Karen McDougal is an American model and actress widely recognized for her work with Playboy magazine. She was Playmate of the Month in December 1997, Playmate of the Year in 1998, and was voted runner-up for "The Sexiest Playmate of the 1990s." McDougal gained significant media attention for her alleged nine-month affair with Donald Trump prior to his presidency.
March 23, 1971: Birth of Karen McDougal
Karen McDougal was born on March 23, 1971.
1989: High School Graduation
Karen McDougal graduated from River Valley High School in 1989.
December 1997: First Playboy Shoot
After winning a swimsuit competition, Karen McDougal had her first test shoot with Playboy in December 1997, which led to her being chosen as Miss December 1997.
December 1997: Playboy Playmate of the Month
In December 1997, Karen McDougal was featured as Playboy's Playmate of the Month. Her pictorial had a winter theme and was shot in Utah.
December 1997: Playboy Miss December
In December 1997, Karen McDougal was featured as Playmate of the Month in Playboy magazine.
May 1998: Playmate of the Year Announcement
Karen McDougal was announced as Playmate of the Year at a luncheon at the Playboy Mansion in May 1998.
July 1998: Playmate of the Year Feature and Appearances
In July 1998, Karen McDougal was featured in the Playboy Playmate of the Year pictorial. She also appeared on the cover of the magazine and on "The Magic Hour."
1998: Playboy Playmate of the Year
Karen McDougal was chosen as the Playmate of the Year in 1998.
1998: Playmate of the Year
Karen McDougal was named Playmate of the Year in 1998. Notably, her mother appeared in interview segments of her "Video Centerfold," demonstrating her support for McDougal's achievement.
March 1999: First Woman on Men's Fitness Cover
Karen McDougal became the first woman to appear on the cover of Men's Fitness magazine in March 1999.
January 2000: Muscle & Fitness Appearance
Karen McDougal was featured in Muscle & Fitness magazine in January 2000.
2001: Readers' Choice: Runner-Up Sexiest Playmate of the 1990s
In 2001, Playboy readers voted Karen McDougal as the runner-up for "The Sexiest Playmate of the 1990s."
2001: Controversial XFL Commercial Appearance
Karen McDougal appeared in a series of commercials for the XFL football league that were considered too risqué and pulled from the air in 2001.
2001: The Arena Film Release
Karen McDougal co-starred in "The Arena," a direct-to-video film directed by Timur Bekmambetov in 2001. This marked her debut in a dramatic role, showcasing her acting and sword fighting abilities.
2001: The Arena Film Release
Karen McDougal starred in "The Arena," a direct-to-video film, in 2001.
2002: Playboy Releases Karen McDougal Doll
Playboy released a limited-edition doll based on Karen McDougal's likeness in 2002.
2002: Wild On! Host Search
In 2002, McDougal participated in a contest to become the new host of the show "Wild On!" Her challenge involved dressing as Cleopatra at Caesars Palace. Though considered a favorite, she didn't reach the final round.
2002: Interest in Posing Nude Again
During an online chat in 2002, Karen McDougal expressed interest in posing nude for Playboy again.
2003: Warrior Princess Statuette
Karen McDougal collaborated with artist Bill Toma to create a limited edition bronze statuette called "Warrior Princess" in 2003.
May 2004: Appearance at Wrestling Bout
Karen McDougal traveled to Yokohama, Japan in May 2004 to make an appearance at the wrestling match between Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.
June 2004: Physical Magazine Appearance
Karen McDougal appeared in Physical magazine in June 2004.
July 15, 2004: WWE Diva Search
On July 15, 2004, McDougal appeared as a finalist in the WWE Diva Search, a televised competition. She progressed through two rounds before being eliminated just before the final selection.
2004: Motorcycle Award
McDougal won the "Best Radical Custom" award at an Easyriders motorcycle competition in Pomona, California, in 2004, showcasing her passion for motorcycles.
2004: Playboy Mansion Photoshoot
The Playmates at Play calendar, featuring Karen McDougal, was shot at the Playboy Mansion in 2004.
October 2005: Iron Man Magazine Cover and Feature
Karen McDougal was featured on the cover of Iron Man magazine in October 2005.
2005: Playmates at Play Calendar
Karen McDougal was featured as Miss July in the 2005 Playmates at Play at the Playboy Mansion swimsuit calendar.
January 2006: Iron Man Magazine Feature
Karen McDougal was featured as "Hardbody" of the month in the January 2006 issue of Iron Man magazine.
April 9, 2006: E! True Hollywood Story Appearance
McDougal was interviewed for an episode of E! True Hollywood Story about Hugh Hefner, which aired on April 9, 2006. She spoke about her time at the Playboy Mansion.
June 2006: Alleged Meeting with Trump at Playboy Mansion
According to McDougal's memoirs, she first encountered Donald Trump in June 2006 at a party hosted by Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion. This marked the beginning of their alleged relationship.
November 2006: Splat Magazine Feature
Karen McDougal was featured in a "Celebrity Playmate Gift Guide" pictorial for Splat magazine in November 2006.
2006: Alleged Affair with Donald Trump Begins
Karen McDougal's alleged affair with Donald Trump started in 2006.
2006: Alleged Affair with Donald Trump Begins
McDougal alleged that she had an affair with Donald Trump that began in 2006. This alleged affair became a subject of significant media attention and controversy.
2006: Daniels Alleges Affair with Trump
Stormy Daniels alleged that she had an affair with Trump in 2006.
April 2007: McDougal Ends Alleged Affair
In April 2007, McDougal ended her alleged relationship with Trump, citing feelings of guilt and offense at derogatory comments he made about her mother and an acquaintance.
June 2007: Iron Man Magazine Cover and Feature
Karen McDougal was on the cover of the June 2007 issue of Iron Man magazine.
2007: Alleged Affair with Donald Trump Ends
Karen McDougal's alleged affair with Donald Trump ended in 2007.
2007: Residences in Los Angeles and Phoenix
As of 2007, Karen McDougal resided in both Los Angeles, California, and Phoenix, Arizona.
2007: Alleged Affair with Donald Trump Ends
McDougal's alleged affair with Donald Trump reportedly ended in 2007. The details of their relationship and its end were widely discussed in media.
March 2008: Interviu Magazine Feature
In March 2008, McDougal was featured in a topless pictorial and interview for the Spanish magazine "Interviu," where she openly discussed her relationship with actor Bruce Willis.
November 2009: Iron Man Magazine Feature
Karen McDougal, along with fellow Playmate Katie Lohmann, was featured as "Hardbody" of the month in the November 2009 issue of Iron Man magazine.
2010: Pharmore Alternatives Co-ownership
Karen McDougal became a co-owner of Pharmore Alternatives in 2010, a company specializing in health and wellness supplements.
January 2011: AVN Adult Entertainment Expo Appearance
In January 2011, McDougal attended the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo, promoting products from Pharmore Alternatives, a health and wellness company she co-owned.
June 20, 2016: Interview with Dylan Howard
On June 20, 2016, Dylan Howard, AMI's chief content officer, interviewed McDougal for several hours regarding her alleged affair with Donald Trump.
August 5, 2016: AMI Offers to Buy McDougal's Story
After McDougal spoke with ABC News, AMI offered her $150,000 on August 5, 2016, to acquire the exclusive rights to her story about the alleged affair.
November 2016: Wall Street Journal Report
The Wall Street Journal reported in November 2016 that McDougal had alleged an affair with Donald Trump from 2006 to 2007. They also revealed that AMI, the National Enquirer's owner, had paid McDougal $150,000 for her story but never published it.
2016: McDougal Receives Hush Money
In 2016, Karen McDougal received hush money.
2016: Trump Lawyer Pays McDougal Hush Money Before Election
In 2016, Trump's lawyer paid Karen McDougal hush money to suppress her story alleging an affair with Trump.
2016: Trump Affair in Headlines
News of McDougal's alleged affair with Donald Trump made national headlines before and after the 2016 United States presidential election.
2016: Trump Campaign Denies Affair
The Trump campaign, through Hope Hicks, denied the alleged affair between McDougal and Trump in 2016, dismissing it as "totally untrue."
January 2017: Breast Implant Removal
In January 2017, McDougal, an advocate for breast cancer awareness, chose to have her breast implants removed due to health concerns.
February 2018: Ronan Farrow's New Yorker Article
Ronan Farrow published an article in The New Yorker in February 2018, corroborating the alleged affair between McDougal and Trump and highlighting AMI's purchase of her story. The article drew upon McDougal's handwritten memoirs, providing detailed accounts of their alleged relationship.
March 2018: Lawsuit Against AMI
McDougal initiated a lawsuit against AMI in March 2018, contesting the validity of the non-disclosure agreement she signed regarding her alleged affair with Donald Trump.
March 22, 2018: Interview with Anderson Cooper
McDougal gave a detailed interview to Anderson Cooper on March 22, 2018, where she discussed her alleged affair with Trump, apologized to Melania Trump, and revealed further details about their relationship.
April 19, 2018: Settlement with AMI
On April 19, 2018, McDougal reached a settlement with AMI, which allowed her to speak publicly about the alleged affair with Donald Trump, releasing her from the non-disclosure agreement.
July 2, 2018: Cohen's Lawyer Releases Recording to CNN
On July 2, 2018, Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, released the recording of Trump and Cohen to CNN.
July 2018: New York Times Reports on Secret Recording of Trump and Cohen
In July 2018, The New York Times reported on a recording of Trump and his lawyer Michael Cohen discussing payments to Karen McDougal.
August 2018: Cohen Pleads Guilty to Campaign Finance Violations
In August 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations related to hush money payments to McDougal and Stormy Daniels.
2018: Political Affiliation
In 2018, McDougal publicly stated that she was a registered Republican voter.
May 2019: Southern District of New York Investigates Hush Money Payments
In May 2019, the Southern District of New York investigated the role of Trump and others in concealing hush money payments.
September 2019: House Judiciary Committee Prepares to Investigate Hush Money Payments
In September 2019, the House Judiciary Committee prepared to investigate Trump's involvement in the 2016 hush money payments.
December 5, 2019: McDougal Sues Fox News for Defamation
On December 5, 2019, McDougal filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News and Tucker Carlson.
September 24, 2020: Court Dismisses McDougal's Defamation Lawsuit
On September 24, 2020, a judge dismissed McDougal's defamation suit against Fox News, ruling that Carlson's comments were rhetorical hyperbole and not intended as factual statements.
June 2021: FEC Finds National Enquirer Violated Election Laws
In June 2021, the FEC found that the National Enquirer violated election laws by paying McDougal, but the commission was deadlocked on whether to further investigate Trump.
March 2023: Manhattan District Attorney Asks Trump to Appear Before Grand Jury
In March 2023, the Manhattan district attorney asked Trump to appear before a grand jury regarding the hush money payments.
April 2024: Pecker Testifies About Hush Money Conspiracy
In April 2024, Pecker testified about how he, Howard, and Cohen conspired to silence McDougal's story.
May 3, 2024: Hicks Admits to Trump's Cover-Up Attempt
On May 3, 2024, Hope Hicks admitted that Trump attempted to cover up the affair with McDougal.
May 13, 2024: Jury Hears Taped Conversation and Cohen Testimony
On May 13, 2024, the trial jury heard the taped conversation between Trump and Cohen and Cohen testified about Trump's response to his affair with Stormy Daniels.
May 14, 2024: Cohen Testifies on McDougal Payment and Recording's Authenticity
On May 14, 2024, Cohen testified that the hush money paid to McDougal was intended to help Trump's election chances and confirmed that he did not alter the recording of the conversation with Trump.