Meghan Markle, aka the Duchess of Sussex, is having a career flashback — and she’s not liking what she sees.
Before married British royal Prince Harry and before she had a successful Hollywood career on the hit show “Suits,” she took a gig as a game show model.
No Deal on ‘Deal or No Deal‘
Markle was a model on the “Deal or No Deal” show, hosted by Canadian stand-up comedian Howie Mandel, from 2006 to 2007.
On “Deal or No Deal” contestants had to make a deal, either keeping the briefcase they first choose or by getting an offer from the host that was worth even more.
Markle was one of the 25 “briefcase girls.”
On a recent episode of her Spotify podcast, “Archetypes,” titled “Breaking down ‘The Bimbo’ with Paris Hilton,” Markle said she felt objectified and quit the show.
“All the girls, we would line up, and there were different stations for having your lashes put on, or your extensions put in, or the padding in your bra,” she recalled. “We were given spray tan vouchers each week because there was a very cookie-cutter idea of precisely what we should look like.”
In the beginning, she said she was “really grateful” to have a job that could pay her bills but felt there was “little substance” to the role.
“I didn’t like feeling forced to be all looks and little substance, and that’s how it felt for me at the time being reduced to this specific archetype: the word ‘bimbo.’”
Her stint on the show didn’t last long. “I ended up quitting the show,” said Markle. “I was thankful for the job, but not the way it made me feel, which was: Not smart.”
“And by the way, I was surrounded by smart women on that stage with me, but that wasn’t the focus of why we were there.”
Markle, a mother of two children with Prince Harry, said she wants to be an example for her daughter, Lillibet.
“I want our daughter to aspire to be slightly higher,” Markle said. “Yeah, I want my Lili to want to be educated and want to be smart and to pride herself on those things.”
Markle’s Hollywood Career
Markle was on “Deal or No Deal” from 2006 to 2007. She made appearances on such shows as “CSI: NY,” “Good Behavior,” Knight Rider,” “Fringe,” before becoming a regular on USA Network’s “Suits” in 2011, playing attorney Rachel Zane. She married Prince Harry in May 2018 and left the series — and Hollywood — behind. Her Hollywood career netted her millionaire status. Markle went into the marriage with a net worth of $2 million.
Now living in the States, Markle is focusing on her podcast. Although a planned Netflix series focusing on her and Harry has been put on pause, sources told Deadline.
