Biography

Strikingly tall (5'8"), shapely, and statuesque brunette knockout Karen McDougal was born on March 23, 1971 in Merrillville, Indiana. She's of mixed Irish and Cherokee Indian descent. Karen has three older brothers and one younger sister. McDougal's mother remarried when she was nine and moved the family to Sawyer, Michigan. Karen studied tap dance and ballet as a kid. McDougal attended River Valley High School. She was an ace clarinetist who took 1st place in Michigan state competitions for four years in a row. In addition, Karen also was a member of the softball and volleyball teams as well as a cheerleader for both the football and basketball teams. After graduating from high school in 1989, McDougal attended Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, where she majored in Elementary Education.

After finishing college Karen moved to Detroit and worked as a preschool teacher. She entered a swimwear contest at a local nightclub and won it. McDougal then competed in the Venus Swimwear swimsuit competition in Michigan, won the state finals, and moved on to the international finals in Florida. Karen was then discovered by "Playboy" photographer David Mecey. She was approached by "Playboy" to try out for being a Playmate and was eventually chosen as the Playmate of the Month in the December, 1997 issue of the famous men's magazine. McDougal was named Playmate of the Year in 1998. In November, 2001 Karen was voted the #2 Playmate of the 1990's by "Playboy" readers. She has been featured in many "Playboy" videos and posed for a handful of newsstand special editions.

McDougal in the wake of her Playmate stint has modeled for numerous catalogs, calendars, national liquor campaigns, and posters. A hardcore fitness enthusiast, Karen has done pictorials in and/or graced the covers of countless fitness magazines (she has the distinction of being the first woman to be featured on the cover of "Men's Fitness" magazine). McDougal not only had a lead role as fierce warrior woman Jessemina in "The Arena," but also popped up in small parts in the films "Charlie's Angels," "Joe Dirt," "Grind," and "The Girl Next Door." She has served as a host of such TV programs as "Wild On," "The Red Carpet," and "VIP Access." Outside of acting and modeling, Karen is also an avid motorcycle rider -- her first modeling assignment was as a promotional model at a Harley-Davidson bike show in Detroit -- and car collector.
- IMDb mini biography by: woodyanders

I have to admit I was completely smitten when the guy who delivers my bottled water said, "You have the face of an angel and the body of a goddess."

I'm more mature and less shy -- that happens when you pose nude -- but I've always put the feelings of others first. I'm just very nurturing and love to take care of people.

[on being named "Hardbody of the Month" in the November, 2009 issue of "Iron Man" magazine] It just so happened that I was in great shape, so they started using me in fitness magazines. I think it's great that at age 38 I'm capable of doing fitness stuff.

I'm more mature and less shy--that happens when you pose nude--but I've always put the feelings of others first. I'm just very nurturing and love to take care of people.