{{short description|Norwegian model}} {{about||the Norwegian handball player|Monica Vik Hansen}} {{Infobox person | name=Monica Hansen | birth_name= | image= File:Monica Hansen 4.jpg | caption= | awards= 1997 Miss Norway | occupation = Model and television host | birth_date= | birth_place= Tønsberg, Norway | height={{height|m=1.78}} | website= http://www.monicahansen.com/ }} '''Monica Hansen''' is a Norwegian model and the 1997 Miss Norway.<ref name="fox"/>
==Early life== Hansen was raised in the town of Tønsberg, Norway.<ref name=pby />
==Modeling career== Hansen began her modeling career with the Elite modeling agency.<ref name=imbd>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2566109/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |access-date=February 25, 2014 |title=Monica Hansen bio |website=IMDb}}</ref> She was entered into the 1997 Miss Universe Norway pageant by her friend as a joke, but went on to win the contest becoming the 1997 Miss Norway. After winning, she was unable to compete at the Miss Universe pageant due to an illness. On the way to the airport en route to the competition she experienced acute pain and required surgery to remove her gallbladder.<ref name=fox>{{cite news|title=Former Miss Norway Disses Beauty Pageants, Drinks Guys Under Tables |work=Fox News |date=2010-02-16|url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2009/05/01/miss-norway-disses-beauty-pageants-drinks-guys-tables/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205091712/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2009/05/01/miss-norway-disses-beauty-pageants-drinks-guys-tables/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 5, 2009}}</ref><ref name=pby /> Hansen appeared in a 1997 issue of ''Perfect 10'' magazine, when she came in second behind Ashley Degenford in ''Perfect 10'' magazine's first annual model search.<ref>{{cite web|title = TV.com Bio|url = http://www.tv.com/marisa-miller/person/246237/biography.html|access-date = 2008-09-18}}</ref> In 1999 she was a runway model for the Pax TV television series ''Destination Stardom'' filmed in Honolulu, Hawaii.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/1999/08/06/features/story2.html |author=Tim Ryan |access-date=February 25, 2014 |newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |title=Cameras roll for instant stardom |date=August 6, 1999}}</ref>
Hansen has posed for magazines including ''Esquire'', ''Maxim'', and ''Stuff''. In 2006 she was named Maxim's woman of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2009/01/monica-hansen-maxim-model-sues-plastic-surgeon/ |title=Monica Hansen, Maxim Model, Sues Plastic Surgeon |date=January 26, 2009 |access-date=February 25, 2014 |publisher=Hollywood Gossip}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/playboy-model-monica-hansen-sues-dr-leonard-hochstein-photos-promote-business-article-1.404722 |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=September 22, 2009 |title=Playboy model Monica Hansen sues Dr. Leonard Hochstein over use of photos to promote business |author=Leah Chernikoff |access-date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> That year she was also named the "babe of the month" in February by ''Playboy'' magazine<ref name=pby>{{cite magazine |url=http://business.highbeam.com/137462/article-1G1-141802809/monica-hansen-striking-viking-norse-reckoned |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313195742/http://business.highbeam.com/137462/article-1G1-141802809/monica-hansen-striking-viking-norse-reckoned |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 13, 2014 |title=Monica Hansen: this striking viking is a norse to be reckoned with.(Babe of the Month) |access-date=February 25, 2014 |magazine=Playboy Magazine |date=February 1, 2006}}</ref> and she has appeared on magazine covers including ''Elle''.<ref name=imbd /> In 2009 Monica Hansen won a lawsuit regarding a libel action, in which photographs of her were used without her permission as an advertisement on a plastic surgery website.<ref>{{cite news|title= Playboy model Monica Hansen sues Dr. Leonard Hochstein over use of photos to promote business|work= The New York Daily Times|url= http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-09-22/gossip/17931651_1_default-judgment-sue-miami-herald|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120709050325/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-09-22/gossip/17931651_1_default-judgment-sue-miami-herald|url-status= dead|archive-date= July 9, 2012|access-date=2012-02-12}}</ref> Monica Hansen was also the main character on the Norwegian TV show ''Ja, Vi Elsker Hollywood''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ja, vi elsker Hollywood - Se.no: TV-guide - se hele ukas TV-program |work=se.no |url=http://www.se.no/serie/hollywood/}}</ref> Additionally, she appeared as the character "Monica Fox" on the television series ''Battledome''.<ref name=imbd />
thumbnail|left|Monica Hansen wearing one of her own swimsuit designs
In December 2013 Monica Hansen formed a California LLC under the name of Monica Hansen Beachwear LLC <ref>CA Secretary of State Business Entity Search LLC #201333910045 formed on December 2, 2013</ref> which is a boutique swimwear and beachwear design business geared towards the high end, trendy, fashionable female demographic in their 20s and the 30s. She was granted registration of the trademarks for Monica Hansen Beachwear <ref>USPTO registration number 4589963 registered on 8/19/2014</ref> and also Monica Hansen Swimwear <ref>USPTO registration number 4589962 registered on 8/19/2014</ref> by the USPTO in the first part of 2014.
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== *[http://www.monicahansen.com/ Official site] * {{IMDb name|id=2566109}}
{{Commons category|Monica Hansen}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hansen, Monica}} Category:Living people Category:People from Tønsberg Municipality Category:Norwegian female models Category:Norwegian beauty pageant winners Category:Norwegian people of Brazilian descent Category:Year of birth missing (living people)