Gloria Steinem Dies At 92 As Meghan Markle Reveals Their Secret Family Bond And Final Weeks

Gloria Steinem, the journalist and activist who became one of the most recognizable faces of modern feminism, has died at 92-prompting an outpouring of tributes and revealing some surprisingly private celebrity friendships.

Steinem died peacefully at her New York City home on Wednesday, September 2, surrounded by loved ones. Her foundation announced her death the following morning through her official Instagram account. A cause of death has not been disclosed.

"Gloria's greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard," the statement said. Her representatives invited supporters to light a candle in her memory, comparing the gesture to signal fires traditionally lit on hills to guide travelers across a mountain. TIME

Among the most personal responses came from Meghan Markle, who revealed that her relationship with Steinem extended far beyond occasional public appearances. The Duchess of Sussex described the feminist trailblazer as a close friend and mentor who had shared Thanksgiving celebrations with the Sussex family and spent time with Meghan's children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Meghan also suggested that Steinem remained a source of wisdom during difficult moments in her life. Her intimate farewell included previously unseen personal photographs, including one showing Steinem with Archie. "Rest in peace, and rest in pride," Meghan wrote, offering a glimpse into a friendship that had remained largely hidden from the public. Elle

Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, Jane Fonda, Barbra Streisand, Billie Jean King, Nancy Pelosi and Jill Biden were also among the prominent figures paying tribute. Oprah credited Steinem with helping create a world in which women could demand equal pay, respect and control over their own lives, whether or not younger generations recognized the activist's name.

Hollywood also mourned the loss. Julianne Moore, who portrayed Steinem in the 2020 biographical film The Glorias, said studying and playing her had been one of the most enlightening experiences of her career. Alicia Vikander, Lulu Wilson and Ryan Kiera Armstrong portrayed Steinem at other stages of her life in the film.

Steinem first attracted widespread attention in 1963 after going undercover as a Playboy Bunny to expose the treatment of women working at New York's Playboy Club. The assignment made her famous, although she later spoke about the professional difficulties she faced after the story threatened to typecast her as the "Bunny" journalist.

Her influence exploded during the women's movement of the late 1960s and 1970s. She co-founded Ms. magazine, helped establish the National Women's Political Caucus and spent decades campaigning for reproductive freedom, workplace equality, racial justice and LGBTQ+ rights. President Barack Obama presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.

Her private life occasionally proved as unconventional as her public image. After years of criticizing traditional marriage, Steinem married environmentalist David Bale-the father of actor Christian Bale-in 2000. She explained that marriage had changed legally and socially enough for her to embrace it. Their union lasted until Bale's death from brain lymphoma in 2003.

Steinem had previously survived breast cancer and lived with trigeminal neuralgia, but neither condition has been identified as contributing to her death. Her family and foundation have released no further medical details.

Even into her later years, Steinem resisted disappearing quietly from political life. She supported Hillary Clinton, helped lead the 2017 Women's March and continued mentoring younger activists and political candidates. Her critics challenged some of her positions over the decades, but few disputed the extraordinary cultural influence she wielded.

The woman who spent more than half a century urging others to speak has now fallen silent-but the celebrities, politicians and activists whose lives she touched are ensuring that her final farewell is being heard around the world.