Juliette Powell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juliette Powell
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Powell in 2012
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| Born | June 22, 1970 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | June 3, 2025 (aged 54) New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Vanier College McGill University University of Toronto Columbia University |
| Occupation | VJ Tech ethicist Business advisor Author |
| Title | Miss Canada 1989 |
Juliette Powell (June 22, 1970 – June 3, 2025) was a multi-talented American-Canadian woman known for her work in media, technology, and business. She first became famous when she was crowned Miss Canada in 1989, becoming the first Black Canadian to win the title. Throughout her life, she was a TV host, author, and an expert on the ethics of technology.
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From Shy Student to Beauty Queen
Juliette Powell was born in Manhattan, New York, on June 22, 1970. When she was eight, she moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with her French-Canadian mother. In high school, Juliette was a strong student, especially in math and science. She described herself as shy and not very popular.
Her journey into beauty pageants started in an unusual way. She heard a rumor that a Black contestant in the Miss Montreal pageant had been unfairly denied first place. Juliette felt this was wrong and decided to enter the pageant herself to prove a point about fairness. This led her to compete in and win the Miss Canada pageant in 1989. While competing, she was also studying Commerce at Vanier College, where she graduated in 1992.
A Career in Media and Technology
After her year as Miss Canada, which included competing in the Miss Universe 1989 pageant, Juliette's career took off in many exciting directions.
Television Host
In 1992, Powell became a VJ (video jockey) for the Canadian music channel MusiquePlus. She hosted a popular weekly dance show called Bouge de là! while also studying finance and business at McGill University.
In 1996, she moved to Toronto and started working at the English-language music channel MuchMusic. There, she hosted the famous dance show Electric Circus and another show called French Kiss. During this time, she continued her studies in economics at the University of Toronto.
Business and Global Issues
By 1999, Powell's interests had expanded to business and world events. She became a business reporter for the news channel CablePulse 24. She also started her own media company, where she produced interviews with famous and influential people like Nelson Mandela, Steven Spielberg, and Tina Turner.
Her work caught the attention of major global organizations. In 2001, she helped the United Nations create a plan to fight racism in the media. She became an advisor for groups like the World Bank and the World Economic Forum. She also helped advise world leaders at the G8 Summit about the future of the internet.
Author and Speaker
Powell was also a successful author. Her 2009 book, 33 Million People in the Room, taught people how to use social media for business. It was so popular that it was translated into five other languages.
She often appeared on news channels like NBC, CNN, and the BBC to talk about important issues related to social media, such as privacy and online safety. She became a well-known speaker, giving talks about how technology and data affect our lives. In 2016, she gave a TED Talk about "unconscious bias," which is about the hidden judgments people make without realizing it.
Later Life and Education
Juliette always valued education. She later attended Columbia University in New York City, graduating with the highest honors in Sociology. Her research focused on the challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) and how to make sure it is used responsibly. This research became the basis for her book The AI Dilemma.
In 2021, she became a professor at New York University (NYU), where she taught students about media, technology, and ethics.
Death
Juliette Powell died in New York on June 3, 2025, at the age of 54. The cause of death was from complications of acute bacterial meningitis.
