Hansen began her modeling career with the Elite modeling agency. She was entered into the 1997 Miss Universe Norway pageant by her friend as a joke, but went on to win the contest becoming the 1997 Miss Norway. After winning, she was unable to compete at the Miss Universe pageant due to an illness. On the way to the airport en route to the competition she experienced acute pain and required surgery to remove her gallbladder. In 1999 she was a runway model for the
Pax TV television series
Destination Stardom filmed in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hansen has posed for magazines including
Esquire,
Maxim, and
Stuff. In 2006 she was named Maxim's woman of the year. That year she was also named the "babe of the month" in February by
Playboy magazine and she has appeared on magazine covers including
Elle. Monica Hansen was also the main character on the Norwegian TV show
Ja, Vi Elsker Hollywood. Additionally, she appeared as the character "Monica Fox" on the television series
Battledome. which is a boutique swimwear and beachwear design business geared towards the high end, trendy, fashionable female demographic in their 20s and the 30s. She was granted registration of the trademarks for Monica Hansen Beachwear and also Monica Hansen Swimwear by the USPTO in the first part of 2014. ==References==