Steph Tolev

Early life and education

Stephanie Tolev was born on March 7, 1985, in Toronto, Ontario, to ethnically Bulgarian immigrant parents. She grew up in the city's East York district and attended East York Collegiate Institute for her secondary education. From the age of three until she was eighteen, Tolev was deeply involved in competitive highland dance, which provided an early foundation in performance. Her initial inspiration to pursue comedy came during high school when she played the role of Nick Bottom in a production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Following this, she enrolled in the Comedy Writing and Performance program at Humber College, where she would meet her future creative partner, Allison Hogg. Tolev performed stand-up comedy for the first time at a bar in Scarborough when she was 18 years old.

Career beginnings and Ladystache

After graduating from Humber College in 2005, Tolev and Allison Hogg were part of an all-female improv group. In 2009, the pair formally established the sketch comedy duo Ladystache, a name that playfully references a female moustache. The duo cited major influences such as The Kids in the Hall, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and the Canadian classic SCTV. Ladystache quickly found success on the festival circuit, winning the award for Most Innovative Comedy Troupe at Montreal Sketchfest in 2010. They were later nominated for Best Sketch Troupe at the 2013 Canadian Comedy Awards and won the Just for Laughs Award at Montreal Sketchfest in 2014. That same year, they released their comedy album titled So Many Wolves. The duo performed at prestigious venues and festivals including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, North by Northeast, and both the Toronto and Vancouver Sketchfests, as well as the Just for Laughs festival in Toronto.

Solo stand-up career and move to Los Angeles

While actively performing with Ladystache, Steph Tolev concurrently developed her solo stand-up career. Her efforts were recognized when she won the award for Best Female Stand Up at the 2015 Canadian Comedy Awards, having been a finalist in the SiriusXM Canada's Next Top Comic competition that same year. In 2016, seeking broader opportunities, Tolev relocated to Los Angeles. That year she released her debut stand-up album, Hot N' Hungry. Her follow-up album, 2019's I'm Not Well, was a significant career milestone, earning a nomination for the Juno Award for Comedy Album of the Year in 2020. Her growing reputation in the American comedy scene was solidified in 2021 when she became a paid regular at the legendary The Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

Breakthrough and mainstream recognition

The period from 2022 onward marked a major breakthrough for Tolev's profile. In 2022, she opened for renowned comedian Bill Burr on his tour and was featured in his Netflix special, Bill Burr Presents: Friends Who Kill. Her association with Burr continued as he produced her debut hour special, Filth Queen, which was filmed at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, Massachusetts, for Netflix in 2025. That same year, she broke new ground by becoming the first female comedian to host the AVN Awards in Las Vegas. Also in 2025, she guest-starred in the second season of the Netflix series Tires. Her work was further highlighted when she was named one of Variety's Comics to Watch, signalling her arrival as a significant talent on the international comedy scene.

Recent projects and touring

Steph Tolev remains a prolific performer across multiple platforms. In 2023, she performed at the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal and launched her own podcast, Steph Infection, where she interviews fellow comedians about bodily ailments. She made a memorable appearance as a guest judge on the Snatch Game episode of the fifth season of Canada's Drag Race in 2024. Tolev maintains a rigorous touring schedule, with announced performances across Canada and the United States throughout 2026. Notable 2026 dates include shows at the McPherson Playhouse in Victoria, British Columbia, in October and as part of the Sorry! Comedy Festival at Centennial Hall in London, Ontario, in November, which is billed as her only Ontario performance that year.

Comedic style and public persona

Steph Tolev's comedic style is consistently described as bold, unfiltered, and highly physical. Media outlets have often used the term "raunchy" to characterize her work, which blends vulgarity with clever self-deprecation. In a 2022 interview, Tolev herself summarized her comedy as "brash, vulgar, self-deprecating, physical, silly and painfully real." This fearless approach allows her to explore personal and often cringe-worthy topics with a high-energy delivery that connects strongly with audiences. Her background in sketch comedy with Ladystache informs her character work and timing, while her stand-up is known for its no-holds-barred honesty and relentless pace. This distinctive combination has cemented her reputation as a dynamic and authentic voice in modern comedy.

Questions about Steph Tolev

What is Steph Tolev best known for?

Steph Tolev is best known as a stand-up comedian and actress with a brash, physical style. She first gained attention as one half of the award-winning sketch comedy duo Ladystache. She is also recognized for winning the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Female Stand Up in 2015, her Juno-nominated album I'm Not Well, and her Netflix special Filth Queen produced by Bill Burr. More recently, she made headlines as the first female comedian to host the AVN Awards in 2025.

What is Steph Tolev's background and ethnicity?

Steph Tolev was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, specifically in the East York district. Her parents are ethnically Bulgarian immigrants, which contributes to her cultural heritage. She attended East York Collegiate Institute and later studied in the Comedy Writing and Performance program at Humber College. Before comedy, she was involved in competitive highland dance from age three to eighteen.

What awards has Steph Tolev won?

Steph Tolev has won several notable awards throughout her career. With Ladystache, she won the Most Innovative Comedy Troupe award at Montreal Sketchfest in 2010 and the Just for Laughs Award at the same festival in 2014. As a solo artist, she won the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Female Stand Up in 2015. Her 2019 comedy album I'm Not Well was nominated for a Juno Award for Comedy Album of the Year in 2020.

Has Steph Tolev been on television?

Yes, Steph Tolev has made several television appearances. She was a guest judge on the Snatch Game episode of the fifth season of Canada's Drag Race in 2024. She also guest-starred in the second season of the Netflix series Tires in 2025. Furthermore, her stand-up has been featured on Netflix, including in Bill Burr's special Bill Burr Presents: Friends Who Kill and in her own special, Filth Queen.

Is Steph Tolev touring in 2026?

Yes, Steph Tolev has announced a series of tour dates for 2026 across North America. Scheduled performances include shows at the McPherson Playhouse in Victoria, British Columbia, on October 14, 2026, and a headline spot at the Sorry! Comedy Festival at Centennial Hall in London, Ontario, on November 6, 2026, which is promoted as her only Ontario performance that year. She is also performing in various US cities.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.