Meghan Markle is billed as ‘a visionary female leader’ and bestselling author on festival line-up alongside Brooke Shields and Katie Couric – where the Duchess will discuss ‘breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and a healthier society’

Meghan Markle has been described as a “visionary female leader” ahead of her appearance on a star-studded panel on the opening day of the SXSW festival in Texas, alongside actress Brooke Shields and author Katie Couric.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, will appear at the annual event tomorrow and is expected to discuss ‘breaking barriers’ and ‘challenging stereotypes’ as she discusses the use of social media.

South by Southwest, also known as SXSW, is an annual festival celebrating the convergence of technology, film, music, education and culture, held from March 8 to 16.

Meghan will headline Friday’s keynote event, which is also International Women’s Day.

According to organizers, the session is presented by Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation and The 19th, a U.S. nonprofit newsroom that reports on gender, politics and policy.

Announcing a panel of ‘visionary’ women, the festival confirmed the session would focus on the dangers and mental health issues associated with social media users among teenage girls.

The session, titled Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen, will be moderated by Errin Haines, host of the podcast The Amendment, and will also be attended by pop culture expert Nancy Wang Yuen.

In addition to the fellow participants, Meghan will also speak about the importance of representation in media and entertainment.

In a statement, organizers said: “Women’s representation in media and entertainment has come a long way, but there is still much to be done, especially for women of color and mothers.

“The ubiquity of social media has raised the stakes, creating an often dangerous environment that has led to serious mental health issues, especially among teenage girls.

“On International Women’s Day, we’ll hear from visionary female leaders at the forefront of news, media, entertainment and philanthropy who are breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes and building a healthier society, both on and off our screens.”

The appearance is the latest in a series of public appearances by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with the latest involving Meghan appearing via video in London for the opening of a new wing of the animal charity Mayhew.

The announcement was in honor of her late boyfriend Oli Juste, with the Duchess saying the dog trainer’s sudden death had left her heartbroken.

A photo shared on Harry and Meghan’s new website, Sussex.com – the subject of controversy due to the prominence of the royal branding – showed a beaming duchess in a beige coat crouching down and petting a dog.

Earlier in February she made dumplings with female Afghan refugees, before a video of the visit was posted on the Archewell Foundation website last Monday.

Her video message for the charity came days after Prince Harry reportedly told friends he wanted to step back into a royal role to support his father, King Charles III, during his treatment for cancer.

But royal aides have dismissed the idea, saying there is ‘no way back’ for the prince to the royal fold.

The royal family has been in the middle of a health crisis since the monarch stepped away from public engagements during treatment, with the Princess of Wales also out of action until at least after Easter as she recovers from abdominal surgery.

Adding to the lack of working royals available for engagements, the Prince of Wales pulled out of a memorial service for his godfather, King Constantine of Greece, last week with just an hour’s notice due to a “personal matter” .

Queen Camilla, 76, is also currently taking a short break after stepping up her royal duties in the wake of her husband’s diagnosis.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan have been away from royal duties since moving to America in 2020 and ending their lives as working royals.

Harry rushed to Britain to visit his cancer-stricken father in the days after his diagnosis, but saw him just 45 minutes before the monarch left London for Sandringham, forcing the prince to stay overnight in a hotel before returning to The United States. .

His wife Meghan and the couple’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, remained at their California home.

The couple recently returned from a trip to Vancouver, Canada, where Harry spoke to the media about the upcoming Invictus Games next year.

Hugh Forrest, co-president and chief programming officer of SXSW, said: “Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, Katie Couric, Brooke Shields, Nancy Wang Yuen and Errin Haines are the perfect finishing touches to eight days of remarkable keynote speakers.

“We are deeply honored to host this distinguished group on International Women’s Day for an important discussion on the importance of representation in media and entertainment.”

One of the stars who shares the platform with the Duchess, Nancy Wang Yuen, previously appeared on Meghan’s Spotify podcast Archetypes.

The podcast ran for one season but has since been renewed for a relaunch after the Duchess split from the streaming platform and signed a new deal with Lemonada Media.

Founded in 1987, South By Southwest is known for its conferences and festivals covering technology, film and television, music, education and culture, and describes itself as an “essential destination for global professionals.”

Previously announced speakers and panelists at this year’s festival include Selena Gomez, Kirsten Dunst and Sydney Sweeney.