Kira K. Dixon is a name that is hard to ignore in the golfing world. From event broadcasts and technical breakdowns to spicy conversations on her podcasts, Dixon continues to fuel eyeballs to the sport. However, beyond her appearances on the Golf Channel, the feminist icon parades a decorated resume on and off the golf course.

Born in 1991, the 34-year-old’s hometown is in San Francisco, California. She was born to Russian parents, who had moved to the US in 1990. From a young age, Dixon had been extremely talented, boasting a charismatic personality. It was that effortless charm that propelled her into pageants, building poise and confidence. Needless to say, Dixon carved out her spot on the ramps in no time. Following her time at the pageant shows, the golf broadcaster began her advent into the world of journalism. Let’s take a detailed look at her career.

Kira K. Dixon’s journey from the pageantry to the media

Kira Dixon began her journey in pageants at the age of just 13. Her deeply personable and compassionate character made her a standout contestant, earning her titles Miss California Preteen (2004) and Miss California Junior Teen (2007). While she showcased her diplomatic persona, Dixon graced the ramps, marking her first modelling-related experience. These early titles laid the groundwork for her advocacy campaigns in her teens.

In 2015, while running for Miss America, Dixon launched her platform advocating for justice against domestic violence. Her initiative, “Love Shouldn’t Hurt: Protecting Women Against Domestic Violence,” was deeply personal, stemming from her own personal experiences. Dixon shared that her own history with dating violence was the catalyst for her cause. The initiative revolved around breaking the stigma around speaking up on domestic violence, while actively protecting women with similar traumas.

This deep and extremely relevant cause brought her the Miss America title, where she continued her advocacy. Under her reign, Dixon launched concrete campaigns like #PutTheNailInIt, partnering with Safe Horizons. The core of the campaign involved painting the ring finger purple as a sign of commitment to ending the injustice. That campaign aimed to spark widespread conversations on the pervasive nature of domestic violence. Her position and reputation leveraged the cause, leading to a massive success, reaching over 40 million people.

Recognizing her efforts and her impact on the looming issue, Safe Horizons, the largest provider of domestic violence services, awarded her the ‘Voice of Empowerment’ title. Furthermore, the organisation invited her to their Leaders on the Horizon board, further solidifying her place in the world of women’s empowerment. While she continues to advocate for the cause of domestic violence, Dixon ended her pageantry career with the Miss America title.

Transitioning to journalism, Dixon completed her master’s degree at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Following this, in 2014 and 2015, the former Miss America landed her first roles in the world, reporting on numerous high-profile music shows. Bringing her poised presence, Dixon presented the 2015 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas alongside Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz.

Her passion for golf resurfaced when she joined the USGA as a presenter, as one of her first roles in the golf industry. The golf enthusiast hosted the Golf Advisor Living show for GolfPass. Moreover, Kira Dixon joined NBC Sports as a reporter for the Golf Channel in February of 2021. Covering multiple PGA Tour events, the 34-year-old featured in shows like Golf Today and Golf Central. Furthermore, Dixon’s versatility shone through when she contributed to NBC’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, reporting on sports like water polo, taekwondo, equestrian, and trampoline events.

However, her connection to golf goes beyond broadcasting. Dixon revealed that her passion for golf began at the age of 3. The golf broadcaster’s father had introduced the sport to her while the family was on a vacation in Florida. Her father took her to the public course, and Dixon quickly fell in love with golf. “My dad – who had never played golf a day in his life – took me to a public course near the beach, got a bucket of balls and some rentals, and started playing … and playing … and playing. Before long, it consumed all of my free time. Junior golf tournaments, clinics, lessons, camps – all of it,” Dixon shared.

The former US pageant played junior golf and represented Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, California. While Dixon didn’t pursue golf professionally, she remained active in the sport, participating in multiple Pro-Am events.

The golf enthusiast competed in the Pure Insurance Championship of the PGA Tour Champions at Pebble Beach in 2018. In the following year, Dixon made her Pro-Am debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2019, where she succeeded in making the cut, showcasing her skill beyond the mics. In 2020, she returned to the event, in a five-hole charity challenge with Clint Eastwood. Their participation contributed to fundraising efforts for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Now that we know what keeps the golf broadcaster looking ahead, let’s look at her personal life and her background.

Kira K. Dixon’s personal life, family & background

Born to Russian parents, Kira Dixon flaunts multiple tongues, 3 to be exact! The trilingual is proficient in English, Russian & Spanish. Moreover, Dixon displays her wits beyond the languages she speaks, needless to say, being a former Miss America. The 34-year-old pursued her undergraduate with Hofstra University, New York. She completed her bachelor’s with a triple major in Political Science, Global Studies, and Geography.

Following her undergraduate studies, Dixon shifted her focus to mass communications and journalism. Setting the stage for her vastly successful broadcasting career, Dixon had considered Law and Business schools before settling on Journalism, as part of her Miss America Scholarship award. Furthermore, Dixon is a Stanford Graduate School of Business, of the Stanford Ignite Entrepreneurship program (2017).

However, Dixon hasn’t been without controversy, even though she has remained unproblematic in her career. In 2013, Kira Dixon was terminated from her role as head of recruitment at the Theta Mu chapter of Alpha Phi at Hofstra University, which has over 250,000 members. The termination was due to alleged abusive hazing, though Dixon stated she was removed for not attending a hearing regarding the case. She later addressed the situation on Good Morning America.

Regardless, the ex-Miss America and golf’s beloved voice has established her charming presence in the media. Hosting two podcasts, What We Do and Quiet Please (alongside Mel Reid), Kira Dixon continues to bring spicy, engaging conversations blended with chats over golf’s latest scenes. She tied the knots with her husband, Andrew Dixon, in 2019, and she maintains a bold, poised persona inside and outside the ropes.