You know that feeling when you're at work and you make a mistake so loud, so public, and so expensive that you just want the floor to swallow you whole? Now imagine doing that in front of millions of people while Drew Carey watches. That’s exactly what happened to Manuela Arbelaez from The Price Is Right. She didn't just stumble over a word or trip on a rug. She accidentally gave away a $21,960 Hyundai Sonata. Honestly, it remains one of the most genuine, "oh crap" moments in the history of game shows.
But there is so much more to her than just that one viral clip that still circles the internet every few months. Manuela isn't just a "model" on a set; she's a pioneer who broke barriers on one of the longest-running shows in television history.
The Day Manuela Arbelaez From The Price Is Right Broke the Internet
It was 2015. A contestant named Andrea was playing "Five Price Tags." She had three chances to guess the correct price of a new car. She guessed wrong on her first try. Manuela, who has been with the show since 2009, moved to reveal the tag. But then, she kept going. Her hand just... slipped. She pulled the "WIN" tag before the contestant even made her second guess.
The look on Manuela's face was pure, unadulterated horror.
She tried to hide behind the set pieces. She looked like she wanted to disappear into the drywall. Drew Carey, being the pro he is, just laughed and told the contestant, "Congratulations, Manuela just gave you a car!" Most people think she got fired. They assume the producers were livid. Actually, the opposite happened. The clip went mega-viral, the show got a ton of free press, and Manuela kept her job. She even tweeted later that day that she wasn't in trouble. Sometimes, being human is the best PR a show can get.
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Breaking the "Model" Mold
Before she was a household name for game show fans, Manuela was born in Medellín, Colombia. She moved to the United States in 2006. She wasn't just handed a spot on the stage. She earned it through a reality competition called The Price Is Right Model Search. She didn't win—she came in as a finalist—but the producers saw something in her. They liked her energy. They liked her vibe. They hired her anyway.
She became the first Hispanic model in the show's history. That’s a big deal. For decades, the show had a very specific look, and Manuela changed the DNA of the "Barker's Beauty" legacy. She brought a different cultural perspective and a massive amount of charisma that didn't feel manufactured. She’s stayed on the show for over 15 years. That kind of longevity is unheard of in the industry.
Why She’s Still on the Show After 15 Years
Why does she stay? Usually, models use the show as a stepping stone for a year or two and then bolt for Hollywood. Manuela is different. She has talked openly about how the set feels like a family.
- She survived the transition from the old guard to the new era.
- She’s worked through thousands of episodes.
- She has become a mentor to newer models joining the rotation.
Working on The Price Is Right isn't just about standing next to a refrigerator and smiling. It’s a technical job. You have to know the mechanics of dozens of games. You have to hit marks while live cameras are moving around you. You have to react to contestants who are often losing their minds with excitement. Manuela is a master of the "react." If a contestant is screaming, she’s right there with them. If they lose a heartbreaker, you can see the genuine disappointment on her face.
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Beyond the Big Wheel
Manuela hasn't just stayed in the studio at CBS Television City. She’s branched out. You might have spotted her in music videos—specifically Robin Thicke’s "It’s 2013" era—or making guest appearances on The Bold and the Beautiful. She’s also a mother now. If you follow her on social media, you see a completely different side of her. She’s candid about the struggles of balancing a high-profile TV gig with raising a kid. It’s not all glitz and sequins.
There's also the business side. Being Manuela Arbelaez from The Price Is Right means you are a brand. She has navigated the shift from traditional TV fame to the world of social media influencers. She’s done it without losing the "girl next door" quality that made people forgive her for the $22,000 mistake.
Lessons from the "Car Mistake"
We can actually learn a lot from how she handled that blunder.
- Own it immediately. She didn't try to blame the machinery or the contestant. She just froze and accepted her fate.
- Humor is a shield. By laughing at herself on Twitter immediately after the airing, she took the ammunition away from the trolls.
- Value over perfection. The producers kept her because her value to the show—her personality and rapport with Drew—was worth way more than one Hyundai Sonata.
The Reality of Being a Game Show Legend
People often ask if the models actually like the prizes. Honestly? Probably not all of them. But Manuela treats a floor polisher like it’s a gold bar. That’s the craft. She’s an underrated actress in that sense. She sells the dream.
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The show has changed a lot since the Bob Barker days. It’s more inclusive. It’s faster. The games are flashier. Manuela has been the bridge between the old-school vibe and the modern era. She’s seen contestants pass out, she’s seen people break the Plinko board, and she’s seen the transition to high-definition everything.
What’s most impressive is her resilience. In an industry that often treats women as replaceable ornaments, she has made herself indispensable. She’s a part of the show’s iconography now. When people think of the modern era of The Price Is Right, they think of Drew Carey’s glasses and Manuela’s laugh.
How to Follow the Manuela Blueprint for Your Own Career
If you want to have the kind of career longevity Manuela has, stop trying to be perfect. Perfection is boring. People don't connect with robots; they connect with the person who accidentally reveals the price of a car too early.
- Build a Niche: She didn't try to be every kind of model. She became the game show model.
- Handle Public Failure with Grace: If you mess up a presentation or a project, don't hide. Admit the error, laugh if appropriate, and move on.
- Stay Loyal: In a world of job-hopping, there is massive value in becoming a "legacy" member of a team.
Manuela Arbelaez isn't just a face on a screen. She’s a reminder that even when you fail in front of millions of people, you can still come out on top if you have the talent and the personality to back it up. She turned a potential career-ending blunder into the most famous moment of her life, and she's still smiling today.
To keep up with her latest episodes, check your local listings for The Price Is Right or follow her verified social media accounts for behind-the-scenes looks at the longest-running game show in history. Watching her work is a masterclass in professional poise and genuine human reaction.