Models Hit Back at Meghan Markle’s ‘Deal or No Deal’ Claims

In its prime, Deal or No Deal set the way for all game shows to come. One hopeful contestant would call out briefcase numbers, hoping to open up those with the low cash totals and ultimately walk away with the large jackpot. But as exciting as this premise was, what had most people talking was the beautiful women responsible for opening up the briefcases and revealing their contents. Unknown to most is that Meghan Markle was one of these 'briefcases girls' during the earlier days of her career. Now a famous royal, she could easily view the job as part of a previous life. However, on a recent episode of her Archetypes podcast with Paris Hilton, she revealed she still holds onto the emotions of the filming process, recalling her discomfort at being objectified in this way. In light of these claims, numerous models have come forward, arguing that their experiences differed greatly. 

"I ended up quitting the show … I was so much more than what was being objectified on the stage," Meghan told Paris Hilton during the interview. "I didn't like feeling forced to be all looks and little substance." A particularly notable moment of the podcast was when Markle revealed there had been a padding station behind the scenes of the gameshow, offering up the models a chance to fill up their bras to give them an extra boost.

In response to these podcast revelations, Patricia Kara, a former Deal or No Deal briefcase model, shared her very different perspective. "Everyone on the show knew their role, knew the image, auditioned, volunteered, and accepted the job. I do not share her experience at all. I never felt objectified," she argued. In addition, Kara addressed the rumored padding station, telling Fox News Digital that "in all the years [she] worked on the show, that never existed."

Another former Deal or No Deal model, Donna Feldman, came out in support of Kara's claims. "Instead of ever feeling like a bimbo, I knew… working alongside such wonderful people like Howie Mandel would only lead to bigger and better things for me." She also maintained that she had earned the job because of more than looks, crediting her "positive nature, personality and overall work ethic." Ultimately, she recognized that "everyone has their own experience," and therefore, she can only represent and discuss her own. Perhaps we'll never know...