' about a year before she met Harry.
The Italian wine Tignanello is where 'The Tig' got its name. The site's bio quotes Markle as saying that she finally understood "what people meant by the body, legs, structure of wine" after taking a sip of this particular wine.
Most of the posts were written by Markle herself. She did, however, occasionally hire freelancers to create specific items, like her "Insider's guides" for travel, which included one for London.
Though there are several sites dedicated to the lives of celebrities, such as Poosh and Goop, The Tig reportedly felt much more like a place for regular women.
The Duchess conversed with Priyanka Chopra and Serena Williams in her network of friends about their own experiences.
View this post on Instagram
Despite the blog's closure, Cosmopolitan noted that "thankfully, nothing on the internet is ever truly gone for good."
And according to Grazia, "The Tig has become a source of fascination ever since the site was excised from the web."
Why did Meghan Markle bid goodbye to The Tig?
Markle shared details about her early life before she became famous internationally in some of her most memorable postings.
In another, she said that it was difficult for her to give up "unladylike habits," as per Daily Mail.
In an ironic turn of events, Markle reportedly also posted on her blog about the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales, discussing "the pomp" that surrounded William and Kate's big day, 7 years before her own royal nuptials.
Markle bid goodbye to her "passion project" in a post that was released in 2017. She expressed gratitude for "three beautiful years" of "adventure" to her "amazing community of inspiration, support, fun, and frivolity."
View this post on Instagram
According to PEOPLE, it marked "the end of an era" for Markle. According to rumors, the site's closure was brought after Markle's relationship with Harry became public.
But earlier this year, The Mirror speculated that Markle was getting ready to challenge the "mega-successful" Goop and go "head-to-head with Gwyneth Paltrow" once more in the world of lifestyle blogs.
Is The Tig making a comeback?
The trademark application for the blog's relaunch was first submitted in July 2021 by LA attorney Marjorie Witter Norman, but it reportedly ran into trouble when Markle neglected to sign it.
The Tig's trademark was previously renewed by Markle in 2019, causing rumors that she might be preparing to restart the website.
Documents reveal The Tig will feature travel, interior design, and—possibly to the royal family's horror— "commentary in the field of personal relationships."
According to Tatler, the return of The Tig "could open up a new avenue for the duchess’s independent career."