It is said that girls with dreams become women with vision. May we empower each other to carry out such vision — because it isn’t enough to simply talk about equality. One must believe it. And it isn’t enough to simply believe in it. One must work at it. Let us work at it. Together. Starting now.

I’m not normally one to get caught up in celebrity gossip. And I did not wake up extra early yesterday morning to watch the royal wedding. Even so, my curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to learn a little more about Meghan Markle… who has now wed Prince Harry and has officially become the Duchess of Sussex.

As can only be expected, anything to do with the British royal family is steeped (no pun intended) in tradition. They do things the way they’ve always been done, because that’s the prim and proper thing to do. And while this wedding probably wouldn’t have been a huge deal if it wasn’t a royal wedding, it is notable for at least three key reasons.

Now, I’m hardly a historian, so feel free to correct me on any of this. Meghan Markle is a divorcee, having married actor-producer Trevor Engelson in 2004 and subsequently divorcing in 2013. She’s also an American. But perhaps the aspect of her background that has stirred up the most attention is the fact that she is proudly of mixed-race heritage.

As much as we would like to believe that we live in some sort of post-racial utopia, that’s simply not true. Being of mixed race simply complicates matters further. You might remember this being discussed in the movie Hafu several years ago or in the context of celebrities like Trevor Noah.

My dad is Caucasian and my mom is African American. I’m half black and half white…. I have come to embrace this and say who I am, to share where I’m from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident, mixed-race woman.

Up until all the buzz surrounding the royal wedding, I knew nothing about Meghan Markle. I didn’t know that she had a starring role on the TV show Suits for seven years, plus appearances on such shows as 90210, Fringe, and CSI: Miami. She founded and ran a successful lifestyle website (The Tig) for three years. I also didn’t know about her humanitarian efforts with One Young World, World Vision Canada, and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.

And now she is “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex,” as well as Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel. Hopefully, she will be able to leverage such positions of power and influence in positive ways, making the world a better place for everyone.

With fame comes opportunity, but it also includes responsibility–to advocate and share, to focus less on glass slippers and more on pushing through glass ceilings. And, if I’m lucky enough, to inspire.

Did you catch the royal wedding? What’s your take on Meghan Markle?