Aliya-Jasmine "AJ" Sovani (born November 18, 1981) is a Canadian television broadcaster and producer, initially known for her work on MTV.[1] She is currently working as a host for NBC.[2]

Career

edit

Before working at MTV, Sovani was a producer at MuchMusic, and has worked in front of and behind the camera at BPM:TV,[3] Star!, and FashionTelevision as well as a freelance writer and professional speaker. She also worked as the Whistler Reporter for CTV's Olympic Morning show during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[4]

Over the past decade, Sovani has been a reporter at the Vancouver Winter Olympics for CTV's Olympic Morning Show,[5] was on the ground in Haiti after the devastating earthquake alongside actor Jared Leto for the Discovery channel,[6][7] was an NHL playoffs reporter for the Stanley Cup countdown,[8] and hosted the ESPYS red carpet with Cabbie on TSN.[9] She was on one seven on-air personalities that launched MTV Canada in 2006 and appeared regularly on the flagship show MTV Live. She soon expanded her role and was involved with several other programs on the network. She is best known for having produced & hosted her on Sports/PopCulture series on MTV called "PLAY with AJ".[10] She also anchored MTV News, was a regularly contributor to MTV Movie Night and hosted the talk show 1 Girl 5 Gays (a.k.a. "1g5g") on MTV (Canada) and Logo (TV channel) in the USA.[11]

Sovani was the 2012 face of the NFL's women's apparel campaign[12] launched by Vogue and photographed by French photographer Patrick Demarchelier in New York City's meat packing district.[13] She recently collaborated with the CFL to design a women's sweatshirt for the 2014 Grey Cup.[14][15]

In 2022, she was cohost with Teddy Wilson of the documentary series The Mightiest for Discovery Channel Canada.[16]

Personal life

edit

Sovani was born on November 18, 1981, in Ottawa, Ontario. Her parents are African-Indians originally from Uganda.[17]

She received international attention from various media outlets including The View,[18] The Huffington Post,[19] and Good Morning America for a breast cancer awareness video she wrote, and directed that went viral called "Save the Boobs".[20]

In 2010, she was selected as one of HELLO! Magazine's 50 most beautiful Canadians[21] and the National Post newspaper's "Worthy-30 to watch" lists.[22]

She has her Social Media & Digital Marketing certificate from Harvard University,[23] and her BA degree in Broadcast Communications from the University of Ottawa.[24]

In 2020, Sovani married Mike Bradwell, former wide receiver for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, at the Sasaab resort in Kenya.[25]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Aliya-Jasmine Sovani / Host and Segment Producer". MTV.ca. 22 July 2009. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  2. ^ "www.aliyajasmine.com".
  3. ^ Video clip of Sovani, YouTube
  4. ^ "ETALK's Team Delivers Gold Medal Coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games". CTV. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.[dead link]
  5. ^ "CTV". ctv.ca. Archived from the original on December 6, 1998. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Discovery". Archived from the original on 31 July 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Aliya-Jasmine". Facebook. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  8. ^ "The National Hockey League". nhl.com. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  9. ^ "TSN". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  10. ^ Home
  11. ^ 1 Girl 5 Gays at Logo
  12. ^ "Official Site of the National Football League". nfl.com. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  13. ^ "Vogue". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  14. ^ "CFL.ca". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  15. ^ "Aliya-Jasmine". twitter.com. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  16. ^ Greg David, "Aliya Jasmine and Teddy Wilson celebrate the world’s mega machines in Discovery’s The Mightiest". TV, eh?, November 21, 2022.
  17. ^ "Aliya Jasmine Sovani Boyfriend Mike Bradwell & Their Wedding". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  18. ^ "SAVE THE BOOB...Aliya-Jasmine Sovani". Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  19. ^ "15steps Commented on: "Save The Boobs": Is This Breast Cancer Awareness Ad Too Sexy? (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 4 January 2011. Nope, Aliyah Jasmine (the young lady) was creative director and co- chair of the foundation that this ad is for. Check the behind the scenes video.
  20. ^ MTV Canada host aims to 'save the boobs'[dead link], CTV, 26 September 2009.
  21. ^ "Hello Canada's 50 most beautiful". CTV.ca. Archived from the original on May 18, 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  22. ^ Siddiqi, Maryam (22 February 2010). "Shinan Govani's Worthy 30: The Women". National Post. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  23. ^ "www.aliyajasmine.com".
  24. ^ "University of Ottawa".
  25. ^ "Aliya Jasmine Sovani Boyfriend Mike Bradwell & Their Wedding". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
edit