Before the tiaras, the Netflix deals, and the global scrutiny, Meghan Markle was just another actor in Los Angeles trying to pay for her own headshots. It’s a classic Hollywood "climb" story. But for Meghan, that climb included a very specific, very shiny silver briefcase.
Honestly, it’s one of those trivia facts that feels like a fever dream now. Between 2006 and 2007, long before she became the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle appeared on the hit NBC game show Deal or No Deal. She wasn't the one playing for the million dollars, though. She was one of the 26 models standing on those tiered platforms, waiting for Howie Mandel to call her number.
The Briefcase Years: Life on the Set
Most people don't realize she was actually on the show for a fair amount of time. We’re talking 34 episodes. She wasn't just a one-off extra. For the vast majority of her tenure—31 episodes, to be exact—she held briefcase number 24.
The job was straightforward. Stand still. Smile. Open a box. But behind the scenes, the reality was a bit more "factory line" than high fashion.
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Meghan has been pretty vocal about this chapter of her life lately. On her Archetypes podcast, she described the experience as being a bit of a "cookie-cutter" existence. Every single morning, the models would line up for various "stations." You had a station for lashes. A station for hair extensions. They were even given spray tan vouchers every single week. It was an environment where your value was tied entirely to your aesthetic.
"Markell, suck it in!"
That’s what she remembers a floor manager shouting backstage. Apparently, the woman couldn't even pronounce her name right. It’s a gritty detail that paints a very different picture than the glamorous one we see on screen.
Why the "Bimbo" Label Sparked Such a Firestorm
When Meghan used the word "bimbo" to describe how she felt on the show, the internet basically exploded. She clarified that she was thankful for the job—it provided health insurance and a steady paycheck—but it left her with a "pit in her stomach." She had just finished an internship at the U.S. Embassy in Argentina. Moving from international diplomacy to being told to "suck it in" on a soundstage was a massive tonal shift.
Not everyone agreed with her take, though.
- Claudia Jordan, a fellow briefcase model who later joined The Real Housewives of Atlanta, pushed back. She argued the show provided huge opportunities and never made her feel like a "bimbo."
- Whoopi Goldberg chimed in on The View, suggesting that the "objectification" might have been internal. She pointed out that for the contestants, the models weren't objects—they were just the people standing between them and a life-changing amount of money.
- Howie Mandel, interestingly enough, actually defended her. He admitted that he often felt like a "piece of meat" himself, standing in the middle of all those people while just wearing a suit and doing very little.
The Chrissy Teigen Connection
Here’s a fun piece of trivia for the superfans. Meghan wasn't the only future star on that stage.
Chrissy Teigen was also a briefcase girl. In a recent 2025 appearance on Meghan's lifestyle show With Love, Meghan, the two actually sat down and laughed about the "gross" rituals they shared. They specifically joked about the eyelash situation. Apparently, at the end of a long shoot day, they would all peel off their heavy false lashes and drop them into a shared Ziploc bag.
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It’s kind of wild to think about. Two of the most famous women in the world today were once sharing a bag of used glue and synthetic hair in a windowless studio.
Beyond the Briefcase
Meghan eventually quit the show midway through the second season. She knew she wanted more. She went on to do the rounds of guest spots—a cameo in 90210, a small part as a bartender in Remember Me (starring Robert Pattinson), and a FedEx girl in Horrible Bosses.
Then came Suits. That changed everything. But the "briefcase girl" label has followed her ever since. For some, it’s used as a weapon to suggest she’s "just" a girl from a game show. For others, it’s proof of her hustle.
The reality is probably somewhere in the middle. It was a job. It paid the bills. It was a stepping stone.
What You Can Learn From This
If you're looking back at your own "briefcase" phase—that job that paid the bills but didn't satisfy your soul—take a page out of this book.
- Value the Health Insurance: Don't feel guilty for taking a "substance-less" job if it provides security. Meghan was "so happy to have health insurance." That's real life.
- Recognize the Pivot Point: She didn't stay. She recognized the "pit in her stomach" and used it as fuel to audition for roles that actually required her to speak.
- Own the Narrative: Whether people agree with her "bimbo" comment or not, she chose to speak her truth about the experience years later. You get to decide how your past defines you.
If you’re curious about seeing the footage, you can still find clips of Meghan Markle on game show reruns or YouTube compilations. Look for briefcase #24. It’s a fascinating time capsule of a woman who was clearly destined for a much larger stage.
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Next time you find yourself in a job where someone is essentially telling you to "suck it in," just remember that it might just be the chapter that comes before your big break.
Actionable Insight: If you're feeling "objectified" or undervalued in your current role, start a "Mindset Audit." List three ways your current job provides for your needs (like Meghan's health insurance) and three ways it doesn't align with your long-term identity. Use that friction to plan your next career move.