Kara Monaco

{{short description|American model (born 1983)}} {{Infobox Playboy Playmate  | name = Kara Monaco | image = Kara_Monaco_2010.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Monaco in 2010 | issue = June 2005 | birth_name = | birth_place = Lakeland, Florida<ref name=wekingly /> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=y|1983|2|26}} | height = {{Height|ft=5|in=7}}<ref name=wekingly /> | preceded = Jamie Westenhiser | succeeded = Qiana Chase | pmoy-year = 2006 | pmoy-preceded = Tiffany Fallon | pmoy-succeeded = Sara Jean Underwood }}

'''Kara Monaco''' (born February 26, 1983)<ref name=wekingly>{{cite web|url=http://wekinglypigs.com/cgi-bin/nand/search/pmstat?browse=%3A%3ACONFIG%3A%3Amodelbrowse&key=monaco%2C+kara&limit=0|title=Playmate data|access-date=February 13, 2010}}</ref> is an American model. She was chosen as Playmate of the Month by ''Playboy'' magazine in June 2005. She appeared on the cover of the June 2006 issue of ''Playboy'' as the 2006 Playmate of the Year.

==Early life== Kara Monaco was born on February 26, 1983, in Lakeland, Florida.<ref name=wekingly /> She worked as a bartender, modeled swimwear and was a lingerie model. Monaco is a former competitive gymnast, and has spent time as a dance team coach in addition to her fitness video work. She also worked at Disney World, where she was one of the performers who portrayed characters such as Cinderella and Snow White in the resort.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://cartermatt.com/25296/big-brother-14-spoilers-contestant-kara-monacos-modeling-past/| title='Big Brother 14' spoilers: Contestant Kara Monaco's modeling past| work=CarterMatt| date=5 July 2012| access-date=20 July 2012| archive-date=24 July 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724075458/http://cartermatt.com/25296/big-brother-14-spoilers-contestant-kara-monacos-modeling-past/| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://starcasm.net/archives/164064 |title = Kara Monaco of Big Brother 14 Playboy photos * starcasm.net|date = 5 July 2012}}</ref> She is not related to fellow model and April 1997 Playboy Playmate Kelly Monaco.

==Career== [[File:Ida at Playboy Event with Kara Monaco.jpg|thumb|Kara (right) with fellow Playmate Ida Ljungqvist working at a promotional event in the Playboy Mansion.]] Monaco has appeared in various reality television series, such as ''The Girls Next Door'', ''Keeping Up with the Kardashians'' and ''Big Brother 14''. Besides her Playmate appearance, she has been a part of various other ''Playboy'' related media, such as the 2006 ''Playmates at Play'' swimsuit calendar and ''Playboy Special Edition Girls of Summer''.

Monaco appeared in ''FHM'' and ''Men's Fitness'' magazines. Her connection with ''Playboy'' began when she was chosen as one of "Playboy's Sexiest Bartenders 2004" and she appeared on the cover of ''Playboy Special Edition Girls of Summer'' in August 2004. Later, Monaco was chosen as Playmate of the Month by ''Playboy'' magazine for June 2005. That same year, she participated in a home video fitness program, ''Envy'', the name "Vala" (the "V" in "Envy"),<ref name=envy>{{cite web|url=http://www.lionsgatepublicity.com/epk/envygirls/index_hv.html |title=Lions Gate Publicity, EnvyGirls |access-date=20 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103171933/http://lionsgatepublicity.com/epk/envygirls/index_hv.html |archive-date=January 3, 2010 }}</ref> and acted together with C.J. Gibson, sister of Playmate Raquel Gibson. In June 2006, she was chosen as Playmate of the Year and later appeared in episodes of the E! reality television series ''The Girls Next Door'' which followed the lives of Playboy creator Hugh Hefner and his girlfriends.

In 2006, Monaco also appeared in the game show ''Identity'' and the television film ''Sideliners''. She also appeared in the 2006 "Playmates at Play" swimsuit calendar. In 2007, Monaco appeared in three episodes of ''Up Close with Carrie Keagan''; an episode of ''Model Dating: Hawaii''; and on an episode of ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'', portraying Miss America for a skit. Branching off from reality television, Monaco portrayed Michelle in two episodes of the soap opera ''Passions''. Monaco continued to make guest appearances in ''The Girls Next Door'' throughout 2007 and 2008. In 2008, she appeared in three episodes of another reality show, ''Mind of a Model''.

On July 4, 2012, Monaco was revealed to be one of 16 houseguests participating in the fourteenth edition of the reality competition series ''Big Brother''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.realitynation.com/tv-shows/big-brother/bb14-promo-reveals-new-houseguests/ |title=Big Brother 14 Promo Reveals New Houseguests! - Reality Nation |access-date=2012-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708014245/http://www.realitynation.com/tv-shows/big-brother/bb14-promo-reveals-new-houseguests/ |archive-date=2012-07-08 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/big-brother-14-houseguests-345577|title='Big Brother 14' Houseguests Revealed, New Twist Announced|date=2012-07-05|first=Philiana|last=Ng|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> Monaco was mentored by ''Big Brother 10'' winner Dan Gheesling. She was evicted from the show on July 19 which was Day 13 in the house.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://snarkfood.com/big-brother-2012-eviction-results-recap-week-one/316630/|title = Big Brother 2012 Eviction Results Recap: Week One| work=Snark Food |date = 19 July 2012}}</ref> Monaco was the second person evicted, coming in 15th place. {{Clear}}

==References== {{reflist}} https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/girls-next-level/id1637803173?i=1000642444991

== External links == {{commons category|Kara Monaco}} * {{IMDb name|id=1985600|name=Kara Monaco}} * {{Twitter}} * {{instagram|karamonaco#}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monaco, Kara}} Category:1983 births Category:Glamour models Category:Living people Category:People from Lakeland, Florida Category:People from Orlando, Florida Category:2000s Playboy Playmates Category:Playboy Playmates of the Year Category:Big Brother (American TV series) contestants Category:Lake Brantley High School alumni