Here's the best royal engagement headline: 'Successful actress Meghan Markle to wed former soldier'
Amid the many headlines published on Monday about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement, one stood out. Written by Joe, the website described the news with as “Successful actress Meghan Markle to wed former soldier.”
Following a few paragraphs describing Markle’s career and accomplishments, including her starring role on Suits and founding the lifestyle blog The Tig, the piece ends with a brief and, to be fair, completely accurate bio of Prince Harry: “Windsor is a 33-year-old former soldier, having served in Helmand, Afghanistan with the Army Air Corps. He is currently unemployed but does charity work.”
The publication’s not the first site to flip the script. Back in 2014, Businesswoman Media tipped the scale with a feminist headline that went viral: “Internationally acclaimed barrister Amal Alamuddin marries an actor.”
The post went on to say, “Amal Alamuddin, a 36 year old London-based dual-qualified English barrister and New York litigation attorney who has long been a high-profile figure in international refugee and human rights law has gone against the trend for professional women in her field and married… an actor.”
Paper magazine went with something similar when her pregnancy was announced: “Amal Clooney and actor expecting twins.”
When Angelina Jolie, an actress and philanthropist, announced her separation from Brad Pitt, City A.M. went with the title, “London School of Economics lecturer to divorce actor husband.”
Boom
via @CityAM pic.twitter.com/9lV1oGPHNV— Rhiannon L Cosslett (@rhiannonlucyc) September 20, 2016
Twitter account @VagendaMagazine even challenged its followers to come up with the best subverted headlines, with many coming up with extremely clever alternatives.
Alternative headline – GOOD FOR HER: Gigi Hadid Reacts In Totally Appropriate Way When Random Man Tries To Lift Her In The Street pic.twitter.com/WTsbHcNt43
— Rachel McGrath (@RachelMcGrath) September 22, 2016
These stories are already non-news in my opinion: even better when you call them out #thevagenda @VagendaMagazine pic.twitter.com/5Ggv2gwjpd
— Rebecca Sutton (@bexatrex) April 28, 2014
@VagendaMagazine #thevagenda pic.twitter.com/h3bWmvgqjO
— Tamsin Phillips (@TamsinPhillips) April 28, 2014
@VagendaMagazine Breaking news: Taylor Swift's hair reacts to natural forces in completely normal manner #thevagenda pic.twitter.com/mW1K9BhWOz
— Claire Corp (@ce_corp) April 28, 2014
These feminist-influenced headlines might be a growing trend, but that still leaves the racist, invasive headlines like the ones that make sure to point out Markle’s biracial identity, her “estranged siblings,” and her previous divorce. The Daily Mail even refers to her as “divorcee Meghan.”
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