25 Hottest Female Poker Players of 2012

Since the invention of the television, poker has increasingly become popular. The World Series of Poker Main Event is a great example of just how popular the game has become. 

In 1991, the winner of the main event took home a cool $1 million, but in 2011, that same positional payout was almost $9 million.

This game has changed. It was once a gentleman's game and is now open to anyone willing to give it a shot. That also includes beautiful women.

Every year, more female models, actresses, and entertainers begin a career in the poker world. Here is a list of the 25 hottest women of poker for 2012. Enjoy.

25. Clonie Gowen

In 1971, the world was introduced to Clonie Gowen. 32 years later, she won the WPT, World Poker Tour, Ladies Night tournament and became an instant celebrity among poker players.

She has done a solid job in her career, winning $1.6 million in 2010 alone. Not a bad career choice.

24. Sofia Lovgren

Sofia Lovgren is as fresh faced as any female poker player of today. She is only 20 years old, so do not even think about buying her a drink, fellas, and she has been playing since she graduated from high school.

Her rise to the top brought her even more opportunities. She is an official member of Team PKR Pro and the first woman to join their team. She has done all these things and still can not purchase alcohol legally. 

23. Kara Scott

In Canada, there is a saying, "If backgammon does not work out, we can always move to the United States and play some poker."

So maybe that is not a real phrase, but Kara Scott was on the same path. She was a host for High Stakes Backgammon before she realized she was good at poker and ditched the gig for some chips and a few late nights.

Backgammon over poker? It should not even be a question.

22. Tiffany Michelle

I believe we are at the point of the slideshow where people are going to start arguing that poker is not a sport. 

Well, it is. They might not sweat, although some do, and they might not be running around shooting baskets but they are playing a sport. Poker is a sport that requires little physical activity.

Just because you are not running around does not mean that holding a pair of aces will change the way you breathe or the rate at which your heart pumps. It is the adrenaline that makes the game of poker such a great sport.

21. Sandra Naujoks

Sandra Naujoks, better known as Black Mamba, is a German poker pro who is currently with Team Poker Stars.

She also makes an effort to give back. She co-founded the charity All 4 Kids and donates 2 percent of her lifetime earnings towards it.

And who said Germans weren't nice people?

20. Leo Margets

Since when does a consolation prize equal around $352,000 in cash?

Since the World Series of Poker Main Event, that's when. Leo Margets finished 27th overall in the 2009 Main Event tourney. That's not a bad deal figuring almost 6,500 people were in it.

When you don't even make the final table and still walk away with that much money, it makes us wonder why more people do not pick up some cards and start playing.

19. Beth Shak

Poker player, designer, philanthropist, reality television star, actress, model, inventor, shoe expert...

Is there anything Beth Shak does not do? Oh yeah, she is also a mother of three, so parent status should also be included on her resume.

18. Evelyn Ng

For most men, having the perfect woman would consist of a few things:

1) Smoking Hot

2) Loves to watch sports, movies, and television

3) Plays Xbox

4) Knows how to play poker

The last one is a maybe, but if you find someone like Evelyn Ng, who is all four of the above, then you should never let her go.

17. Liz Lieu

Not only is Liz Lieu one of the hottest female poker players in the world, but she is also one of the better ones. She is currently 23rd on the all-time women's money list, earning close to a million in her poker career.

If she wanted to become a model too, I am sure no one would object.

16. Trishelle Cannatella

Yes, that is the hot chick from The Real World. Yes, that is the gorgeous blonde from Playboy. And yes, she is a professional poker player.

She is not only a celebrity trying to play poker, she is pretty good, too. She won $20,000 at the 2010 WPT Invitational Tournament. Not too bad for a Real Worlder.

15. Erin Ness

Erin Ness is currently a photo producer, but she was once the main event at the WSOP Main Event. 

When she worked for Maxim, she won their company-wide poker tournament which gave the winner a free ticket to Las Vegas and the $10,000 buy-in money for the Main Event. She not only played in it, she also finished 207th, shocking most everyone at the event. 

She went from nobody to somebody literally overnight.

14. Lacey Jones

It does not take anyone too long to figure out that Lacey "Poker Barbie" Jones is one of the hottest women in poker.

In fact, she got the nickname mainly from her good looks. Her talented poker game was icing on the cake.

13. Joanna Krupa

Joanna Krupa is one of the lesser known hotties in poker but also one of the biggest supermodels in the world. She plays the game for fun but every now and then jumps into a real game.

If she needed help, may I volunteer my time to teach her the game?

12. Tatjana Pasalic

Team Bodog did pretty well for itself when they signed up Tatjana Pasalic to the team in 2011. 

All they did was upgrade the face of their company, even though the company has changed its name and website. 

11. Szilvia Freire

I heard a man once scream, "Women should not be allowed in a poker room."

Uh, Szilvia Freire, the former Miss World Hungary, can belong to any sport, room or game she would like to be and no man should get in her way.

10. Christina Lindley

It is always fantastic when a former model begins to take a liking into poker. It is almost encouraged.

Christina Lindley went from professional model to professional bluffer, and we can all agree that it was one of the best decisions in her life.

9. Fatima Moreira De Melo

Fatima Moreira De Melo deserves a spot on the list for her name alone. That is one of the most impressive names on a woman since Sylvie van der Vaart.

The former Netherlands field hockey player uses the nickname FatimaDeMelo when playing online at Poker Stars. So keep your eyes peeled.

8. Chantal Mcnulty

It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that beautiful woman love to play poker. They do.

They love the to play a sport that is made up of mostly men. Chantal McNulty can use her surgically enhanced friends to distract the table long enough to force a bad move. It is simple guy math.

7. Jayde Nicole

You have heard the story before. Girl leaves Canada to pursue a modeling career then Playboy comes calling on you so you do a centerfold. Next thing you know, you are the 2008 Playmate of the Year.

Naturally, she started to play poker. It is all about the circle of life. 

6. Shannon Elizabeth

The chick from American Pie is a poker player. Shannon Elizabeth has made a career of being the hottest woman in the room. She has modeled, acted, sang and even danced, but now, she plays poker.

No one looks better in a backwards ball cap than she does. No one.

5. Summer Altice

When you look at Summer Altice, does the first word that comes to mind rhyme with wowzers?

In 2019, the world will be filled with women like Summer, and they will all be playing poker. I hope.

4. Jennifer Leigh

You try concentrating on your hand when Jennicide turns up the heat with a raise. It is hard enough to deal with all the professional poker men sitting at your side, but now you have to cope with a beautiful Jennifer Leigh sitting there as well.

Fold?

Sure, I did not want to win anyways. I would rather watch her celebrate. Just don't think she will fall for you if you let her win. She might actually resent you even more and bury you in the process.

3. Vanessa Rousso

Vanessa Rousso is more than just your average pretty face. She is a great poker player. She is one of the greatest female poker players of all time.

She has one almost $4 million in her career and shows no signs of slowing down. She could end up winning the main event one day. I would not put it past her.

2. Liv Boeree

Sexy Accent—Yes

Beautiful figure—Yes

Outstanding poker player—Yes

Having the coolest nickname in poker (The Iron Maiden)—Yes

Winner!

1. Sara Jean Underwood

Sara Jean Underwood is a pro poker player now. She was once only a Playboy model, but is now a model/poker star.

She is even a member of the Victorypoker.net team. Score one more for the good guys.