Facts About Mariela Arteaga, a Deal or No Deal Suitcase Girl

If you've ever watched the show "Deal or No Deal" then you're familiar with the pretty models that hold the money suitcases on the game. Perhaps you have your favorites. This profile will highlight Mariela Arteaga, who joined as a "Deal or No Deal" model in 2008. She holds suitcase #8.

Here are some facts about Mariela Arteaga.

Background: Mariela Arteaga, who is in her 20's, was born in Coconut Grove, Florida and raised in Miami, Florida. Mariela is Cuban, Venezuelan, and Trinidadian. She speaks fluent Spanish and English.

Education: Mariela has been a dancer since she was young. She attended magnet dance programs in elementary and middle school. She attended the New World School of the Arts High School, a prestigious school, and graduated with honors in classical ballet.

While attending Florida International University, Mariela danced for the Miami Heat dance team. She left the dance team two years later to attend graduate school, which she completed in 2005 with a master's degree in social work.

Work experience: Mariela has worked as a middle school and high school social worker. As for the entertainment industry, she has been in a number of commercials and magazines and toured as a dancer for artists including rapper and producer Sean P. Diddy Combs and singers Ashlee Simpson and Julio Iglesias.

Major television debut: Mariela made her television debut when she tried out for a spot in the CW network show, "Pussycat Dolls Presents: The Search for the Next Doll," which aired in March and April 2007. Mariela competed against eight other girls. She made it to the fifth episode when she was the fourth girl eliminated.

On the show, Mariela impressed judges with her dancing ability and her ability to do high kicks and graceful turns. Mariela did not, however, have much of a singing voice, which she admitted on the show. She was a good sport though singing when her performances called for it.

Recent commercial work: You may have seen Mariela recently on a advertisement on godaddy.com. In the commercial, which is of a comic nature, Mariela plays the character S. Knowso, one of the girls on trial and accused of enhancing her image. It is implied that the girls on trial have had their breasts enhanced. With her chest propped up in a way that they look larger for this commercial role, we see a Mariela speaking Spanish and appearing to not understand the line of questioning regarding any enhancements.

After the commercial's star Danica Patrick admits to enhancement, she reveals she enhanced her image through Go Daddy's Web site services, Mariela is one of several girls to open her shirt to reveal godaddy.com t-shirts. The Mariela's role was small, but a treat for those that weren't aware that Mariela had found work after her appearance on "Pussycat Dolls Presents: The Search for the Next Doll."