ABOUT

KARI

More About Kari Volen

Kari Volen has been involved in pageantry for over 20 years as a contestant, director, choreographer, judge, producer and coach. Kari began her own pageant journey as a local and state competitor for systems like American Coed Pageants, Miss Teen USA and the Miss America Organization. Most recently, in 2013, Kari became Mrs. California America and placed in the Top 6 at the Mrs. America Pageant. Kari also served as the first ever America's Most Beautiful Mrs. in 2020.

She continued her involvement in pageantry as a local pageant director and producer having directed local pageants like the Miss Hollywood/Southland Scholarship Organization (a preliminary pageant to Miss California MAO) and the Miss Newport Coast & Miss Irvine USA Pageant (an official preliminary to Miss California USA). She has helped produce past productions for Miss California International, Miss California International Junior Miss and was recruited by the Lebanese Consulate to produce the Miss Lebanon Emigrants West Coach USA Pageant.

Since the inception of Pageant Coaching & Designs, Kari has worked with over 1500 contestants to prepare for local, state, national, and international pageant competitions and has served as the Official Pageant Coach and coaching sponsor for numerous state pageants and on the national level for The Miss Junior High, High School, and Collegiate America Pageant. She is also the Official Preparation Coordinator for Miss California (MAO) in charge of preparing the state titleholders for the Miss America competition.

Voted the #1 Pageant Coach in 2018 & 2019 by the Pageant Planet and Top 10 in 2020, Kari is proud to have had countless clients win local, state, national and international titles in virtually every system. She has also been a "Best Coach" Nominee for the prestigious Global Beauty Awards. Due to her experience in all facets of pageantry, Kari is able to share her in-depth knowledge of pageants with her clients and focuses not only on preparing them to excel and win in pageants, but also to do so in life.

Just a few of Kari's Titles...

Miss Covina 2005 (MAO)
Miss Northern California Regional 2006 (MAO)
Miss Hollywood 2007 (MAO)
Miss California Gold Coast 2009
Miss Ventura County International 2011
Mrs. Orange County United States 2012
Mrs. Greater Ventura County United States 2013
Mrs. California America 2013
America's Most Beautiful Mrs. 2020

Other Coaches

Our Newest Coach - Autumn Harabedian

Autumn Harabedian has been a long time pageant competitor and is very excited to be helping Team PC&D clients reach their full potential within pageantry. Autumn began her pageant career at just 9 months old and went on to win many titles for systems like Little Miss Hawaiian Tropics. Autumn has placed Top 10 at NAM Nationals 3 times, with one Top 5 placement, and has won several NAM National Casual Wear/Runway titles. Autumn won the title of IJM Miss California Teen in 2018 and went on to place in the Top 5 and Top 15 with International Junior Miss multiple times. She also is a two-time recipient of the Best Interview award at IJM. Autumn is passionate about community service and educating others on the importance of Mental Health and also believes in promoting diversity and inclusivity for women in pageantry.

Jenai Wilcox has been involved in pageantry for over 8 years as a top level competitor and coach and has over 9 years experience as a sought after dance teacher, choreographer and mentor. She has extensive experience in a variety of pageant systems including Royal International Miss, National American Miss, International Junior Miss, and America's Most Beautiful Miss. In 2019, she was crowned the Royal International Miss after winning 8 International Optional Titles.

Jenai specializes in talent and modeling preparation. A teacher of ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, and hip hop at dance studios across California, her goal is to make learning fun and enjoyable, while helping her students improve their skills in pageantry, dance and life.

Jenai has won over 35 scholarships and awards in styles such as Ballet, Jazz, and Tap. At the West Coast Dance Explosion National Finals, Jenai competed in the Elite Dancer Competition and placed 1st Runner Up in the Senior Division in 2017. Jenai was also part of the West Coast Dance Explosion's Fuzion Dance Company for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons.

Jenai started up her own business in 2020 called Jenai's Jewels where she designs, creates, and sells her own handmade jewelry. She also has served as a Brand Ambassador and Model for companies including Covet Dance, Metronome Dancewear, Orange Blossom Belle, Noell Store, Marc Defang, and Crowning Around. She has been featured in Pageantry Magazine, Top Model Magazine, Dance Spirit, and on Target.com. We are so excited to have Jenai as part of our PC&D Coaching Staff!