Meghan Markle Looks A Lot Different Than She Used To

While it's solely Markle's choice as to how she should wear her hair, some have noted how powerful it would be to see Markle, who is biracial (her mother is African American and her father is Caucasian), wear her hair naturally (via HelloGiggles). It can be rare to see Black natural hair depicted in the media — both because there isn't enough diversity onscreen and because Black actors and actresses are often not accommodated with competent hairstylists, per The Hollywood Reporter. In fact, Black actresses have become accustomed to styling their own hair "It's a real disservice to actors of color who are effectively doing someone else's job and not getting paid for it," actress Natasha Rothwell told the outlet in February 2020.

While it can be difficult to imagine any royal hairstylists knowing how to handle Black hair, now that Markle has stepped down from her royal duties, we have already seen her start to take more control of her own look.

In July, when Markle appeared on video during the 2020 Girl Up Leadership Summit with waist-long locks, some wondered if Markle had gotten extensions. However, Markle's former hairstylist, George Northwood, insisted this wasn't the case.

"She's making a statement with hair that long — it represents strength and a sense that she's really got everything sorted," Northwood told The Telegraph. "This straighter, longer hairstyle marks a new chapter in her life without such strict protocols."