Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal is a drop-dead gorgeous brunette beauty who became an instant fan fave from the moment her pics appeared in the magazine. Her wholesome good looks and absolutely killer figure combine to make her the epitome of what a Playmate represents.

Karen was born in Gary, Indiana on March 23, 1971. When she was nine years old, Karen moved with her mother and four siblings to Sawyer, Michigan, where she was very much the typical Midwestern girl. Karen was a Girl Scout and studied tap and ballet as a child, then went on to cheerlead and play clarinet in the band while in high school. Her high school nickname was 'Barbie,' due to her wholesome, sweet image.

It wasn't until a growth spurt in her late teens that Karen blossomed into the knock-out she is today. Still, she never thought of really pursuing a modeling career. Instead, Karen went to college and became a pre-school teacher. In the back of her mind, though, Karen dreamed of trying her luck at modeling. She got her breasts pumped up one size and started putting her 34-24-34 curves on the line at local swimsuit pageants. She won the Venus Swimwear Model Search, and then with her mother's support she decided to see if Playboy was interested.

Were they ever! One look at Karen's test pics and she was offered the gig as Miss December 1997. Karen's dazzling beauty made her an instant hit, and she was voted the Playmate of the Year for 1998 by the mag's readers. Karen has been busy modeling ever since, traveling the world for shoots. Her wholesome, down-to-earth nature has never left her, though. Karen's ultimate goal is still to open her own children's learning center once she has left modeling. That's still a few years away, as Karen keeps very busy these days. Fans of curvalicious brunette stunners ensure that as long as she wants to, there will be modeling work for this breathtaking babe.