Kara Scott is best known to many as the stunning face and radiant smile on ESPN’s World Series of Poker coverage.
Canadian-born Kara Scott is best known to many as the stunning face and radiant smile on ESPN’s World Series of Poker coverage. Her natural empathy and grace shine through to the audience, even while conducting interviews no one wants to do or give, which are the dreaded on-camera exchanges moments after players bust out — dreams shattered. It takes just the right tone to pull this off, and Kara does it like no one else.
Kara was born on the frigid plains of northern Alberta — well not actually on the plains, but in a hospital where it really gets cold. In 1999, she moved to the U.K. where she lived for ten years. During that time, Kara established herself as a television personality and journalist. She became an associate producer and the on-air host for a martial arts show. She later co-anchored the world backgammon championships. A longtime poker player, Kara also began working on poker shows, most notable Poker Night Live, High Stakes Poker, and multiple events on the European Poker Tour. In 2010, she joined ESPN and Poker Productions as the primary reporter for both live and taped coverage on the tournament floor for the WSOP.
Too often seen as just a pretty face, her results as a player often get overlooked. Kara plays in relatively few events because of her busy work schedule. However, she was the only female to cash in both the 2008 and 2009 WSOP Main Events (finishing in 104th place out of 6,844 entrants, and 238th out of 6,494 entrants, respectively). She also finished second in 2009 Irish Open, earning her best tournament score ever — about $500,000 in prize money.
Earlier this year, Kara moved to Northern Italy where she currently resides. She also recently became engaged.
A fierce advocate for things she believes in, Kara was eager to meet the latest challenge of facing the firing squad:
What are some of the things you stand for?
Rooting for the underdog and a general lack of dickish behaviour.
What are some of the things you stand against?
Dickish behaviour. Spinach Florentine (don’t ask). Wine coolers.
What living person do you admire the most, and why?
Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela. They seem almost superhuman to me. Their courage and commitment are mind-blowing.
What historical figures do you admire the most, and why?
Mahatma Gandhi. Was there ever a better advocate for the underdog or the vulnerable?
What living person do you despise?
I find it hard to ‘despise’ but I often reach high levels of strongly annoyed. Irked even, sometimes. If I am irked with you, you will know it.
If money were not an object, what profession would you choose?
Cheese-taster. I would be exceptionally good at this. I have the required experience if anyone knows of a position going.
What is it about yourself that you are most proud of?
My friends. They’re a really weird but totally awesome group of people and they like me.
What is it about yourself that you’d like to change?
I’d like to be less reticent. I am too often the stereotypically quiet, polite, apologetic Canadian.
What’s the most exciting thing you’ve ever done?
Move to a new country and start all over. And then do it again. And again.
What’s the most unusual time and place you’ve ever visited?
I was at Prince Albert of Monaco’s coronation in 2007, by accident.
Name a place you’ve never visited where you still want to go.
Space.
Favorite book, favorite movie, and favorite musician.
Book: The End of Mr Y
Movie: Shaun of the Dead
What upsets you the most?
This prevailing idea that we’re not all connected and therefore not responsible for our fellow humans. That is bullshit.
What bores you?
The period of time at take-off and landing when I’m not allowed to read my kindle. Eff you, airline regulations.
Do you believe in an afterlife and why do you believe it so?
I don’t think the answer to this question actually matters. The question itself is universally human, even if the answers vary pretty widely. It’s all good as long as we don’t use our own answer as a weapon against those who disagree with us. That is also bullshit.
