- Duchess of Sussex features as background extra in Instragram post
- Became an investor in the company in December 2020
- CEO and co-founder Hannah Mendoza also features in video
Meghan Markle features as a background extra in a bizarre Instagram advert by a coffee company she holds shares in.
The Duchess of Sussex can be seen in Clevr Blends’ latest commercial as an intern stacking boxes, making hot drinks and working on a computer in the digital department.
She comically fails to fist bump another member of the team in the final shot as she walks off camera, leading to everyone bursting out laughing before the video ends.
Markle, who has been an investor in the trendy oat latte brand since 2020, is an extra throughout the ad whilst CEO and co-founder Hannah Mendoza walks around the company’s HQ and thanks the team for all their hard work in 2023.
Clever Blends posted the video on Instagram today with the caption: ‘Damn, you’re keeping us BUSY right now! Had to call in some reinforcements.
‘So grateful for the immense love and support this year—thanks for helping us keep the latte-loving dream alive, and thriving!xo’
Markle, 42, confirmed in December 2020 that she had invested an undisclosed sum in Clevr Brands, which has a range of lattes that come in powder form.
And around the time, the former senior royal used her connections to promote the company, which was founded in January 2019 and is run by CEO Hannah Mendoza, by sending a basket of products to her neighbour Oprah Winfrey, who shared the products online.
While the Duchess has visited the company, sharing a short video from her trip on Instagram earlier this year, which featured footage of herself sipping on a cup of the hot stuff, she has been fairly silent about the investment over the last three years.
She shared a glowing five-star review of the line in November. Posting a photo of herself embracing Mendoza, the former cable actress wrote of the range: ‘One of my favourite ways to start and end each day.’
Clevr is based in Santa Barbara, California. Meghan came across it by apparently sampling its superfood coffee in 2017, when the founder was selling it at a pop-up store before creating the at-home blend she now sells.
It also happens to be based near Montecito, where Harry and Meghan live.
In a statement to Fortune confirming the investment in 2019, Meghan said: ‘This investment is in support of a passionate female entrepreneur who prioritizes building community alongside her business.
‘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.’
Mendoza confirmed Meghan’s investment, saying: ‘Entrepreneurs need funding, but they also need advisers who care deeply about what they are building. I’m grateful to have found both in the Duchess of Sussex.
‘Her passion for what we’re creating is palpable, and I couldn’t imagine a more aligned partnership. We’re excited for the road ahead.’
Meghan’s backing of the brand marked her first public investment since she and Harry left royal life in 2020 to pursue a private life and seek ‘financial independence’ from the royal family.
According to the Clevr Brands website, the company is a ‘mission-driven, women-led wellness brand based in coastal California’. Hannah, the CEO, formerly worked at a different superfood snack company. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2014 but it’s unclear how old she is.
A post written by co-founder Hannah says: ‘We had humble beginnings—my co-founder and I started a pop-up adaptogenic coffee bar in 2016.
‘We traveled around the US, waxing lyrical about the magic of plants. People listened, they felt better in their bodies and minds, and we created Clevr to make those feelings easier to reach.’
Laura Adams is a tech enthusiast residing in the UK. Her articles cover the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets, providing readers with a glimpse into the future of technology.
