Police are hunting a US reality TV contestant, after his Playboy model wife was found murdered.

Jasmine Fiore, 28, was discovered strangled and stuffed in a suitcase in Orange County California on Saturday morning.

Ryan Jenkins, 32, disappeared after reporting her missing later that day, and is being treated by cops as a "person of interest" amid allegations their marriage was on the rocks and Fiore planned to leave him, reports TMZ.com.

The Canadian businessman recently appeared on VH1 show Megan wants a Millionaire, where he battled for the affections of blonde model Megan Hauserman.

He is thought to have met and married Fiore shortly after shooting on the show wrapped.