J. Alexander (model)

J. Alexander
Alexander hosting the It Gets Better Project Holiday Show 2014
Born
Alexander Jenkins

(1958-04-12) April 12, 1958
South Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Other names
  • J. Alexander
  • Miss J
Occupations
  • Model
  • runway coach
  • consultant
Years active1979–present
Known forTelevision personality and runway coaching
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Children1

Alexander Jenkins (born April 12, 1958[2][3]), known as J. Alexander or Miss J, is an American model, reality television personality, and runway coach best known for his work on America's Next Top Model.[4][5][6]

In 2026 he appeared on Netflix documentary Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model to speak about his experience on that show.

Early life

Alexander was born in the South Bronx, New York City, the sixth of nine children of Julius and Mary Jenkins.[1] He cites his mother as the first person to introduce him to fashion. His first job was as a paper boy, delivering the New York Times, to earn money for clothing.[7]

As a teenager, he turned to modeling after meeting Monique Pillard, the president of Elite Model Management. Pillard was so impressed with his look that she signed him to her agency and sent him to Tokyo, where he modeled for three years. Alexander later settled in Paris and would go on to work for designer Jean Paul Gaultier in New York City.[4][8]

Career

Runway coach

Alexander's coaching career began with helping models backstage; he eventually became recognized for his skills.[9] He has been coaching and casting since 1991.[10] He rose to prominence in this field when he coached supermodel Naomi Campbell and model Kimora Lee Simmons. He has also worked with models Nadja Auermann, Meghan Douglas, Susan Holmes, Claudia Mason, Karen Mulder, Tatjana Patitz, and Julia Stegner.[9][1] Alexander met Tyra Banks backstage at a runway show when she was 16, and he began to give Banks walking lessons. Banks coined the title "Queen of the Catwalk" for Alexander.[11]

Since 1991, he has helped cast and coach models for designers such as Hervé Léger, Lars Nilsson, Bill Blass, Valentino, John Galliano, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, and Nina Ricci.[4][10]

In 1993, he gave an interview on the premiere episode of the British television show Eurotrash, discussing his career as a teacher of runway models in Milan and his life.

America's Next Top Model

In 2003, Banks created the reality competition series America's Next Top Model (ANTM) as a way to give general audiences a look into what makes a supermodel. Banks, who was a close friend of Alexander, invited him to participate. He served solely as a runway coach for the first four seasons before also being added as judge on Cycle 5 and on.[11] During Cycle 14 of the show, Alexander was replaced as a permanent judge on the panel by Vogue editor at large André Leon Talley.[12] Alexander stayed on as the show's runway coach until 2012 when he and co-stars Nigel Barker and Jay Manuel were let go as part of a major show renovation.[13]

Alexander's nickname "Miss J" came from Cycle 1 contestant Robin Manning, who often confused Alexander and Manuel. On several occasions she referred to Alexander as "Miss J" by accident because of his flamboyant clothing and personality. Accordingly, Jay Manuel is referred to as "Mr. Jay", and ANTM contestants often call them "The Jays", "The Two Jays" or "Mr. and Miss. Jay" when they appear together.[14]

He has also appeared on international versions of Top Model, such as Canada's Next Top Model, Holland's Next Top Model, Korea's Next Top Model, Estonia's Next Top Model, Scandinavia's Next Top Model and Vietnam's Next Top Model. Alexander appeared on the 4 May 2008 episode of Finland's version of ANTM Suomen huippumalli haussa.[15] In 2009 and the 2011 finale, Alexander appeared on Britain's Next Top Model.

In May 2020, Alexander and Manuel began a weekly Instagram Live series, later syndicated to Facebook and YouTube, based on their experiences working on the show.

In 2026, he appeared in the Netflix documentary series Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model. The documentary focused on the series' numerous controversies surrounding the ethics of the competitions. During the interview, Alexander revealed that he had suffered a stroke in 2022, leaving him unable to walk.[16]

Other work

Alexander is interested in design and has handmade all his clothes on America's Next Top Model except for the nurse's outfit: "I did make the hat and the bag."[4] "All the dresses that you see me wear at the challenges, I actually sit down with a needle and thread, not even with a sewing machine, and make them all by hand. I made the ruffles and everything."[4] He also taught design at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia for 15 years during his off-time from ANTM and after.[17]

In 2010, Alexander wrote Follow the Model: Miss J's Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power, which "shares his story and offers tips on how to be more confident".[18]

Alexander was featured in the track "Jay Walk (feat. Miss Jay Alexander)" on Leikeli47's album Shape Up (2022).

Personal life

Alexander is gay.[9][19] Alexander has stated on The Tyra Banks Show that he has a son named Boris with his ex-partner. Both Alexander and his ex-boyfriend donated sperm to a French lesbian who wanted a child, and Alexander's ex is the biological father.[20][21] Alexander has said that he has a "very active role" in Boris' life. He has even joked that his "fashion genes" must have rubbed off on Boris.[22]

Alexander had a stroke on December 27, 2022 and was in a coma for five weeks. This left him paralyzed and unable to talk. Alexander was hospitalized for a year and half during recovery, relearning how to speak. He is still relearning to walk, but can speak.[23][24]

Publications

  • Follow the Model: Miss J's Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power (Simon & Schuster, 2010), ISBN 978-1-4391-5051-1.

Filmography

Reality television

Year Title Role Notes
2003 - 2015 America's Next Top Model Judge / Runway Coach 226 episodes
2005 - 2009 The Tyra Banks Show Guest 5 episodes
2007 - 2009 Canada's Next Top Model Judge 3 episodes
2009 - 2011 Britain's Next Top Model Catwalk Coach 2 episodes
2011 Ushi & The Family Guest Episode #1.4
Niecy Nash's Wedding Bash Guest
2012 The Real Housewives of Atlanta Guest Episode: "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained"
The Tents Documentary
Estonia's Next Top Model Judge Episode #1.2
Russia's Next Top Model Judge Episode #4.1
2014 Make It in America: Empowering Global Fashion
2015 - 2016 I Supermodel
2019 The Bachelorette Judge Episode #15.2
2020 Major Minors Episode: "Miss J Alexander"
Humpday with Hampshire Episode #1.7
2021 For Real: The Story of Reality TV 2 episodes
2026 Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model Mini-series

As actor

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Cuts Ricardo Episode: "Wife Swap"
2017 Bull Fictionalized Self Episode: "Dressed to Kill"
2020 Katy Keene Fictionalized Self Episode: "Chapter Eleven: Who Can I Turn To?"

Music videos

Year Title Artist Notes
2021 Love One Another Tito Jackson

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result
2009 Teen Choice Awards Choice Fab-u-lous Won[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Rus, Mayer (May 1994). "The Rise of Miss J. Alexander". Out.
  2. ^ "Cee Lo Green, Miss J Alexander, Audrina Patridge". When I Was 17. MTV. Archived from the original on August 20, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  3. ^ Harris, Malcolm (April 26, 2012). "Miss J. Alexander – Taking It in (His/Her) Stride". Huffington Post.
  4. ^ a b c d e Indramalar, S. (February 15, 2008). "Queen of the Runway". Star Publications. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  5. ^ "Tyra, 'Top Model' back". The Washington Times. February 28, 2007.
  6. ^ Atkeson, Abigail (2020). "Miss J Alexander spills on how to get hooked on 'America's Next Top Model' forever". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  7. ^ "J. Alexander, Miss J of 'Top Model,' reveals how he learned to walk so tall – his mom". New York Daily News. November 13, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  8. ^ Araujo, Keka (February 17, 2026). "THE ICONIC MISS J ALEXANDER DETAILS GRUELING STROKE RECOVERY IN NETFLIX DOC". Black Enterprise. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  9. ^ a b c Horyn, Cathy (November 11, 2009). "It Was No Walk in the Park". The New York Times.
  10. ^ a b "America's Next Top Model: Cast: J Alexander". America's Next Top Model via The CW Television Network. 2008. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
  11. ^ a b Blair, Caroline (February 16, 2026). "Where Is Miss J from America's Next Top Model Now? All About His Life Since Departing the Show". People. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  12. ^ Sidman, Amanda (November 12, 2009). "'Top Model' to get a major makeover with Kimora Lee Simmons as a new judge". New York Daily News.
  13. ^ Kobiela-Mondor, Jenny (September 8, 2009). "Fall TV Fun: 'Top Model' and 'Glee'". Fashion World Daily News.
  14. ^ Martin, Denise (November 21, 2008). "A new platform for 'Top Model' pair". The Los Angeles Times.
  15. ^ "TV-ohjelmat". Ilta-Sanomat. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008.
  16. ^ Bell, BreAnna (February 17, 2026). "'ANTM' runway coach Miss J Alexander is paralyzed after devastating 2022 stroke, 5-week coma". Page Six. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  17. ^ Bramley, Ellie Violet (June 30, 2020). "Miss J Alexander: 'I've been comfortable in my own skin since birth'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  18. ^ Hood, Michela (February 22, 2010). "Miss J. Alexander shares his contagious confidence". The Miami Herald.
  19. ^ "Advocacy Group Lauds ABC For Most Gay Roles". The Wichita Eagle. August 8, 2007.
  20. ^ "Miss J Is a Father". Extra TV. November 10, 2009.
  21. ^ "Top Model's "Miss J" Reveals: "I'm a Dad!"". Us Weekly. 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  22. ^ Lapowsky, Issie (November 11, 2009). "'America's Next Top Model' judge 'Miss J' Alexander reveals he's a father". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  23. ^ Nolfi, Joey (February 16, 2026). "ANTM runway coach Miss J. Alexander left paralyzed by stroke in 2022, says Tyra Banks didn't visit in hospital". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  24. ^ Savin, Jennifer (February 16, 2026). "Inside 'ANTM's Miss J. Alexander's Health Journey as Shocking Stroke Revealed: "I Can't Walk"". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  25. ^ "J Alexander Wins Teen Choice Award!". Top Model Gossip. August 10, 2009. Archived from the original on August 14, 2009.
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