Nova Stevens | |
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| Born | Nyawal Bukjok (1992-05-05)May 5, 1992 (age 32) Nairobi, Kenya |
| Occupations |
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| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss Universe Canada 2020 |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Major competition(s) | Miss Universe Canada 2014 (Top 12) Miss Universe Canada 2018 (Top 20) Miss Universe Canada 2020 (Winner) Miss Universe 2020 (Unplaced) |
Nova Stevens (née Nyawal Bukjok; born 5 May 1992) is a Canadian model, activist, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crownedMiss Universe Canada 2020. As Miss Universe Canada, she represented Canada atMiss Universe 2020, making her the first woman of South Sudanese origin to compete at the pageant. Stevens is also a professional model and an activist forBlack Lives Matter.
Stevens was born as Nyawal Bukjok inKenya toSouth Sudanese parents fleeing theSecond Sudanese Civil War. When she was six years old, the family sent her toCanada in order for her to have a better life; her parents and siblings later settled inEthiopia. Stevens grew up with various relatives inAlberta andOntario.[1]
At age 15, Stevens left home and began living on her own. The following year, she moved toNew York City and began working as a professional model, until moving toVancouver in 2014, to continue her modelling career and venture into acting.[1]
Amidst theGeorge Floyd protests, Stevens became a prominent activist forBlack Lives Matter inVancouver. Along with activist Shamika Mitchell, Stevens organized the Freedom March in June 2020, which saw over 15,000 people protesting againstracism andpolice brutality while celebratingJuneteenth.[2] Following the success of the march, Stevens and Mitchell organized other marches and events in support of Black Lives Matter within Vancouver.[3][4] Stevens and Mitchell were instrumental in lobbying forMayorKennedy Stewart to declare August 1 asEmancipation Day in Vancouver.[5][6]
Stevens is a spokesperson for the nonprofit organization Keep6ix, which provides assistance to underprivileged youth wrongly accused of criminal activity. She additionally has volunteered withOperation Smile and Feed it Forward.[7]
Stevens participated in Miss Universe Canada 2014 andMiss Universe Canada 2018.[citation needed]
In 2020, Stevens participated in theMiss Universe Canada 2020 competition, which she went on to win.[7] She had initially decided to retire from pageantry, but was inspired to continue competing afterZozibini Tunzi was crownedMiss Universe 2019.[8] Prior to competing in the pageant, Stevens had stated that she would use the platform to amplify her message of supportingBlack Lives Matter andracial justice.[4]
Following her win, she represented Canada at theMiss Universe 2020 competition,[7] where she did not place in the Top 21.
| Awards and achievements | ||
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| Preceded by Alyssa Boston | Miss Universe Canada 2020 | Succeeded by |
