Karen Sather

With her fiery red hair, brown eyes, and a figure that helped define an era, Karen Sather stepped into the spotlight in the early 1970s. She was born on December 3, 1954, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and grew up as an American girl with a head for leadership. Standing just 5'4" with a natural 36–21–35 figure, she had a presence that was both striking and approachable.

In February 1973, at the age of 18, Karen was named Penthouse Pet of the Month, a title that brought her to national attention. Photographed by Bob Guccione, she became one of the magazine's memorable early Pets. Before her modeling career, she showed promise as a student leader, serving as vice-president of the Wisconsin Association of Student Councils, and in 1969 she represented her state at the national convention in Baltimore, where she met President Nixon. Karen passed away on October 20, 2006, at age 51, but her brief, bright moment in the limelight remains a part of Penthouse history.