Meghan Markle has previously spoken out about the racism she's received during her career and now Prince Harry's girlfriend has revealed that magazines continue to airbrush out her freckles and whiten her skin tone.
Calling it her biggest "pet peeve" the actress spoke to Allure about he difficulty of her "ethnically ambiguous" appearance.
Speaking of casting directors' attitudes to her, she said: "Was I Latina? Sephardic? Exotic Caucasian? Add the freckles to the mix and it created quite the conundrum."
Passing on advice that she'd received from her father to her "freckle-faced friends out there" who might be struggling to embrace their identity, the United Nations Women's advocate, said to remember that "a face without freckles is a night without stars."
The 35-year-old also shed light on her experience of growing up and how being bi-racial has affected her in the industry.
Meghan says she remembers being seven years old and her mother picking her up from her grandmother's house.
She told Allure: "There were the three of us, a family tree in an ombré of mocha next to the caramel complexion of my mom and light-skinned, freckled me. I remember the sense of belonging, having nothing to do with the colour of my skin."
She said it was only as she grew older and attended Northwestern where they explored colourism that she discovered feeling "too light in the black community, too mixed in the white community."
Markle who currently stars in US drama Suits was born to an African-American mother and a caucasian father. Her relationship with Prince Harry was confirmed in November last year.
Next, look through all of her best beauty moments to date...
-
Since the announcement of Meghan and Harry's pregnancy, The Duchess Of Sussex has been favouring updos for her event appearances. Here, she's spotted attending The Royal Variety Performance, with a terracotta blusher keeping her complexion warm.
-
Meghan opted to wear her hair in a low chignon with loose strands framing her face. As always, Meghan pulled off the effortless look with aplomb.
-
Meghan recently debuted a straighter, sleeker style, which had us all wanting to book in for a keratin treatment ASAP.
-
Megan's pinky-nude lip and smoky eye creates the perfect contrast to match the contrasting black and white hat she wore to her First Royal Ascot.
-
Fresh glowy makeup, lightly waved hair, beautiful smile - have you ever seen a natural beauty quite like Ms Markle?
-
This blush pink dress, hat and lip combo is exactly why we love Meghan Markle - perfectly mixing royal demure and girl next door. This is what pretty in pink looks like.
-
Obviously, this is our favourite Meghan look EVER. Hairstylist Serge Normant styled her hair into this romantic, messy chignon and makeup artist Daniel Martin gave her a natural glow and fluttering lashes for the big day.
-
At her first official appearance as Duchess of Sussex, a mere three days after her wedding at Windsor Castle, Meghan wowed in this cream-coloured hat, peachy lipstick, a radiant glow and a smile from ear-to-ear.
-
This might be one of our favourite beauty looks from Meghan yet! The couple were out to visit the Eikon Centre and attend an event to mark the second year of the youth-led peace-building initiative 'Amazing the Space'. Meghan chose a relaxed low bun and delicate smoky eye for the occasion.
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were visiting Birmingham this week and she looked absolutely stunning! Can we talk about these long strands and perfect wavy 'do?! Meghan's hair looks healthy and full, we just want to know her secrets.
-
Meghan attended a Christmas lunch for the extended Royal Family at Buckingham Palace, keeping it simple with straight locks, some smoky eyeliner and glossy lips.
-
When her engagement to Prince Harry was announced, Meghan looked stunning with relaxed waves and flushed cheeks. Does one even need blusher when you're *that* happy?
-
Meghan Markle recently revealed that magazines continue to airbrush out her freckles and whiten her skin tone. But she reminds herself: "A face without freckles is a night without stars."
-
We're not sure what we love more here: the stunning smoky eye and nude lip combo, or the intricate chignon hairstyle!
-
Meghan keeps it simple with straight locks and a pretty pink glossy lip.
-
We love a good side-sweep, and Meghan's glossy waves suit the style perfectly.
-
Just how does Meghan get her lashes that long?! And let's not even get started on that super shiny hair...
-
Another side-swept style, and those brows are giving us all the beauty goals...
-
This look is pure retro beauty perfection. From the vintage waves to the perfect matte red lipstick, it just works.
-
We love the slightly undone feel to this style, especially the pretty updo.
-
This look is simply stunning. The long lashes and red lips compliment each other well, while Meghan's chic hairstyle is the stuff of dreams!
-
Could her hair look any prettier? We're following Meghan's lead when it comes to gorgeous waves.
-
Meghan's perfect lashes strike again, alongside a pretty flushed glow.
-
After seeing this picture, we're totally going to try the extreme side-parting.
-
A scraped-back style accentuates Meghan's flushed cheeks and that gorgeous pink lip shade. Top marks to Markle!
-
Meghan shows off the perfect 'no-makeup makeup' look: glowing skin, lashings of mascara and some clear gloss.
-
Meghan proves she can do rock'n'roll chic better than anyone else!
-
She's a big fan of gorgeously styled updos, and this is one of our ultimate faves.
