Speaking to OLBG, celebrity PR specialist Kayley Cornelius said: “Meghan’s latest move on MasterChef feel far from random or one-off appearances, there’s a clear strategy at play here and it very much points to a more permanent return to the world of mainstream celebrity being front of mind.
“Australia is a particularly savvy choice too as it’s a market that’s historically been receptive to her, but it also allows her to trial this next phase slightly outside of the intense scrutiny she faces in the US and UK.
“What’s becoming increasingly clear is that Meghan appears to be on a mission to really nail down her personal branding while she’s in Australia, building a loyal audience base ahead of what looks like a potential move to bring her As Ever brand over.”
The expert continued: “There’s a sense that she’s recognised the need to establish a stronger identity beyond her royal titles alone, and that relying on that association may not have carried her previous projects in the way she’d hoped.”
It is not known how many episodes of the new series Meghan will feature in, however it is believed the Masterchef Australia team were excited to welcome her onboard.
They wrote in a post on social media: “We’re welcoming someone SUPER special into the MasterChef Kitchen. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, makes a special guest appearance this season as she returns to Australia for the first time since 2018.
“Joining a star-studded lineup of Guest Judges and culinary icons, Meghan helps guide some of the most impressive home cooks the competition has ever seen. This is the series of MasterChef you don’t want to miss.”