ABOUT
KARI
More About Kari Volen
Kari Volen has been involved in pageantry for over 25 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. She is a former Mrs. California America (2013) and placed Top 6 at the Mrs. America pageant. She also served as the inaugural America's Most Beautiful Mrs (2020). Most recently, Kari was crowned the 2023-24 Royal International Ms.
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She was previously involved in pageantry as 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 thousands of 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. Voted the #1 Pageant Coach in 2018, 2019 & 2021 by the Pageant Planet and Top 5 in 2022, 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...
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Miss Covina 2005 (MAO)
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Miss Northern California Regional 2006 (MAO)
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Miss Hollywood 2007 (MAO)
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Miss California Gold Coast 2009
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Miss Ventura County International 2011
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Mrs. Orange County United States 2012
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Mrs. Greater Ventura County United States 2013
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Mrs. California America 2013
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America's Most Beautiful Mrs. 2020
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Royal International Ms. 2023-34
Other Coaches
Our Newest Coach - Kate Platten
PC&D welcomes Kate Platten to the team! With over ten years of experience in the pageant circuit, Kate has held local, state, and international titles. Most notably, Kate was crowned the Royal International Miss Teen Role Model in 2020. During her year of service, Kate advocated for those living with low vision through Service for Sight, Delta Gamma’s foundation.
After graduating from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Criminology, Law, and Society, Kate worked at HCLTech in the fintech space before joining Delta Gamma national staff as a Collegiate Development Consultant. Since August, Kate has traveled nearly 50,000 miles supporting thousands of collegiate women in their professional development and leadership abilities. She has a passion for unlocking young women’s potential and motivating them to be the best version of themselves.
In her free time, Kate enjoys cooking, traveling to new places, and singing opera. She has been a student of PC&D for years and is ecstatic to be joining the team that has supported her pageant journey.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
Jenai Wilcox
