Meghan Markle reveals feeling 'objectified' as briefcase model on Deal or No Deal and publicly shamed for her body

Meghan Markle has revealed that she quit Deal or No Deal after being 'objectified' by the gameshow, sharing how the job as a 'briefcase model' left her with a 'pit' in her stomach. 

• Meghan Markle has revealed that she quit Deal or No Deal after feeling 'objectified', revealing that she was even body-shamed by an employee on set. 
• The Duchess of Sussex joined the US version of the gameshow as a 'briefcase model' in 2006, appearing on 36 episodes before leaving in 2007 to pursue other projects. 
• In other royal news, Kate Middleton's pearl earrings so timeless and you can shop them now.
  

Meghan Markle has shared her negative experience on Deal or No Deal, revealing that she was 'objectified' and body-shamed while working on the American version of the popular game show. 

The Duchess of Sussex reflected on what it was like to be a 'briefcase model' on the series on Tuesday's episode of her Spotify podcast, Archetypes, in which she was joined by Paris Hilton to break down the 'Bimbo' trope. The discussion comes shortly after it emerged that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix show has been pushed back over backlash to Season 5 of The Crown. 

While admitting she was "grateful" to land the Deal or No Deal gig, the 41-year-old also recalled how uncomfortable she felt with the money-guessing show's fixation on 'Out Beauty'. 

"I was thankful for the job but for how it made me feel, which was not smart," she said. 

Meghan joined Season 2 of Deal or No Deal in 2006, appearing in 34 episodes of the show alongside 25 other identically dressed 'briefcase models'. At the time, she was an aspiring actress in Los Angeles who was hoping to find success in the entertainment industry. The royal icon ended up quitting the show, however, after being allegedly mistreated by an unnamed showrunner behind-the-scenes. 

"Moments before we get on stage, there was a woman who ran the show and she would be there backstage and I can still hear her," Meghan said. "She couldn't pronounce my last name at the time and I knew who she was talking to because she would go, 'Markel, suck it in!'" 

The duchess added that she would end up leaving with "pit in my stomach", knowing full well that she was "so much more than what was being objectified on stage." 

Meghan also provided an insight into the grueling preparation involved in being a Deal or No Deal briefcase model, recalling how the women had to adhere to a 'cookie cutter' idea of beauty. 

"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 said, before adding that all the briefcase models were given "spray tan vouchers each week" to ensure they were uniformly bronzed for the cameras.