In 2016, long before she became the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle was navigating a multifaceted career as an actress on the hit TV show Suits and the founder of her lifestyle blog, The Tig. At the Create and Cultivate blogger conference in Atlanta, she stepped onto the stage to share her insights on balancing her Hollywood career with her entrepreneurial ventures. The conference, known for empowering women in creative industries, was a perfect platform for Meghan to connect with an audience of aspiring bloggers and entrepreneurs. However, what should have been a triumphant moment turned into an awkward 14-second encounter that left the room in silence—and Meghan visibly uncomfortable. A body language expert’s analysis of this moment reveals a fascinating mix of anxiety, resilience, and quick thinking, shedding light on how Meghan handled public discomfort and why this moment continues to captivate audiences nearly a decade later.

The Setting: A High-Stakes Conference Moment

The Create and Cultivate conference in 2016 was a buzzing hub of creativity, attracting women eager to learn from industry leaders. Meghan, then 35, was invited to speak about her journey with The Tig, a blog she launched in 2014 to share recipes, travel tips, and personal reflections. At the time, she was juggling her role as Rachel Zane on Suits with her growing online presence, a balancing act that made her a relatable figure for the conference attendees. Her session was structured as a Q&A, a format designed to foster engagement and allow the audience to dive deeper into her experiences.

As Meghan wrapped up her prepared remarks, the host opened the floor to questions. What followed was an unexpected and excruciating 14 seconds of silence. No hands went up. No voices broke the quiet. For any speaker, this “tumbleweed moment” is a nightmare—a void that can feel like a rejection of their message. For Meghan, who was used to commanding attention on screen and in writing, the silence was particularly jarring. The audience, perhaps intimidated or unsure of what to ask, left her momentarily stranded on stage.

Body Language Under Pressure

Body language analysis provides a window into how Meghan navigated this uncomfortable pause. Initially, Meghan appeared confident and approachable. She sat with her legs crossed, one knee slightly raised, and her elbows resting on the arms of her chair in a relaxed, open posture. Her hands were lightly placed on her thighs, and she addressed the audience with a friendly, rapport-building tone, referring to them as “you guys.” These gestures suggested a speaker at ease, ready to connect with her listeners.

However, as the silence stretched on, subtle signs of discomfort emerged. Meghan’s body language shifted, revealing a mix of anxiety and exasperation. She leaned toward her host, breaking eye contact with the audience, and made a playful but distancing comment: “They have no questions, they just want their cocktails.” The use of “they” created a subtle gap between her and the audience, a linguistic move to deflect the awkwardness. Her hand flopped loosely from her wrist as she spoke, a gesture that hinted at frustration. She followed up with, “I’m a chatty girl,” accompanied by a wry, asymmetric smile—a self-deprecating attempt to fill the void and maintain her composure.

Meghan’s next move was to inject humor tied to her Suits fame. Raising her eyebrows, she quipped, “Not even a question about Mike Ross, that surprises me!” referring to a popular character from the show. This comment, paired with an aloof hand gesture—palm facing the audience—was a clever way to suggest that she was accustomed to being inundated with questions, making the silence seem like an anomaly. These actions showcased her ability to think on her feet, using humor and charm to mask her unease.

Breaking the Silence: A Question on Feminism

After what must have felt like an eternity, a woman in the audience finally raised a question: “Today, we’ve talked a lot about motivation and following your gut. Meghan, I was wondering if you could speak a little about navigating feminism within conservative business environments.” The question was thoughtful and aligned with Meghan’s advocacy for women’s empowerment, a theme she often explored on The Tig. However, her initial reaction betrayed the tension of the preceding moments. Placing a hand on her forehead, she let out a nervous laugh, perhaps relieved that the silence had been broken but still processing the awkwardness.

Meghan quickly regained her footing, pivoting to a polished response. She referenced an article she had written for the Irish Independent about feminism, noting that she had been fortunate to meet influential women who inspired her work. Her body language shifted back to confidence—her posture straightened, and her gestures became more animated, conveying a “purring of enjoyment” as she reconnected with the audience. This moment highlighted her resilience, as she transformed a potentially humiliating pause into an opportunity to reinforce her expertise and charisma.

Why the Moment Resonated

The 14-second silence might seem like a minor blip in Meghan’s career, but its resurfacing in 2025—nearly a decade later—speaks to its enduring fascination. For one, it offers a rare glimpse of Meghan before her royal days, when she was still carving out her public persona. At the time, she was not yet the global figure she would become after marrying Prince Harry in 2018. The awkward moment humanizes her, showing that even a poised actress and blogger could falter under pressure.

Moreover, the incident underscores the universal fear of public speaking mishaps. Every speaker dreads the “any questions?” moment that meets with silence, as it can feel like a judgment on their performance. Meghan’s ability to navigate this challenge with humor and grace resonates with anyone who has faced a similar situation. Her quick wit—joking about cocktails and Suits—demonstrates a skill that would later serve her well in high-stakes royal engagements and media scrutiny.

The body language analysis also adds a layer of intrigue. By dissecting Meghan’s gestures, from her initial openness to her fleeting exasperation and eventual recovery, experts reveal the complexity of her emotional response. These insights feed into the public’s curiosity about Meghan’s personality, especially as she transitioned from Hollywood to royalty and later to a private citizen launching ventures like her Netflix show and lifestyle brand.

Contextualizing Meghan’s Journey

In 2016, Meghan was at a crossroads. The Tig was gaining traction, but her acting career remained her primary focus. The conference was a chance to establish herself as a thought leader in the lifestyle space, a goal that required her to project confidence and relatability. The awkward silence, while brief, tested her ability to maintain that image under pressure. Her response—deflecting with humor, then seizing the feminism question to showcase her expertise—foreshadowed the resilience she would need in later years.

By 2017, Meghan closed The Tig as her relationship with Prince Harry deepened, marking a shift from her independent career to her role as a royal. The awkward conference moment, in hindsight, feels like a small but telling chapter in her evolution. It shows a woman learning to navigate public expectations, a skill she would refine through royal duties, media controversies, and her eventual return to entrepreneurship with projects like her 2025 Netflix series, With Love, Meghan.

Broader Implications: Public Speaking and Vulnerability

Meghan’s 14-second silence also sparks a broader conversation about public speaking and vulnerability. Conferences like Create and Cultivate thrive on audience engagement, but the Q&A format can be unpredictable. Skilled hosts often prepare backup questions or plant audience members with prompts to avoid silences, a precaution that was absent in Meghan’s case. This oversight left her exposed, highlighting the importance of preparation in live events.

For aspiring speakers, Meghan’s experience offers valuable lessons. First, humor can be a powerful tool to defuse tension, as seen in her cocktail quip. Second, redirecting the conversation to familiar territory—like her Suits reference or feminism article—can restore confidence. Finally, embracing vulnerability, as Meghan did with her nervous laugh, can make a speaker more relatable, turning a misstep into a moment of connection.

Why It Still Matters

The enduring interest in Meghan’s awkward encounter lies in its relatability and the insight it provides into her character. In an era where public figures are often polished to perfection, seeing Meghan grapple with discomfort feels refreshingly real. Her body language—shifting from poised to anxious to triumphant—tells a story of resilience that resonates beyond the conference stage.

As Meghan continues to build her post-royal career, moments like this remind us of her journey from actress to blogger to global icon. The 14-second silence may have been a fleeting embarrassment, but it also showcased her ability to adapt and thrive under pressure—a quality that continues to define her. Whether she’s hosting a Netflix show or launching a lifestyle brand, Meghan’s knack for turning challenges into opportunities remains a hallmark of her public life.