Excerpt from KarenMcDougal.com:
I was born in Indiana and spent the earlier years of my childhood there. When my Mom got remarried when I was in the 4th grade, my family and I moved to Michigan. At that time, I had 3 older brothers (Bob, Dave and Jeff). Soon thereafter, my baby sister (Tina) arrived. My brothers, sister and I had a great time growing up in the country where we found lots of mischief to get into!
I was quite active in high school and spent most of my time as a member of the Softball Team, Volleyball Team, Band Member, and Cheerleading Squad. I seemed to have mastered the clarinet and took 1st place in the Michigan State Competitions four years running. Besides that, marching season was the most fun for me. I was in the Flag Core for 6 years. Our Marching Band was awesome. We took 1st place every year along with the Color Guard (flag twirlers). Best of all was cheerleading. I was a 4 year cheerleader (and Captain) for Basketball and Football. Cheerleading was certainly one of the greatest highlights of high school for me.
I graduated high school in 1989 and went on to Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. After college, I moved to Detroit so I could teach Pre-kindergarten. I've worked with kids all of my life (since I was 8) and find it quite rewarding. It has always been a dream of mine to open a learning center for deprived children. Someday!!!!
In my spare time, I started to work out so I could stay tone and physically fit. With my busy schedule at the time, I tried to squeeze 3 days in a week. As much as I ate then (and still do), I should have been in the gym every day!!!!
It was then that a friend told me to enter the Venus Swimwear Contest at a local night club. I won the 1st round of competition and was therefore invited to the finals. After winning the Michigan State Finals, I went to the international Finals in Florida (I guess my workouts were paying off!!!). Showing some obvious strengths at the Finals (I will be modest), I was offered many promising contracts there. This is where I started to get introduced to the whole modeling world. It is there that I met David, a Playboy photographer, who offered me an opportunity to try out for Playboy.
About a month later, I flew to Los Angeles to test for Playboy. I was so nervous! I did not know what to expect. Remember, I was a small town girl from Michigan! After David took the test pictures in the Playboy Studios, they called me just 2 days later and asked me if I could schedule a photo shoot with them the following week. I was so excited! A couple of weeks later, I got the unexpected news that I was going to be Miss December 1997. I honestly didn't think that I was going to be accepted considering that Playboy has tens of thousands of girls apply every year.
Of course, things got even better. After more than doubling all the other 1997 Playmates votes (through Playboy TV, Playboy Online and through Fan Call-ins), I won Playmate of the Year. Now this, I really didn’t expect! I think being picked to be the 1998 PMOY was a huge honor. I spent a year jetting around representing Playboy at all kinds of charity events, shows, parties and benefits as PMOY. What a year!!!!
In November of 2001, I was selected the #2 Playmate of the 90's by the Playboy readers (Reader’s Choice - Special Edition)...…only to be squeezed-out by Pam Anderson (oh, politics!). I continue to support Playboy and have represented them as a spokesperson at several special events.
With my notoriety from Playboy and my ability to look good and stay fit (there’s that modesty again), I have been given the opportunity to experience a lot of other work as well; modeling for Muscle and Fitness, 1st women on the cover of Men’s Fitness Magazine, large national liquor campaigns, beer ads, catalogs, calendars, posters, etc. In addition, I wanted to try my luck in commercials and acting as well. I've done a few commercials, talk shows, game shows, 5 movies (Charlie’s Angels, Adventures of Joe Dirt, The Arena, The Grind and Raising Helen. I've also hosted numerous times for E! Wild On. Tune in!
I really enjoy working. I have a lot of fun in front of the camera. But, I certainly like to relax when I am not working by hitting the gym or sitting at home listening to music (sometimes loud and sometimes mellow). My two cats, Brittany and Brandy like to hang out with me as well. They are the only "kids" I have and they are so sweet. Sometimes, I like getting in my car and taking a drive…I like speed! Oh, by the way, I still like to eat!!!!
