Juliette Powell, former MuchMusic VJ and first black Miss Canada, dies at 54 in New York
Juliette Powell
, a trailblazer in Canadian media, a former
MuchMusic
host, and a leading voice on tech ethics, died unexpectedly at 54 on June 3, 2025, in New York. She died from complications of acute bacterial meningitis.
Powell was born in Manhattan on June 22, 1970, and moved to Montreal at age eight with her mother. She entered beauty pageants to confront racial bias. In 1989, she became the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Canada and later represented Canada at Miss Universe.
Her
media career
began in 1992 as a VJ with Quebec's MusiquePlus, hosting Bouge de là! while studying finance and business at McGill College. In 1996, she moved to Toronto to join MuchMusic, hosting the iconic dance program Electric Circus and the show French Kiss alongside her economics studies at the
University of Toronto
.
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In 1999, she transitioned to broadcasting as a business reporter with CablePulse24 (later CP24).
Powell later founded Powell International Entertainment Inc. (later rebranded Kleiner Powell International), producing media segments featuring figures like
Nelson Mandela
, Stephen Spielberg, Richard Branson, and Janet Jackson.
Live Events
She co-authored the media section of the UN's 2001 World Conference against Racism and advised global institutions like the UN, World Bank, and World Economic Forum.
Academically accomplished, she earned a BA in Sociology from Columbia University, graduating summa cum laude and inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Her thesis focused on AI self-regulation. In 2021, she joined NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program, teaching media, technology, and ethics.
Powell was also an acclaimed author. Her 2009 book, 33 Million People in the Room, explored the business impact of social media. In 2023, she co-wrote
The AI Dilemma
: 7 Principles for Responsible Technology, offering guidance on AI ethics.
Her passing prompted an outpouring of grief. Former
MuchMusic VJ
Jennifer Hollett wrote, 'We're heartbroken by the sudden passing… From Miss Canada to global …'. Toronto-based Now Toronto noted her impact on dance and broadcast culture: 'Powell was a former MuchMusic VJ and the first Black woman to win Miss Canada… Canadians are reacting…'.
An online obituary described her as a force who "succumbed unexpectedly" and left behind her beloved dog, Tyra Banks, and 'a myriad of loving friends, colleagues, and collaborators'.
A memorial service will be held later this year, with details to be announced via her official tribute site. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested for causes she supported, including
Black Girls Code
and Operation Respect, honoring her lifelong commitment to ethical technology and inclusive education.
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