EXCLUSIVE: Meghan Markle's bestie Jessica Mulroney is accused by eagle-eyed followers of ripping off a design by British label Ralph and Russo for her new suit collection and posting an identical photo of the outfit on her Instagram

  • Followers on Instagram have accused Jessica Mulroney of ripping off a suit design by British label Ralph and Russo 
  • Mulroney, who is Meghan Markle's best friend, has been hinting at a new line of suits since June 16 and posted a photo of her first design on Friday 
  • The photo Mulroney posted appears to actually be a campaign image created to sell the original suit on Net-a-Porter
  • The checkered suit was worn in March 2019 by former First Lady Michelle Obama at a book signing in Oregon
  • Further images show the same windowpane check suit on the catwalk in 2018 during the Ralph and Russo Presentation as part of Paris Fashion Week 

Meghan Markle's best friend Jessica Mulroney has been accused by Instagram followers of ripping off designs by other labels for her new suit collection, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The Canadian stylist, 41, has been hinting at a new line of suits since June 16 and posted a photo of her first design on Friday with the caption: 'First drop. What do you think?'

But not only does the windowpane check suit appear to be a 2018 design by British label Ralph and Russo; the photo Mulroney claims is hers is actually a campaign image created to sell the original suit on Net-a-Porter.

A copy of the now deleted Net-a-Porter image, obtained by DailyMail.com, is identical to the one posted by Mulroney on Instagram in all respects.

Meghan Markle's best friend Jessica Mulroney has been accused by Instagram followers of ripping off a design by British label Ralph and Russo

Meghan Markle's best friend Jessica Mulroney has been accused by Instagram followers of ripping off a design by British label Ralph and Russo

Mulroney has been hinting at a new line of suits since June 16 and posted a photo of her first design on Friday with the caption: 'First drop. What do you think?' After this DailyMail.com article was published, Mulroney deleted the post

Mulroney has been hinting at a new line of suits since June 16 and posted a photo of her first design on Friday with the caption: 'First drop. What do you think?' After this DailyMail.com article was published, Mulroney deleted the post

Not only is the windowpane check suit a 2018 design by British label Ralph and Russo; the photo Mulroney claims is hers is actually a campaign image created to sell the original suit on Net-a-Porter

Not only is the windowpane check suit a 2018 design by British label Ralph and Russo; the photo Mulroney claims is hers is actually a campaign image created to sell the original suit on Net-a-Porter

Eagle-eyed followers accused Mulroney in the comments of ripping off the designs - some even claim Mulroney deleted their negative comments

Eagle-eyed followers accused Mulroney in the comments of ripping off the designs - some even claim Mulroney deleted their negative comments 

Mulroney has now updated her post after fans pointed out the similarities - claiming the design was 'inspired by my favorite designers Ralph and Russo' and adding 'without the designer price'

Mulroney has now updated her post after fans pointed out the similarities - claiming the design was 'inspired by my favorite designers Ralph and Russo' and adding 'without the designer price'

Further images show the same suit on the catwalk in 2018, while photos taken in March 2019 show former First Lady Michelle Obama wearing the outfit at a book signing in Oregon.

Mulroney updated her post after fans pointed out the similarities - claiming the design was 'inspired by my favorite designers Ralph and Russo' and adding 'without the designer price'.

And after DailyMail.com published this story, Mulroney deleted the post altogether. 

The 41-year-old was contacted for comment by DailyMail.com.

Toronto-based Mulroney has endured a torrid year, after being accused of 'racist bullying' of a black influencer in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

Sasha Exeter claimed Mulroney 'took personal offence' when she asked bloggers to use their platform to promote Black Lives Matter and that private messages between the pair had left her 'paralyzed with fear'.

Mulroney later apologized but was stripped of several TV gigs, including a fashion slot on Good Morning America.

The row also led to an estrangement between Meghan and Mulroney, with the Duchess of Sussex telling friends at the time that she did not want to get involved.

'Meghan is absolutely mortified that she's been dragged into this complete mess,' a close friend told DailyMail.com at the time.

'She said Jessica is in no way a racist, but the way she handled the situation [with Sasha] was tone-deaf and heartbreaking.

'Meghan said friends reflect friends and because of what's at stake she can no longer be associated with Jessica, at least not in public.'

The checkered suit was worn in March 2019 by former First Lady Michelle Obama at a book signing in Oregon

The checkered suit was worn in March 2019 by former First Lady Michelle Obama at a book signing in Oregon 

Further images show the same windowpane check suit on the catwalk in 2018 during the Ralph and Russo Presentation as part of Paris Fashion Week
Further images show the same windowpane check suit on the catwalk in 2018 during the Ralph and Russo Presentation as part of Paris Fashion Week

Further images show the same windowpane check suit on the catwalk in 2018 during the Ralph and Russo Presentation as part of Paris Fashion Week

Mulroney and Meghan had been best friends since meeting after Meghan moved to Toronto in 2011 to film legal drama Suits.

She was among the guests at St. George's Chapel in Windsor when Meghan and Harry married, while her daughter Ivy was one of the bridesmaids.

Mulroney is also believed to be among the 'five friends' who briefed People magazine for a gushing 2018 story on Meghan that slammed her father Thomas Markle Sr, 76, for his outbursts in the media.

She also attended Meghan's lavish baby shower in New York ahead of the birth of first child Archie in May 2019.

But the pair have not spent time together since the Sussex's move to California and their friendship has noticeably cooled since the race row.

Although Mulroney has posted photos of flowers sent to her by Meghan, she recently dedicated a post to her 'best friends' – leaving the Duchess of Sussex out.

She did come to her defense in the wake of the Oprah interview in March, writing on Instagram: 'I don't know that anyone has ever had to deal with the pressure, the politics and the press like this woman.

'In the face of it all, I have never seen her waver from kindness, empathy and love.'

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