Meghan Markle Was the Most Googled Person in the World in 2018

It's been the year of Meghan Markle (and her husband, Prince Harry). The Duchess of Sussex captivated audiences, and searches, with her wedding, baby on the way, and general style evolution. She's been so popular that, according to Google, she was the most-searched person this year around the world.

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(Image credit: Tristan Fewings/BFC)

By Katherine J. Igoe

published 12 December 2018

in News

It's been the year of Meghan Markle (and I guess her husband, Prince Harry). It's not just because they inspired the world's most terrifying waxwork nightmare fever dream—although you should definitely check that out before you read on. No, the Duchess of Sussex captivated audiences, and searches, with her wedding, baby on the way, and style evolution as she makes her first steps as a new royal. She's been so popular that, according to Google, she was the most-searched person this year around the world.

I'd pretend to be surprised, but my last Google searches include Meghan Markle dark nail polish, Meghan Markle body shimmer, and Meghan Markle Kate Middleton twinning. So I might be single-handedly bumping up those numbers, is all I'm saying.

The fourth most-searched news item was the royal wedding, and Meghan also showed up in number six of the top searches from all of Google. In a year that's been particularly stressful, apparently we've all gotten joy from Meghan and Harry's life—and, to be honest, a little bit of friendly gossip about why they're moving away from Kensington Palace.

A few other unsurprising top names: Demi Lovato is the second most-searched person in the world, and the most-searched in the U.S., Khloé Kardashian is the fifth most-searched person globally, Hailey Baldwin (now Hailey Bieber) ranks eighth, and Cardi B 10th. Topping the most-searched movies is one of this year's most female-centric sci-fi films, Black Panther.

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.