Steph Tolev
Stephanie Tolev is a Canadian comedian, actress, and television personality known for her brash, physical, and self-deprecating brand of comedy. A prominent figure in the Canadian comedy scene, she first gained recognition as half of the award-winning sketch duo Ladystache before establishing a successful solo career in stand-up. Tolev's work has earned her a Canadian Comedy Award and a Juno Award nomination, and she has performed at major festivals across North America and the United Kingdom. Her visibility to Canadian audiences increased through appearances on Canada's Drag Race and the release of her Netflix special in 2025.
Early life and education
Stephanie Tolev was born on March 7, 1985, in Toronto 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 actively involved in competitive highland dance, which provided an early foundation in performance. Her initial inspiration to pursue comedy came from playing the role of Nick Bottom in a high school production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. She later enrolled in the Comedy Writing and Performance program at Humber College, where she performed stand-up for the first time at a Scarborough bar at age 18. It was during her studies at Humber that she met Allison Hogg, who would become her longtime sketch comedy collaborator. Tolev graduated from the program in 2005 and, along with Hogg, became part of a four-person, all-female improv group shortly thereafter.
Career beginnings and Ladystache
Steph Tolev's professional comedy career began in earnest in 2009 when she and Allison Hogg formed the sketch comedy duo Ladystache, a name that playfully references a female moustache. The duo cited major comedic influences including The Kids in the Hall, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and the classic Canadian series SCTV. Ladystache quickly found success on the Canadian comedy festival circuit, winning the award for Most Innovative Comedy Troupe at Montreal Sketchfest in 2010. The troupe was also nominated for Best Sketch Troupe at the 2013 Canadian Comedy Awards. Their achievements continued with a win of the prestigious Just for Laughs Award at Montreal Sketchfest in 2014, the same year they released their comedy album titled So Many Wolves. The duo's performances extended beyond Canada, with notable appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, the North by Northeast festival, and sketch festivals in Toronto and Vancouver. They also performed as part of the Just for Laughs festival in Toronto, solidifying their reputation within the industry.
Stand-up comedy and solo work
While actively performing with Ladystache, Steph Tolev concurrently developed a solo career in stand-up comedy that led to significant recognition. Her solo efforts were recognized with the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Female Stand Up in 2015, and the previous year she had been a finalist in the SiriusXM Canada's Next Top Comic competition. In 2016, Tolev relocated to Los Angeles to further her career and released her debut stand-up album, Hot N' Hungry. She followed this with her 2019 comedy album I'm Not Well, which earned a nomination for the Juno Award for Comedy Album of the Year in 2020. By 2021, she had achieved the status of a paid regular at the legendary The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Tolev's career reached new heights in 2022 when she opened for renowned comedian Bill Burr on his tour and was featured in his Netflix special, Bill Burr Presents: Friends Who Kill. She returned to the Canadian festival stage with a performance at Just For Laughs in Montreal in 2023.
Recent projects and media appearances
In recent years, Steph Tolev has expanded her presence across multiple media platforms. In 2023, she launched her own podcast titled Steph Infection, where she interviews fellow comedians about various bodily ailments and health topics. The following year, in 2024, she appeared as a guest judge on the popular Snatch Game episode during the fifth season of the Canadian reality competition series Canada's Drag Race. The year 2025 marked a significant milestone with the filming of her first Netflix stand-up special, Filth Queen, which was recorded at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, Massachusetts. That same year, she also guest-starred in the second season of the Netflix comedy series Tires, demonstrating her continued growth and versatility as a performer within both the Canadian and international entertainment landscapes.
Comedic style and recognition
Steph Tolev's comedic style has been consistently described by media outlets as raunchy, a label she has embraced and elaborated upon. In a 2022 interview, Tolev characterized her own comedy as brash, vulgar, self-deprecating, physical, silly, and painfully real. This blend of high-energy physicality with candid, often crude storytelling has defined her work in both sketch and stand-up. Her talent has been recognized through several industry awards and notable accolades. Beyond her Canadian Comedy Award and Juno nomination, she was featured in a 2016 Toronto Life magazine list highlighting the nine funniest stand-up acts in Toronto at the time. The consistent thread in descriptions of her work is a fearless commitment to authenticity and a willingness to explore awkward and visceral topics for humour.
Awards and nominations
Throughout her career, Steph Tolev has received recognition from major comedy institutions in Canada. Her achievements include both individual honours and awards won as part of the duo Ladystache. The following list details her key awards and nominations, which highlight her impact and respected status within the Canadian comedy community across multiple disciplines. She won the Montreal Sketchfest Award for Most Innovative Comedy Troupe with Ladystache in 2010 and the festival's Just for Laughs Award in 2014. Ladystache was also nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Sketch Troupe in 2013. Tolev's solo work earned her the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Female Stand Up in 2015 and a Juno Award nomination for Comedy Album of the Year in 2020 for her album I'm Not Well.
- 2010: Won Montreal Sketchfest Award for Most Innovative Comedy Troupe (with Ladystache).
- 2013: Nominated for Canadian Comedy Award for Best Sketch Troupe (with Ladystache).
- 2014: Won Montreal Sketchfest Just for Laughs Award (with Ladystache).
- 2015: Won Canadian Comedy Award for Best Female Stand Up.
- 2020: Nominated for Juno Award for Comedy Album of the Year for 'I'm Not Well'.
Questions about Steph Tolev
What is Steph Tolev best known for?
Steph Tolev is best known as a Canadian stand-up comedian and as one half of the award-winning sketch comedy duo Ladystache. She is recognized for her raunchy, physical, and self-deprecating comedic style. Her 2019 comedy album I'm Not Well earned a Juno Award nomination, and she filmed her first Netflix special, Filth Queen, in 2025. Canadian audiences may also recognize her from her 2024 appearance as a guest judge on Canada's Drag Race.
Did Steph Tolev win any awards?
Yes, Steph Tolev has won several awards. In 2015, she won the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Female Stand Up. Earlier, as part of the duo Ladystache, she won the Montreal Sketchfest award for Most Innovative Comedy Troupe in 2010 and the festival's Just for Laughs Award in 2014. Her album I'm Not Well also garnered a nomination for the Juno Award for Comedy Album of the Year in 2020.
Has Steph Tolev been on Netflix?
Yes, Steph Tolev has appeared in Netflix programming. In 2022, she was featured in the Netflix special Bill Burr Presents: Friends Who Kill after opening for Bill Burr on tour. In 2025 she filmed her own Netflix stand-up special titled Filth Queen at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. That same year, she also guest-starred in the second season of the Netflix series Tires.
What is Ladystache?
Ladystache was a Canadian sketch comedy duo formed in 2009 by Steph Tolev and comedian Allison Hogg. The name is a playful reference to a female moustache. The troupe was award-winning, taking home top honours at Montreal Sketchfest in 2010 and 2014. They performed at major festivals including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Just for Laughs, and released a comedy album called So Many Wolves in 2014 before Tolev focused more on her solo stand-up career.
Where is Steph Tolev from?
Steph Tolev is from Toronto, Ontario. She was born in the city on March 7, 1985, to ethnically Bulgarian immigrant parents. She grew up specifically in the East York district of Toronto and attended East York Collegiate Institute. She later studied comedy at Humber College in Toronto before beginning her professional career there and eventually moving to Los Angeles in 2016.
What is Steph Tolev's podcast about?
Steph Tolev's podcast is about interviewing fellow comedians regarding bodily ailments. She launched the podcast, titled 'Steph Infection', in the year 2023. This project represents a newer facet of her career in comedy, which she established alongside her ongoing stand up and acting work. The podcast's focus on physical health topics aligns with her described comedic style, which media have labelled as 'raunchy' and she herself has called 'brash, vulgar, self deprecating, physical, silly and painfully real'. The launch of this podcast occurred in the same year she performed at the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal.
Sources and further reading
- Steph Tolev (Wikipedia)
- Steph Tolev Tickets, Events in 2026 to 2027 (ticketmaster.ca)
Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.
