Clonie Gowen

Cycalona (Clonie) Gowen was born in Oklahoma, and won Miss Teen McAlester, Oklahoma at the age of 15. Clonie showed her competitive streak at a young age. As a teenager, she moved to Texas, and was a member of her high school varsity basketball team. She also placed seventh in state high jump.

Gowen started playing poker while living in Dallas, driving to Shreveport, Louisiana on the weekends to find games. She earned national recognition when she followed up her Top 10 finish at the World Poker Tour (WPT) Costa Rica Classic with a win at the WPT Ladies' Night event in 2003, which was, at that time, the highest rated WPT show ever broadcast. She made two more television appearances in 2005, placing seventh in the $2,000 No-Limit Hold 'em Ultimate Poker Challenge tournament and third in the "FullTiltPoker.Net Championship at Wynn Las Vegas."

In 2006, Clonie placed third in the "FullTiltPoker.Net Pro Showdown at the Red Rock Casino." With nearly $500,000 in career tournament winnings since 2002, Clonie has steadily built a reputation as one of the toughest competitors in the game.

Clonie has served as a guest commentator for the Ultimate Poker Challenge, The Gaming Club World Poker Championship and the 888.com Women’s Poker Challenge. She is a member of "Team Full Tilt" at Full Tilt Poker and in 2007 appeared on the NBC television program Poker After Dark.