It is very well known that chat show host Oprah Winfrey and The Duchess of Sussex are neighbours in Montecito. But what isn’t so well known is that Meghan Markle has recently invested in a start-up wellness brand, Clevr Blends, that makes instant oat-milk lattes. How do the two connect? Taking to her Instagram earlier this week, Oprah shared a short video with her 19.2 million followers to unveil the contents of a gifted healthy hamper.
She captioned the post: ‘On the first day of Christmas my neighbor 'M' sent to me...a basket of deliciousness! (Yes that M crown emoji) My new drink of choice for the morning and night. Wish I had @clevrblends sooner cause I would've added it to my Favorite Things list. #HappyHolidays.’
Hinting that the hamper was a gift from her neighbour Meghan Markle, the contents include festive decorations, some fruit and several packets of ‘Superlattes’, which Oprah goes on to demonstrate how to make with a frother and hot water.
In a statement announcing her investment in the brand founded by CEO Hannah Mendoza, Meghan expressed her interest in supporting female-founded companies. ‘This investment is in support of a passionate female entrepreneur who prioritises building community alongside her business,’ the duchess said in a statement to Fortune. ‘I’m proud to invest in Hannah’s commitment to sourcing ethical ingredients and creating a product that I personally love and has a holistic approach to wellness. I believe in her, and I believe in her company.’
So, what is Clevr Blends?
Based in Santa Barbara, the wellness brand has just six female staff members and up until now has been self-funded. They sell four different types of instant lattes retailing for $28, as well as a milk frother and travel mug. What’s in it? ‘Superfoods, adaptogens, probiotics…’ Oprah reads off the Golden Blend packaging in her video, ‘this is mostly oat milk and lots of turmeric – I can taste the turmeric, it’s delicious.’ According to Fortune, Meghan’s interest in the brand began after trying a latte at a pop-up coffee shop in 2017. Now, the company will use Meghan’s investment to scale up the business.
Having shown a keen interest in the wellness arena since her lifestyle blog The Tig, the investment isn’t completely random. But what has sparked controversy is the notion that she’s used her A-list connections to help promote the brand. While it’s unlikely Oprah has been paid to post about the products (as there’s no mention of #ad), Meghan’s status as a former royal who sets to gain financially from the brand’s success has raised some eyebrows.
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