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Karen McDougal

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Karen McDougal
Preceded byInga Drozdova
Succeeded byHeather Kozar
Playboy Playmate of the Year
1998
Preceded byVictoria Silvstedt
Succeeded byHeather Kozar
Personal details
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)

Karen McDougal (born March 23 , 1971) is an American model and actress of Cherokee Indian and Irish descent.[1] She is best known for her appearances in Playboy magazine as Playmate of the Month for December 1997[1] and Playmate of the Year of 1998.[2]

McDougal began her career as a promotional model and a swimsuit model. Since her appearances in Playboy, her career has broadened to encompass appearances in a wide variety of mainstream media including print media, television and movies with mixed success. She has transitioned into fitness modelling and is pursuing hosting duties on TV. She has also inspired the creation of a fantasy art statuette and a doll. In 2001, she was voted "No. 2 Playmate of the 1990s" by Playboy readers.[3]


Early life and education

McDougal was born in Merrillville, Indiana, near Gary, Indiana.[4] She is the first daughter in the family with 3 older brothers, Bob, Dave and Jeff and a younger sister, Tina. Little is known about her family, but her mother, Carol[5], remarried when McDougal was 9 years old and the family moved to Sawyer, Michigan [6] where she remained until college. She attended River Valley High School [6] and became a cheerleader, band member, color guard, volleyball and softball player in high school.[3] McDougal has studied tap dance and ballet as a child. She is also a clarinet player, being a Michigan state champion 4 years in a row in high school.[3] Her childhood dream, prior to teaching and modeling, was to become a ballerina.[1] After graduating high school in 1989[7] , she attended Ferris State University at Big Rapids, Michigan for college for 2 years, majoring in Elementary Education.[6] Afterwards, she moved to a Detroit suburb and taught preschool there.[6] In her spare time, she works out 3 days a week to stay in shape.[3] Her first modelling assignment was being a promotional model at a Harley-Davidson bike show in Detroit.[8]

Career highlights

Playboy

In 1997, McDougal tried out and won her local Venus Swimwear swimsuit competition in Michigan. Her victory caught the eye of Playboy photographer David Mecey.[3] Soon after that she was approached by Playboy for a test shoot at Playboy Studio West which she accepted.[6] Upon completing her test shoot, she was promptly selected to return for a complete photo and video shoot and chosen as Miss December 1997.[3] Her pictorial, which was shot by photographers Richard Fegley and Stephen Wayda, has a winter theme [1] and its outdoor portion was shot in the snowy fields near Park City, Utah.[9] Her video, the "Playmate Profile", was featured on Playboy TV soon after her magazine debut.[4]

File:Karen PMOY98.jpg
Karen McDougal on the cover of Playboy, July 1998 Issue

In May 1998, she was announced to have been chosen by Hugh Hefner and fans as Playmate of the Year (PMOY) of 1998 at a luncheon at the Playboy Mansion.[10] As her reward, she was awarded $100,000 and a special edition silver Shelby Series 1 convertible with a customized Michigan license plate "PMOY 98".[2] In contrast to her Playmate pictorial, her PMOY pictorial in the July 1998 issue of Playboy has a tropical theme [2]and its outdoor portion was shot at Saint Lucia.[11]According to her interview in her Playmate of the Year "Video Centerfold", she believes her physical imperfections are her "funny" smile, her crooked pinkies which she inherited from her grandfather and her "ugly feet" which she wishes others would not look at.[5] Because of the popularity of the VH1 television series "Pop-up Video" at the time, one of the segments in her PMOY video was done as a Pop-up Video parody filled with factoids about her and Playboy.[5] During her appearance on The Magic Hour to promote her PMOY issue, McDougal demonstrated her signature pose, sideway split on TV in front of a live studio audience.[12]

Playboy has continued to publish her material in Playboy Cyber Club, Playboy Special Edition publications and Playboy Videos on different occasions based on her work at this time.

Post-Playboy

In March 1999, McDougal became the first woman to appear on the cover of Men's Fitness magazine.[3] Since then she began transitioning her career into that of a fitness model by appearing in various fitness and body building magazines such as Muscle & Fitness (January 2000), Physical (June 2004) and Iron Man (October 2005 and January 2006).[8] She appeared in a 10-page pictorial in the January 2006 issue of Iron Man as "Hardbody" of the month.[13] In an interview in the September 2006 issue of Playboy, she stated that her transition to fitness modeling was unintentional.[14]

File:XFL commercial.jpg
Karen McDougal (background) in a XFL cheerleader commercial

McDougal appeared in a series of sexy TV commercials for XFL football league on NBC and UPN with the theme of "Cheerleaders" along with Pennelope Jimenez, Rachel Sterling and other models in 2000. The most famous one featured her as one of many cheerleaders taking a shower in a locker room setting. Using clever camera angles and strategically placed objects, the commercial gave viewers the titillating illusion that the cheerleaders were nude in the shower with little left to the imagination.[15] These edgier XFL commercials backfired and caused a controversy as they were deemed too risqué by the media,[16][17]they were quietly withdrawn before the launch of 2001 XFL inaugural (and final[18]) season.

File:Karen Arena2001.JPG
Jessemina (Karen McDougal) readies for battle in The Arena

In 2001, she co-starred with Lisa Dergan in The Arena, a Roger Corman-produced, direct-to-video movie directed by Timur Bekmambetov. The entire production was shot in Russia. In her feature film debut, McDougal's character, Jessemina, is a slave girl who is forced into fighting as a female gladiator in an Ancient Roman colony by its corrupt governor. The role offered McDougal her first opportunity to act in a dramatic role and to demonstrate her physical abilities with the movie's sword fighting sequences. The movie, initially titled Gladiatrix was deemed to be a knockoff of Gladiator. Although the movie was not well received, it has turned into a lesser known cult film.[19]

Many regard her as a favorite Playmate in recent years because of her combination of beauty, "Girl next door" appeal and curvaceous figure, according to a November 2001 Playboy poll in the special edition Sexiest Playmates. In that issue, she was voted "Readers' Choice No.2 Playmate of the 1990s" (Pamela Anderson was voted No.1).[3]

File:Karen with Karen doll.jpg
Karen McDougal with her Playboy Collectors' Figure

Playboy released a limited edition doll in 2002 based on the likeness of McDougal and emphasized that it was an anatomically correct and accurate model of her statuesque physiqué. Her collectors' figure was originally slated to be the first in the series to be released, however it was delayed due to redesigns.[20] She was one of twelve contestants in the search for the new host succeeding Brooke Burke for Wild On! in 2002 (known as Wild Off!). The contest took place at The Palms in Las Vegas. Each contestant was given a "wild" challenge to complete and McDougal's challenge was to dress up as Cleopatra and roam the casino at Caesars Palace in the arms of an actor dressed up as Julius Caesar for a day. She completed her challenge and was considered an early favorite by fellow contestants, but did not advance to the final round of 5 contestants.[21] Cindy Taylor was the eventual winner of Wild Off!.[22]

McDougal collaborated with famed fantasy sculpter Bill Toma in creating a limited edition bronze statuette titled Warrior Princess in 2003. It was a revealing sculpture of a fictional female fantasy character in a standing pose using her face and figure as a template. McDougal posed for Toma in the creative process and the pedestal of each statuette bears her signature.

In spring of 2004, McDougal appeared in a photo spread in the Italian edition of Vogue with fellow Playmates, Pamela Anderson, Audra Lynn and Tishara Cousino. It was a tennis themed men's fashion spread shot in Las Vegas by photographer David LaChapelle. The spread contained her first published nudes since her contract with Playboy expired years ago. She travelled to Japan to be one of the eye candies for Scott Hall and Kevin Nash (The Outsiders) when they wrestled at Yokohama, Japan in May 2004. [23] McDougal also participated in the 50th Anniversary celebrations of Playboy throughout the year at Las Vegas, New York and Moscow with other Playmates past and present.[8]

After winning the local try out in Los Angeles, McDougal advanced to the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) 2004 RAW Diva Search special held at the Beacon Theater in New York as one of 28 finalists. The special was televised live on Spike TV with a live audience on July 15, 2004.[24] McDougal, clad in a black bikini, survived 2 rounds of elimination during the 2 hour special, only to be eliminated by the judges in the last round at the end, just prior to the selection of the final 10 contestants eligible for online voting. Her elimination was a surprise to the live audience, as she was arguably the most famous contestant not advancing to the next round.[25] Christy Hemme was eventually selected by viewers to be the 2004 WWE RAW Diva. [26]

File:Karen PMatPlay 07-2005.jpg
Karen McDougal as calendar girl of July 2005

McDougal appeared in the 2005 Playmates at Play at the Playboy Mansion swimsuit calendar as the calendar girl of July.[27] The calendar was the inaugural Playmates at Play calendar and it was shot on the grounds of Playboy Mansion in 2004.[28] It was Playboy's first attempt at creating a non-nude swimsuit calendar featuring Playmates similar in style with those from Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. While all Playmates appeared in bikinis in the calendar, McDougal and Hiromi Oshima were the only two Playmates actually wearing only painted on bikinis.

She appeared as one of the interviewees in E! True Hollywood Story of Hugh Hefner first broadcasted on April 9, 2006. McDougal briefly described her experience at the Playboy Mansion when the marriage between Hugh and Kimberley Conrad Hefner was falling apart at the time when she was Miss December 1997. In summer of 2006, McDougal appeared as a fitness model demonstrating all the exercises in a fitness training DVD with Hollywood celebrity fitness trainer Valerie Waters.[14] In November 2006, she was part of a trio of Playmates (along with Tina Marie Jordan and Katie Lohmann) that appeared in the "Celebrity Playmate Gift Guide" pictorial of Splat magazine, a paintball enthusiasts magazine. The pictorial showcased new paintball products for the 2006 holiday season.[29]

McDougal has also guest hosted TV programs (Wild On! on E!, VIP Access on Showtime) and appeared in other television programs (such as: Lovespring International, The O'Reilly Factor, Playmate edition of Russian Roulette, etc.) and movies (cameos in Joe Dirt, Charlie's Angels, Grind, The Girl Next Door and Raising Helen), music videos (singer David Lee Roth), various pin-up posters, calendars, magazine covers, advertising campaigns, promotional events, clothing, swimwear and lingerie catalogs following her success as Playmate of the Year.[8]

Personal life

File:Karen sideway split.jpg
Karen McDougal in her signature sideway split pose, learned from cheerleading in high school.[9]

McDougal's family members initially did not support her decision to pose for Playboy. Eventually, they embraced the fact and her mother appeared in interview segments of her Playmate of the Year "Video Centerfold" as a sign of support.[5]

One of her goals is to open a learning center for children.[1] Lately, she has been pursuing roles in acting and modelling and has put her learning center plans on hold. [7]McDougal is interested in pursuing hosting duties of TV or sports shows.[13]

She is one of the few Playmates that has publicly acknowledged having breast implants to enhance her figure. Since becoming Playmate of the Year, McDougal has become an advocate of breast cancer awareness, trying to use her fame to spread awareness.[30] Her family has a history of breast cancer.[30]

McDougal professes to be a chocoholic and junk food junkie even when she considers herself a "health nut".[3] When she was Playmate of the Year of 1998, she had a healthy BMI of 19. [31] Although she is a swimsuit model, she is not a proficient swimmer because of her aquaphobia.[32] She is an animal lover and owns two cats: Brittany and Brandy.[3] She has a tattoo of a cat on the second toe of her right foot to honor her cats.[32]

An avid motorcycle rider and car collector[33], she commissioned a custom-built motorcycle in 2004. Her requirements for her bike were that it had to be pink in color and had to be reliable. [34]Soon after taking delivery of her motorcycle, McDougal entered a Easyrider Competition in Pomona in 2004 and her motorcycle won Best Radical Custom award at the event.[35]

In 2006, McDougal visited Greece with her friends and they visited the ruins, including the Acropolis of Athens and several of the islands in a private yacht.[14]

McDougal is currently residing in Los Angeles[13] and Phoenix, Arizona.[34]

Quotes

I'm more mature now 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. - Savvy.com interview, August 2004[7]

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." - Centerfold on Sex, Playboy magazine, July 2005, Vol. 52, Iss. 7, pg. 113

Appearances in Playboy special editions

  • Playboy's Playmate Review Vol. 14 August 1998 - cover, pages 2-3,86-93.
  • Playboy's Girls of Winter January 1999 - pages 1,10-13, 60-63, 90-91.
  • Playboy's Playmates in Bed February 1999 - pages 3,68-69, 92-93.
  • Playboy's Celebrating Centerfolds Vol. 2 May 1999 - cover, pages 3, 44-47.
  • Playboy's Book of Lingerie Vol. 67 June 1999 - pages 36-37.
  • Playboy's Playmate Tests July 1999 - pages 64-67.
  • Playboy's Barefoot Beauties Vol. 1 January 2000 - pages 66-67,74-75.
  • Playboy's Nude Playmates May 2001 - pages 20-21.
  • Playboy's Book of Lingerie June 2001 - pages 68-69.
  • Playboy's Girlfriends August 2001 - page 95 (fan letter section).
  • Playboy's Casting Calls November 2001 - page 95 (fan letter section).
  • Playboy's Sexiest Playmates November 2001 - page 84-87.
  • Playboy's Playmates in Bed February 2002 - pages 72-73.
  • Playboy's Sexy Celebrities March 2002 - pages 54-55.
  • Playboy's Nude Playmates May 2002 - page 95 (fan letter section).

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Fegley, Richard & Wayda, Stephen. (Photographers) "Winter Wonder", Playboy, Vol. 44, Iss. 12, pg. 126-137, December 1997.
  2. ^ a b c Fegley, Richard & Wayda, Stephen. (Photographers) "Playmate of the Year: Karen McDougal takes a bow", Playboy, Vol. 45, Iss. 7, pg. 130-141, July 1998.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "About Karen" at Karen McDougal's official site Retrieved on December 2, 2006
  4. ^ a b Playboy: Playmate Profile Video Collection Featuring Miss December 1997, 1994, 1991, 1986 (VHS). USA. 1998. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |crew= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |distributor= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c d Playboy Video Centerfold: Playmate of the Year Karen McDougal (VHS & DVD). USA. 1998. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |crew= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |distributor= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e "Model of the Week: Karen McDougal" at AskMen.com Retrieved on October 20, 2006
  7. ^ a b c "Karen McDougal: The Real 'Girl Next Door'" at Savvy.com Retrieved on October 20, 2006
  8. ^ a b c d Photo gallery section of Karen McDougal's official site Retrieved December 2, 2006
  9. ^ a b Playboy CyberClub Chat Transcript: Karen McDougal, Miss December 1997 (membership required) November 6, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2006
  10. ^ "Good Day LA @ Skybar" video clip from Video Clips section of Karen McDougal's official site Retrieved on December 2, 2006
  11. ^ Playboy CyberClub Chat Transcript: Karen McDougal, Miss December 1997 (membership required) March 5, 1998 Retrieved November 9, 2006
  12. ^ "Magic Hour" video clip from Video Clips section of Karen McDougal's official site Retrieved on December 2, 2006
  13. ^ a b c Neveux, Michael. (Photographer) "Playmate Power", Iron Man, Vol. 65, Iss. 1, pg. 228-237, January 2006.
  14. ^ a b c "Pop Questions: Karen McDougal", Playboy, Vol. 53, Iss. 9, pg. 148, September 2006.
  15. ^ Schatz, Aaron. "The XFL looks ready to rumble", The Lycos 50 Daily Report, November 20, 2000. Retrieved on November 29, 2006
  16. ^ Couch, Greg. "Sex Appeal", Chicago Sun-Times, January 30, 2001. Retrieved on October 20, 2006
  17. ^ Ninemire, Valerie "XFL Cheerleaders - Xciting or Xploiting?", About.com, February 2, 2001. Retrieved on December 2, 2006
  18. ^ "XFL folds after one season", CBC News, May 11, 2001. Retrieved on November 27, 2006
  19. ^ "The Arena" review by Joe Bob Briggs Retrieved on October 20, 2006
  20. ^ Raving Toy Maniac presents "A Playmate of Your Own" Retrieved on October 20, 2006
  21. ^ Wild On!: Wild Off! Las Vegas (TV-Series). USA. 1998. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |crew= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |distributor= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Model of the Week: Cindy Taylor" at AskMen.com Retrieved on December 2, 2006
  23. ^ "Hustle-3" photo gallery at Sportsnav.com (in Japanese) Retrieved on October 20, 2006
  24. ^ "Live Television Network Special To Determine Final 10 In The Worldwide Search For The Next WWE Diva!!" (Press release). World Wrestling Entertainment. July 12, 2004. Retrieved 2006-10-27. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ RAW Diva Search Casting Special (TV-Special). USA. 2004. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |crew= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |distributor= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "WWE RAW Results: September 20, 2004" Retrieved on December 2, 2006
  27. ^ Wayda, Stephen. (Photographer) "Playboy:Playmates at Play at the Mansion - 2005 Swimsuit Calendar", John F. Turner, 2004. ISBN 140381814-2
  28. ^ "Playboy Swimsuit Calendar for 2005", Reuters by way of China Daily, July 9, 2004. Retrieved on November 9, 2006
  29. ^ "Neveux, Michael. (Photographer) "Celebrity Playmate Gift Guide", Splat, pg. 56-73, December 2006/January 2007
  30. ^ a b Martin, Jennifer. "Playmate plans to put title to good use", South Bend Tribune, July 1, 1998.
  31. ^ Creager, Ellen. "It takes effort -- and maybe anorexia -- to be model-thin", Detroit Free Press, July 21, 1998.
  32. ^ a b Playboy CyberClub Chat Transcript: Karen McDougal, Miss December 1997, PMOY 1998 (membership required) April 4, 2002. Retrieved November 9, 2006
  33. ^ Kunam, Maman. "RPM Profile: Interview with Karen McDougal", RPM, Issue 7, pg. 70-81, December 2004/January 2005.
  34. ^ a b "If a Playmate bought a Bike" - an article from Hot Bike Retrieved on October 20, 2006
  35. ^ Riggs, Curtis. "Award, Playmate and Giant bringing notoriety to Phoenix Choppers", Sonoran News, February 4, 2004. Retrieved on October 20, 2006

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