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Bimbo or no bimbo?
Fellow former briefcase beauty Donna Feldman told The Post that she doesn’t feel the same way about her time on “Deal or No Deal” as Meghan Markle does.
“I disagree that I or anyone on the show was ever treated like a ‘bimbo,'” the Los Angeles-based model insisted.
Markle claimed in her “Archetypes” podcast episode released Tuesday that the game show treated the women like bimbos while speaking about the term with Paris Hilton.
Markle appeared on Season 2 of the show in 2006, and while she said she was “grateful” for the job when she was 25, she felt she was only valued for her looks.
“I would end up leaving with this pit in my stomach, knowing I was so much more than what was being objectified on the stage,” she said. “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.”
But Feldman told The Post she disagrees since an actress should understand the part she’s playing.
“Of course, you know what you’re signing up for when you’re hired as a ‘briefcase beauty,'” Feldman said. “I have gotten opportunities in my career based off the way I look, but it’s my brains, personality, and work ethic that help seal the deal and get me the job, and get clients to continue to hire me on a regular basis.”
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“It’s up to a woman to decide what experience will empower her or use it as an excuse to seek attention,” she added.
Feldman did admit that the women were judged on their looks but noted that this was a minor part of the job that helped her book other gigs.
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“It wasn’t the best feeling for any of the women’s self-esteem, but you have to remind yourself that you were hired for your presence and your positivity,” she said.
“I would say I did well for someone supposedly hired to be a ‘bimbo.'”
Feldman isn’t the only former briefcase beauty who had a positive experience.
Patricia Kara, who starred in every episode of “Deal or No Deal,” told The Post that she doesn’t remember ever being treated like a bimbo. She does, however, recall Markle as being “nice” and “quiet” but mostly kept to herself.
“It’s unfortunate that not everyone can find happiness in the things they decide to do,” Kara said of Markle’s negative comments about her time on the show, noting she’s the “only model to appear on all three versions of the show.”
“I remember a group of hard-working, strong-minded, independent women that found success in the entertainment industry,” she added.
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Earlier this week, former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Claudia Jordan also shot down Markle’s claims.
“Now Meghan…” Jordan, 49, wrote in an Instagram Story.
“For clarity — yes getting a MODELING GIG on a game show isn’t necessarily about your intellect BUT every show the executive producers picked 5 models with the most outgoing and fun personalities to place mics on who they KNEW would engage with the contestants.”
Jordan said being on the game show from 2005 to 2009 helped her further her career.
“I actually enjoyed my experience working on Deal or No Deal…” she said. “It was a step on the ladder I’ve been ascending on for 25 years that paid all my bills.”
“Deal or No Deal NEVER treated us like bimbos. We got so many opportunities because of that show, Fremantle and @nbc,” Jordan insisted.
“That’s the kind of opportunity that IS what you make it. If you just show up and don’t engage — then you’ll check and not get much out of it — but if you show up and seize your moments … Then there’s no limits to what you can do with the opportunity.”
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