Nova Stevens

{{short description|Canadian model, actress, activist, and beauty queen}}

{{Infobox pageant titleholder

| name = Nova Stevens

| birth_name = Nyawal Bukjok

| birth_place = Nairobi, Kenya

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|5|5}}

| height = {{height|m=1.83}}

| education =

| hair_colour = Black

| eye_colour = Brown

| occupation = {{Hlist|Model|activist|beauty pageant titleholder}}

| title = Miss Universe Canada 2020

| competitions = Miss Universe Canada 2014
(Top 12)
Miss Universe Canada 2018
(Top 20)
Miss Universe Canada 2020
(Winner)
Miss Universe 2020
(Unplaced)}}

Nova Stevens ({{nee|Nyawal Bukjok}}; born 5 May 1992) is a Canadian model, activist, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Canada 2020. As Miss Universe Canada, she represented Canada at Miss 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 for Black Lives Matter.

Early life

Stevens was born as Nyawal Bukjok in Kenya to South Sudanese parents fleeing the Second Sudanese Civil War. When she was six years old, the family sent her to Canada in order for her to have a better life; her parents and siblings later settled in Ethiopia. Stevens grew up with various relatives in Alberta and Ontario.{{cite web|url=https://fashionmagazine.com/wellness/identity/nova-stevens-model-miss-universe-canada/|title=My Story: Model Nova Stevens on Beauty Pageants, Activism and More|date=October 20, 2020|last=Bains|first=Pahull|work=Fashion Magazine}}

At age 15, Stevens left home and began living on her own. The following year, she moved to New York City and began working as a professional model, until moving to Vancouver in 2014, to continue her modelling career and venture into acting.

Activism

Amidst the George Floyd protests, Stevens became a prominent activist for Black Lives Matter in Vancouver. Along with activist Shamika Mitchell, Stevens organized the Freedom March in June 2020, which saw over 15,000 people protesting against racism and police brutality while celebrating Juneteenth.{{cite web|url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/march-in-unity-planned-juneteenth|title=Black Vancouver's "March in unity" will commemorate Juneteenth today|last=Johal|first=Rumneek|date=June 19, 2020|work=Daily Hive}} Following the success of the march, Stevens and Mitchell organized other marches and events in support of Black Lives Matter within Vancouver.{{cite web|url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/vancouver-news/powerful-juneteenth-march-plans-rally-vancouver-2529053|title=Organizer of powerful 'Juneteenth' march plans new rally in Vancouver|work=Vancouver Is Awesome|date=June 29, 2020|last=Shepert|first=Elana}}{{cite web|url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/nova-stevens-miss-universe-canada|title=Vancouver's Nova Stevens brings anti-racism advocacy to the stage at Miss Universe Canada|last=Singh|first=Simran|date=October 24, 2020|work=Daily Hive}} Stevens and Mitchell were instrumental in lobbying for Mayor Kennedy Stewart to declare August 1 as Emancipation Day in Vancouver.{{cite web|url=https://missuniversecanada.ca/2020-national-finalists/nova-stevens/|title=Nova Stevens|publisher=Miss Universe Canada|accessdate=October 26, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/august-1-proclaimed-emancipation-day|title=Vancouver recognizes August 1 as Emancipation Day|last=Devlin|first=Megan|date=August 2, 2020|work=Daily Hive}}

Stevens is a spokesperson for the nonprofit organization Keep6ix, which provides assistance to underprivileged youth wrongly accused of criminal activity. She additionally has volunteered with Operation Smile and Feed it Forward.

Pageantry

Stevens participated in Miss Universe Canada 2014 and Miss Universe Canada 2018.{{cn|date=October 2021}}

In 2020, Stevens participated in the Miss Universe Canada 2020 competition, which she went on to win.{{cite web|url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/nova-stevens-winner-miss-universe-canada-2020|title=Vancouver anti-racism advocate Nova Stevens crowned Miss Universe Canada|last=Singh|first=Simran|date=October 25, 2020|work=Daily Hive}} She had initially decided to retire from pageantry, but was inspired to continue competing after Zozibini Tunzi was crowned Miss Universe 2019.{{Cite web|date=9 December 2019|title=Miss Universe 2019: 'May every little girl see their faces reflected in mine'|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-50712666|website=BBC}} Prior to competing in the pageant, Stevens had stated that she would use the platform to amplify her message of supporting Black Lives Matter and racial justice.

Following her win, she represented Canada at the Miss Universe 2020 competition, where she did not place in the Top 21.