Karen McDougal, a statuesque brunette with an impressive 5'8" height, was born on March 23, 1971, in Merrillville, Indiana. She is of mixed Irish and Cherokee Indian descent, with three older brothers and one younger sister. McDougal's mother remarried when she was nine years old and moved the family to Sawyer, Michigan.
Growing up, Karen studied tap dance and ballet, and her passion for music led her to become an ace clarinetist, taking first place in Michigan state competitions for four consecutive years. She was also an accomplished athlete, participating in softball, volleyball, and cheerleading for both football and basketball teams at River Valley High School. After graduating in 1989, McDougal attended Ferris State University, where she majored in Elementary Education.
After completing her education, Karen worked as a preschool teacher in Detroit and later entered a swimwear contest at a local nightclub, winning the competition. She then competed in the Venus Swimwear swimsuit competition, winning the state finals and advancing to the international finals in Florida. Her discovery by "Playboy" photographer David Mecey led to her being approached to try out for the magazine, and she was eventually chosen as the Playmate of the Month in the December 1997 issue.
McDougal's success as a Playmate continued as she was named Playmate of the Year in 1998. She was later voted the #2 Playmate of the 1990s by "Playboy" readers in November 2001. In addition to her work in "Playboy," Karen has modeled for numerous catalogs, calendars, national liquor campaigns, and posters, showcasing her fitness enthusiasm.
As an actress, McDougal has appeared in films such as "The Arena," "Charlie's Angels," "Joe Dirt," "Grind," and "The Girl Next Door." She has also hosted TV programs like "Wild On," "The Red Carpet," and "VIP Access." Outside of her acting and modeling career, Karen is an avid motorcycle rider and car collector, having even served as a promotional model at a Harley-Davidson bike show in Detroit.
