Melissa Cortez (born December 27 in San Bernardino, CA) is an American Model and former cheerleader for the Los Angeles Rams. She appeared as a Barker's Beauty for one week on The Price is Right courtesy of a contest she entered and won.
Early Life[]
Native of San Bernardino, California. Melissa Cortez is perhaps somewhat known for her background in cheerleading as she was a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Rams and also had career goals & dreams of becoming a professional dancer and a model.
Price is Right audition[]
In March-April 1994, Melissa learned of a local contest for the television game show The Price is Right and "Barker's Beauties Month" as the show, since October 1993, has been auditioning various models to permanently replace 18-year veteran Dian Parkinson, who parted ways with the series back in June. Melissa decided to give it shot and cast in her entry for the contest. After interviewing and auditioning nearly 500 or more so women, Cortez was the chosen winner of the contest, representing Los Angeles.
The contest was also ran in three additional cities, Dallas Texas, Detroit Michigan and Miami Florida with the winners selected from those three cities being flown out to Los Angeles to appear as a Barker's Beauty for one week. Along with Melissa, the other three lucky winners of the contest were Tandra Cromer, representing Dallas, Michelle Hunter, representing Detroit and Lisa Lopez, representing Miami all appeared as Barker's Beauties on The Price is Right for one week during "Barker's Beauties Month". Melissa made her televised Barker's Beauty debut on (airdate) March 7, 1994.
In addition to appearing as a one week Barker's Beauty, Melissa & the other potential candidates had also appeared alongside host Bob Barker & model Holly Hallstrom on Vicki Lawrence's talk show Vicki! to talk about their experience working on television's longest-running game show (Melissa, Tandra & Michelle had already taped their weeks of shows while Lisa was scheduled to tape her week of shows the week after this talk show appearance) and what they hope to accomplish for the future.
Unfortunately, none of the ladies from the contest were chosen as the permanent Barker's Beauty. Duluth Minnesota native Gena Lee Nolin, who made her auditioning debut on May 3, was the one chosen as the permanent replacement although it wasn't officially announced until the Season 23rd Premiere episode the following September.
Gallery[]
Melissa as a Barker's Beauty on The Price is Right during her one week stint in March 1994.
Melissa as a Los Angeles Rams Cheerleader
