Meghan Markle, overshadowed by Sports Illustrated models: No one was paying attention to her and I thought she was obtainable

Ryen Russillo, former ESPN host and sports media personality, has shared an amusing anecdote about his brief encounter with Meghan Markle long before she became the Duchess of Sussex. During an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast, Russillo revealed that he once thought Markle was "obtainable" and even tried to connect with her after a celebrity flag football game in February 2014.

The event, which was star-studded with appearances by models Chrissy Teigen, Hannah Davis and Nina Agdal, as well as actors Nina Dobrev and Michael B. Jordan, saw Markle playing a far less prominent role.

At the time, Markle was best known for her role as Rachel Zane on the legal drama Suits, a show that was about to enter its fourth season.

According to Russillo, she wasn't the center of attention like the swimsuit models and A-list actors around her, and that gave him what he believed was an edge.

"It was all of the [Sports Illustrated] swimsuit models. So, nobody was really paying any attention to Markle," Russillo joked on the podcast.

"I was like, 'That's my lane. She's probably doubting herself a little bit right now'. She's never been more obtainable."

While the remark sparked laughter from the podcast's audience, it also set the stage for what Russillo later itted was an ill-fated attempt to connect with Markle via direct message.

A failed approach

Russillo didn't make his move at the flag football game. Instead, he tried to approach Markle later through social media.

With Suits Season 4 set to premiere, Russillo decided to reach out under the guise of inviting her to appear on The Ryen Russillo Show, his then-popular ESPN sports program. He claimed the message was professional and polite.

"It was a very soft sell," he explained. "It was, 'Hey, I know the new season ... is coming out if you ever want to come on the show to promote it.' It was really professional."

However, Russillo itted that he had ulterior motives. While he framed the invite as a business opportunity, he also hinted that he hoped it might open the door for a more personal connection. According to Russillo, Markle's response was short and clear.

"Oh, I don't know anything about sports, but thanks for the offer," Markle said.