Despite facing harsh criticism from media figures like Tina Brown and Dame Prue Leith, Meghan Sussex’s Netflix series “With Love, Meghan” has proven to be a commercial powerhouse, both for her own brand and for the fashion labels featured in the show.

Impressive Viewership and Commercial Success

The lifestyle series has quickly climbed into Netflix’s global top 10 most-watched list, accumulating 2.6 million views in its first week alone. This viewership success has translated into significant financial impact for multiple brands. Media compared her show to Pamela Anderson’s.

According to data from Launchmetrics, Sussex’s lifestyle brand As Ever earned $10 million in media impact value (MIV) from the show. MIV is a proprietary metric that assigns monetary value to marketing strategies across print, online, and social media to calculate return on investment.

The “Sussex Effect” on Featured Brands

The commercial impact extends well beyond Sussex’s own brand:

• Loro Piana: The luxury Italian brand earned $1 million in MIV thanks to Sussex wearing their $1,325 sweater in one episode
• Zara: The Spanish fast fashion retailer earned $973,000 in MIV from being paired with the luxury sweater in a high-low styling moment
• Jenni Kayne: The brand’s cashmere boyfriend sweater worn by Sussex generated $497,000 in MIV
• Emilia Wickstead: One of Sussex’s go-to brands earned $362,000 in MIV from her ship-print midi dress

This “Sussex Effect” demonstrates her continuing influence in the fashion and lifestyle space, reminiscent of the commercial impact she had during her time as a working royal.

Critical Reception vs. Commercial Success

The stark contrast between critical reception and commercial performance highlights an interesting divide in how Sussex’s projects are perceived.

Dame Prue Leith recently dismissed the show, stating she wouldn’t watch it and criticizing “all that sort of touchy-feely mindfulness, endless worrying about what creams you put on your hands.” Other critics have described the show as “gormless,” “pointless,” and “narcissistic.”

Meanwhile, Netflix has already renewed the show for a second season before the first had fully run its course, with filming already completed for the autumn 2025 release.

Expanding Media Portfolio

The success comes as Sussex continues to expand her media presence, announcing her new podcast “Confessions of a Female Founder” in partnership with Lemonada Media, set to launch on April 8, 2025.

The podcast will feature “real, unfiltered stories and lessons learned from notable female founders—from knowing your worth to trusting your gut, securing investors, and investing in yourself,” according to Lemonada’s statement.

The Double Standard Question

The commercial success of Sussex’s ventures raises questions about the disparity between critical reception and actual consumer interest. As social media commentators have pointed out, other celebrities like Pamela Anderson simultaneously maintain multiple ventures—including movies, cooking shows, cookbooks, and skincare lines—without facing similar criticism about overextension.

Looking Forward

With her Netflix show renewed, her podcast launching soon, and her As Ever brand set to debut its first collection this spring, Sussex appears to be building a substantial media and lifestyle empire despite her critics.

The business metrics and viewership numbers suggest that regardless of critical reception, Sussex has found her audience and created commercial value that speaks louder than the criticism.