Barnorama All Fun In The Barn
Although poker has notoriously been a male-dominated activity, more women are starting to even the playing field in professional circles. For instance, there’s British player and podcaster Liv Boeree. Just last December, she broke the record for biggest-ever cashout by a female poker player. This came after she placed fourth in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Super Main Event, taking home $2.8 million.
Credit: @ebonykenney on Instagram
Another female poker star who’s similarly been a consistent champion for better gender representation is Ebony Kenney. At 46 years old, Kenney is one of the most influential poker players today, and is known as one of the most winningest women in the industry. A multifaceted woman, Kenney is also a highly creative and inspiring individual off the felt, with her forays in modeling, acting, and even coaching.
Credit: @ebonykenney on Instagram
Making it big as a poker star
In an earlier interview, Kenney explained that an old boyfriend first got her into poker in the early 2000s. From there, she started learning the ropes with smaller $20 cash-in games with friends before eventually feeling comfortable enough to graduate to bigger tourneys. In 2007, she cashed her first poker event. Following this, the Florida native continued to participate in cash games and tournaments until she eventually earned enough experience and confidence to join the big leagues.
By 2013, she was named as part of World Poker Tour’s (WPT) Season X Ones to Watch. Cementing her status as a poker icon, Kenney officially became a poker pro for ACR Poker in 2020. Known as the US’ premier online poker site, ACR Poker is celebrated not only for its huge tourneys and secure banking methods but also for its elite poker team.
Aside from Kenney, this includes other big names, like Chris Moneymaker, and other leading female players like Ana Marquez and Katie Lindsay. Just two years after scoring this role, Kenney went on to represent the operator at the Coin Rivet Invitational. Amid stiff competition that included WSOP bracelet holder Fedor Holz, Kenney scored $1.7 million. This secured her position on the Women’s All Time Money List. To this day, she continues to pursue her poker excellence, having recently competed in the 2024 WSOP Main Event and boasting total live earnings exceeding $2.6 million.
From photo shoots to acting on set
Of course, Ebony’s interests extend beyond the world’s most exclusive card rooms. When she’s not playing cards, her passions often see her modeling or acting–two of her other big interests. According to Kenney, she first started modeling in 2010 after photographers scouted her for her unique look. A long-time makeup artist, Kenney was already somewhat familiar with this industry but wanted to see how it worked with her in front of the camera.
Because she started modeling around the same time her poker tournament run started in Florida, competitors would often assume she was just another pretty face. Such a struggle is something many other female players have had to contend with. This includes even established personalities, like Hollywood star and WSOP bracelet holder Jennifer Tilly. Recognized for her big screen and reality TV stints, Tilly is known to use her acting chops to bluff and read opponents effectively.
Although Kenney admits this judgment initially fazed her, she soon realized that people would always have something to say, and that shouldn’t affect how she likes to embrace her femininity or her interests. Speaking of which, over the last decade or so, Kenney has invested more of her time in acting. At one point, she even admitted that she was considering pursuing it full-time. While she’s not been part of many productions, she’s been featured in a number of music videos. These include ones from famous artists such as Bow Wow, Trey Songz, and T-Pain.
After over two decades of breaking barriers across different fields, Kenney is now a confidence coach who channels her own experiences into helping other women become their best and proudest versions yet.