Alice Panikian

Alice Panikian is a Bulgarian-Canadian journalist, TV host, model, and former beauty pageant contestant. She was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, on May 23, 1985, and moved to Canada with her parents when she was five years old. Her ancestry is Bulgarian and Armenian, with her Armenian surname coming from her paternal grandfather.

Panikian's breakout moment came in 2006 when she was crowned Miss Universe Canada. Standing at 6'1", she became the tallest major national titleholder in Canadian history, drawing international attention as a strong contender for the Miss Universe crown. Although she didn't win the global title, she placed sixth, the best result for a Canadian contestant at that competition until 2016. Before her Miss Universe Canada win, she made history as the first Canadian to win the Reinado Internacional del Café pageant in Colombia. She also took home the Miss Photogenic and Best in Swimsuit awards at the national pageant.

Panikian attended William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute in Toronto, graduating in 2003. She later studied English and Communications at York University, and pursued broadcast journalism. She currently resides in Toronto and works as a journalist and TV host, with hobbies that include writing short stories, volleyball, and yoga.

She's been active in her careers since 2006, starting when she was about 21 years old. Over two decades, she's built a following of 36,000 on Instagram, where she shares glimpses of her life and work.