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Globe and Mail
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Juliette Powell, former Miss Canada and MuchMusic host turned tech critic, remembered for challenging biases
Juliette Powell, who once commanded attention as the host of MuchMusic's live dance party Electric Circus and later as a respected commentator on the societal risks of advanced technology, has died at 54. The former television host, author and New York University faculty member was found dead at home on June 3, said Art Kleiner, the co-author of her 2023 book The AI Dilemma. He said the cause of death was acute bacterial meningitis. It came as a shock to many friends who say Ms. Powell's energetic personality and drive to shatter barriers defined her life up until the end. 'She was obviously brilliant,' Mr. Kleiner said Wednesday in a phone interview. 'And she had a charismatic personality.' Many Canadians will remember Ms. Powell's radiance, captivating smile and towering figure best from her role as ringleader on Electric Circus, where she mingled with the show's fashionable dancers as they moved and grooved to the latest 1990s club hits. Her experience in the spotlight actually began years earlier after she moved from her birthplace in Manhattan to Montreal with her French-Canadian mother. As a young adult, she entered local beauty pageants in hopes that she could challenge racial biases that were prevalent in the industry. She placed second in the Miss Montreal Pageant and became the first Black woman to win Miss Canada in 1989. The recognition opened doors to TV opportunities and Ms. Powell was eager to walk through many of them. In 1992, she joined Montreal music video channel MusiquePlus as a video jockey and the bilingual host of its weekly dance show Bouge de là!. The station's founder, Moses Znaimer, said Wednesday in a post on X that he was struck by the young Ms. Powell's 'sass' and 'smarts,' though he couldn't recall if she challenged him for the job or he offered it to her first. Ms. Powell held onto her TV gig while studying finance and business at McGill University. Eventually, she moved to Toronto, where Mr. Znaimer handed her the reins of Electric Circus, which had been hosted for years by Monika Deol. Both women were beauties suited for television, and many former Much staffers acknowledge Ms. Powell had big shoes to fill. She did it with her own trademark style, frequently wrapping her long arms around people she interviewed as she floated through the open studio in downtown Toronto with her wireless microphone. 'Spirit of MuchMusic' still alive at documentary premiere in Toronto with former VJs in attendance 'You have to be warm, you have to give of yourself,' said Tony Young, also known as Much VJ Master T. 'She came in there and handled it famously.' When Nam Kiwanuka joined the MuchMusic team in 1999 as an intern on Rap City, Ms. Powell was already on a roll. Her weekly presence on Friday night TV, and the bilingual music video show French Kiss, had made her a household name. So Ms. Kiwanuka was surprised to learn that her office desk would be right next to Ms. Powell's at 299 Queen St. W., which made her a frequent observer of her mentor's enigmatic appeal. 'She was one of those people that when you spoke to her, you were the only person in the room,' Ms. Kiwanuka said. 'There was an energy about her; she was very confident. Whenever stars came in, they seemed to be more enamoured with her.' Powell signed off from Electric Circus in 2000 by popping a bottle of champagne on-air as the dancers surrounded her. Together, they rushed onto the streets outside the studio, everyone bobbing to the groove of a disco beat. 'I will never, ever forget this,' Ms. Powell said while clutching armfuls of bouquets and stuffed animals. She assured viewers she wasn't leaving TV entirely. Her next stop was as a business reporter at news channel CablePulse 24, now known as CP24, a role she insisted wasn't so different 'because money is very sexy, too.' However, Ms. Powell would eventually drift away from her role as a TV personality, and friends say she became accustomed to a more private life. She founded media consulting company Powell International Entertainment Inc. and took advisory roles at the United Nations, World Economic Forum and the World Bank. New documentary 299 Queen Street West tracks how MuchMusic became a star-making machine In 2009, she wrote her first book, 33 Million People in the Room: How to Create, Influence, and Run a Successful Business Using Social Networking. By then, she had already found a new calling in the fast-evolving world of technology, eventually becoming a voice for the societal risks of a world dominated by artificial intelligence. In 2014, she met Mr. Kleiner through a mutual friend who felt they could be fruitful collaborators on the ethics of tech. Mr. Kleiner said the intellectual spark between them happened quickly and he saw an opportunity to work together. 'She commands the room just in the way she shows up,' he said, pointing to YouTube videos of her conversations about unconscious biases in technology, data ownership and privacy. The pair published the 2023 book The AI Dilemma: 7 Principles for Responsible Technology, which explored the risks and misuses of machine learning. It expanded on her interests in the intersection of media, technology and ethics, a topic she taught as part of NYU's faculty in the interactive telecommunications program. Last year, they founded Kleiner Powell International, an AI consultancy firm for business clients, one of several projects he said Ms. Powell was working on up until her final days. 'Everyone that I talked to had some future thing they planned with Juliette.'
Toronto Star
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Former MuchMusic VJ Juliette Powell, a ‘vibrant spirit and memorable presence,' dies at 54
Juliette Powell, former MuchMusic television host, beauty queen, tech leader and trailblazer, has died at age 54. Powell died of acute bacterial meningitis on June 3. She grew up competing in beauty pageants and became the first Black winner of the Miss Canada pageant in 1989, going on to represent Canada in Miss Universe. Powell was the first Black winner of Miss Canada in 1989. Ron Bull Powell's magnetic personality and knack for connecting with audiences made her a natural fit for television. She began as a VJ at Quebecois television broadcaster MusiquePlus in 1992, hosting the dance music show 'Bouge de là!' In 1996, she moved to Toronto and joined MuchMusic, where she became host of the shows 'Electric Circus,' a live dance music program, and 'French Kiss,' which aired French-language music videos. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Bell Media is deeply saddened to hear the news of Juliette's passing,' wrote Justin Stockman, spokesperson for Bell Media, in a June 10 email to the Star. 'Her vibrant spirit and memorable presence for both MuchMusic and MusiquePlus, on iconic programs such as Electric Circus and French Kiss, left an enduring legacy. Juliette's warmth and energy resonated with audiences and her contributions to Canadian television will never be forgotten.' Juiette Powell interviewing dancers during a live broadcast of 'Electric Circus.' Tony Bock In 1999, she founded her own media company, Powell International Entertainment, through which she produced features with luminaries such as Nelson Mandela, Janet Jackson and Steven Spielberg. Born in New York City, Powell moved to Montreal at age eight. She returned to New York to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Columbia University, and ultimately became a faculty member in the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University. Powell became an author as well, writing '33 Million People in the Room: How to Create Influence, and Run a Successful Business Using Social Networking' in 2009. In 2023, she co-authored 'The AI Dilemma: 7 Principles for Responsible Technology' with Art Kleiner, and was a founder and managing partner of Kleiner Powell International, a consultancy focusing on business strategy and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Condolences can be left at
Hamilton Spectator
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Juliette Powell, ravishing MuchMusic host turned insightful tech critic, dies at 54
TORONTO - Juliette Powell, the captivating former MuchMusic VJ and host of live dance show 'Electric Circus,' has died at 54. The television personality who became an author and technology commentator was found dead at home in New York on June 3, says Art Kleiner, the co-author of her 2023 book 'The AI Dilemma.' He said the cause of death was acute bacterial meningitis. Friends and colleagues say Powell's professional achievements often broke down barriers. As a young adult she entered beauty pageants to challenge racial biases and in 1989 she became the first Black woman to win Miss Canada. That same year she represented the country at Miss Universe. By the mid-1990s, her towering height and captivating smile landed her jobs on Montreal music video channel MusiquePlus and eventually its Toronto sister channel MuchMusic. Powell later became a business reporter at TV news channel CablePulse 24, now known as CP24, and founded media consulting company Powell International Entertainment Inc. She launched another career in the fast-evolving world of technology, where she established herself as a trusted commentator on user privacy and published two books on entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Juliette Powell, ravishing MuchMusic host turned insightful tech critic, dies at 54
TORONTO – Juliette Powell, the captivating former MuchMusic VJ and host of live dance show 'Electric Circus,' has died at 54. The television personality who became an author and technology commentator was found dead at home in New York on June 3, says Art Kleiner, the co-author of her 2023 book 'The AI Dilemma.' He said the cause of death was acute bacterial meningitis. Friends and colleagues say Powell's professional achievements often broke down barriers. As a young adult she entered beauty pageants to challenge racial biases and in 1989 she became the first Black woman to win Miss Canada. That same year she represented the country at Miss Universe. By the mid-1990s, her towering height and captivating smile landed her jobs on Montreal music video channel MusiquePlus and eventually its Toronto sister channel MuchMusic. Powell later became a business reporter at TV news channel CablePulse 24, now known as CP24, and founded media consulting company Powell International Entertainment Inc. She launched another career in the fast-evolving world of technology, where she established herself as a trusted commentator on user privacy and published two books on entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former MuchMusic VJ Juliette Powell, 54, died 'unexpectedly': What to know about bacterial meningitis
Juliette Powell, a former MuchMusic VJ and author, has died. The 54-year-old, who appeared on Canadian television in the '90s as a host of Electric Circus and French Kiss died on June 3 after a brief illness. According to her obituary, Powell, who was born in the U.S. but raised in Montréal, "succumbed unexpectedly" due to acute bacterial meningitis. "Juliette had a magical way of drawing people in with her infectious enthusiasm, and her brilliant intelligence and gorgeous smile lit up every room she ever entered," reads her obituary. "Her loss is devastating and she will be deeply, painfully missed by so many." This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. In 1989, Powell became the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Canada. She joined MusiquePlus as a VJ in 1992 before going on to join MuchMusic in 1996. Eventually, she transitioned out of music and became a business reporter for CablePulse24. Following her career in television, she authored several books including The AI Dilemma: 7 Principles for Responsible Technology in 2023. So, what is bacterial meningitis and what are the signs and symptoms? Read on to learn everything you need to know about the condition. Meningitis is the inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord membranes, typically caused by an infection, bacteria or sometimes fungi. According to Meningitis Foundation Canada, untreated bacterial meningitis is a "medical emergency" and can be "fatal in a few hours." Those who do recover can have permanent disabilities, such as brain damage, hearing loss and learning disabilities. The condition usually spreads through close contact to bacteria or virus, such as cold or flu germs. As such, sneezing, coughing, kissing and close physical contact can cause the germs to spread. Because it is difficult to stop the transmission of bacteria, prevention is essential. Bacterial meningitis is diagnosed by a medical professional after analyzing a sample of spinal fluid from the patient. This condition can often be mistaken for another life-threatening illness, sepsis, which is the body's extreme response to infection. Sepsis happens when an infection triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Without timely treatment, sepsis can quickly lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. That the timing of bacterial meningitis symptoms can vary widely. Some people can get sick within a few hours of contracting the condition, while it may take others one to three days to show symptoms. Typically, early symptoms, occurring within the first six hours, include fever, headache, irritability, nausea and vomiting. Later symptoms occurring within six to 12 hours involve fever, muscle aches, leg pain and pale skin. After 12 hours, symptoms usually include cold hands and feet, stiff neck or neck pain, rash, confusion or delirium and decreasing responsiveness. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Certain risk factors can increase a person's risk for getting bacterial meningitis. The risk factors include: Age: Babies or young children are more likely to contract bacterial meningitis due to their weakened immune systems. That said, people of any age can develop the condition. Group settings: Meningitis tends to spread where large groups of people gather or live in close quarters, such as college dorms or music festivals. Certain medical conditions: Some medical conditions, medications or surgical procedures put people at increased risk for contracting bacterial meningitis. For example, having an HIV infection or not having a spleen can increase a person's risk for the condition. There are many ways to help prevent bacterial meningitis. Firstly, different vaccines can help protect against certain types of bacterial meningitis. There are vaccines for four types of bacteria that can cause the condition. Additionally, maintaining good health, washing your hands often, staying home when you're sick and having a strong immune system can protect us from most causes. Oftentimes we carry meningitis germs with no ill effects. However, if your immune system is compromised due to cancer treatments, HIV, organ transplants, infection or other serious health issues, speak with your doctor about how to help protect against meningitis. Lastly, seeking medical attention as soon as symptoms appear is essential. Moreover, as the condition is contagious, if you've been around someone who has it, call your healthcare provider to discuss how to keep from getting sick.
