"Congratulations on the new bub! So happy for you!"
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Stephanie Murray's phone hasn't stopped buzzing this morning with joke texts from friends and family. It's a side effect of looking exactly like the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.
The world is abuzz with news of Meghan's pregnancy on Tuesday, just hours after the princess and Prince Harry touched down in Australia for a 14-day royal visit.
It's a big day for Canberra-based retail manager turned professional impersonator Murray, who is in hot demand for media interviews and mock advertising campaigns while the prince and princess are in the country.
Murray spent Tuesday morning in hair and makeup for an appearance on Channel 7's The Morning Show before rushing to Sydney Opera House in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the woman she bears a remarkable resemblance to.
"Ever since that first article it's been pretty frantic," Murray says.
"If you'd have told me earlier this year that this would be my life, I would have said no way."
It's been four months since The Canberra Times first spotted Stephanie working as a waitress at Ricardo's cafe in Jamison. Since then, she's been nabbed by talent agency Universal Features, based in Amsterdam, who have flown Murray around the country to impersonate Markle at events and in photo shoots.
She appeared in a replica bridal gown at the Australian Women’s Weekly Royal High Tea event on the day of Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding. And there's been talk of a reality TV show appearance.
On a recent holiday to Europe, Murray was constantly accosted by British royal family fanatics looking for photographs and her autograph.
"They definitely thought I was the real thing - at first," she laughs.
The Maori-Australian says while she's making some great extra money working as a Meghan Markle lookalike, it's the travel, the chance to be creative and the buzz around the royal family she loves most. She has no plans to leave her job at Westfield Belconnen - yet.
"I really admire Meghan and for the moment I'm just enjoying looking like one of the most talked about women in the world."
