Juliette Powell, the renowned media personality and the first Black Miss Canada, has passed away at the age of 54.
Her death on June 3, 2025, was attributed to acute bacterial meningitis, according to her obituary. The former MuchMusic VJ and Electric Circus host passed away unexpectedly in New York City, leaving behind a legacy that broke barriers and inspired generations across media, technology, and social advocacy.
Born in Manhattan in 1970, Powell moved to Montreal with her mother at age eight. Her journey into the public spotlight began in 1989 when she made history as the first Black woman to win the Miss Canada crown.
She later represented Canada at the Miss Universe pageant, using her platform to confront racial biases in beauty competitions.
Powell’s early career took shape in music television. In 1992, she joined MusiquePlus as a VJ before transitioning to MuchMusic in Toronto in 1996. She became a staple of Canadian pop culture, notably as host of the hit dance show Electric Circus and French Kiss. Simultaneously, she pursued an economics degree at the University of Toronto—a testament to her enduring commitment to education and critical thought.
Her professional evolution didn’t stop at music television. Powell later became a business reporter at CablePulse 24 (now CP24), before relocating to New York where she expanded her focus to global media, technology, and ethics.
She founded Powell International Entertainment Inc., producing influential segments with global leaders like Nelson Mandela and Steven Spielberg. Her work extended to human rights and ethics, including co-authoring a section of the United Nations’ Plan of Action at the World Conference Against Racism.
A firm believer in lifelong learning, Powell earned her BA in Sociology from Columbia University. In her admissions essay, she wrote:
“Neither my mother nor my father had a high school education, but they insisted that I was not Black or white, Canadian or American, French or English, Catholic or Jewish, but rather that I was blessed to be all of those things as a citizen of the world.”
Later in life, she founded Kleiner Powell International, a consultancy focused on the ethical development of artificial intelligence and business strategy.
She also taught courses at NYU, delivered a TEDx talk, and remained active in tech-policy spaces until her passing.
Powell is survived by a vast circle of friends, collaborators, and her beloved dog, Tyra Banks.
“Her loss is devastating,” her obituary stated, “and she will be deeply, painfully missed by so many.”
