Karen was born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario to a musical family.
Throughout her childhood, she won several Kiwanis Music Festival Vocal Awards, enjoyed 6 years of tap, jazz and modern dance training and is no stranger to the stage.

Bed sheets draped over clothesline transformed the family garage into a theatre. For five cents, she would read the neighborhood kids' fortunes by gazing into a basketball covered with tin foil. Her costume was a beach towel wound dramatically on top of her head, pinchy Woolworth hoop earrings and her mother's cast-off, 1950s party dresses, complete with matching satin, pointy shoes. Reality didn't stand a chance against this make-believe retreat. Her mother retells the story of Karen storming into the house in tears because Dad had parked his car in her playhouse!

Karen was scouted and modeled professionally through high school, won runner-up in the Ms. Niagara Pageant, then at 18, was awarded a much-coveted Niagara Region Modeling contract with Elite Chicago, where she moved to continue her modeling career.

Following that adventure, Karen returned to Canada, and moved to Toronto. She has enjoyed successful careers in fashion, magazines, advertising, coming back full-circle to her love of singing.
In 2000, Karen re-invented herself as a jazz singer and Karen Manion Jazz was created. That same year, she opened Manion Works, a project management business, to supplement her musical income. Her experience with business and client expectations, give her that edge in working with corporate clients and special event managers.
Karen's performance art training includes Royal Conservatory of Music, Jazz Singing & Performance Masters Classes, Second City Improve, voice-over training and more.

A few Venues where Karen performed:
Hotels & Resorts
- Fairmont Royal York Hotel (4 Star)
- Fallsview Casino & Resort (Triple A, 4 Diamond)
- Kowloon Shangri-la, Hong Kong (5 Star)
- Le Meridien (King Edward) Hotel (4 Star)
- Mandarin Oriental, Manila, Philippines (5 Star)
- Mont Tremblant Resort, Quebec (5 Star)
- Park Hyatt Hotel, Roof Salon (4 Star)
- Pillar & Post Inn, Spa, Conference Centre (4 Star)
- Queen's Landing Inn & Resort (4 Star)
- Sheraton Parkway Hotel (4 Diamond)
- Westin Harbour Castle Hotel (4 Star)
- Windsor Arms Hotel
- Club 22 (5 Star)