| American model, television host and mentor to other models. Country: USA |
Jay Alexander, also known as Miss J, is an American model, television host, and mentor to other models. He is most famous as a consultant and judge on the reality show "America's Next Top Model," created by Tyra Banks. Alexander is a funny, stylish, and lively fashion advisor who is constantly involved in the modeling and fashion industry. He currently resides in Paris.
Alexander Jenkins, also known as Jay Alexander, was born in South Bronx, New York, United States. The exact date of his birth is unknown. He credits his mother, Mary Jenkins, for introducing him to the world of fashion. In his teenage years, he pursued modeling and met Monique Pillard, the president of the largest international modeling agency, Elite Model Management, who was dressed in women's clothing. Impressed by what she saw, Pillard offered him a contract and Jenkins began his modeling career in New York, working with designer Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Alexander and the beauty Tyra Banks became friends when he was 16 years old. They met backstage at a fashion show, and he started giving her lessons on runway walking. His career as a fashion consultant began accidentally when he started coaching models backstage and gained recognition for his work. Aspiring models felt his support and compassion and quickly improved their own elegance and runway movements, drawing inspiration from his unique sense of style. He started coaching models and conducting castings since 1991, working with supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Kimora Lee Simmons, Nadja Auermann, Claudia Mason, and Julia Stegner.
After visiting Tokyo, Alexander decided to settle in Paris. Since then, he has worked with renowned fashion houses such as Hervé Léger, Bill Blass, Valentino, John Galliano, Nina Ricci, and Alexander McQueen, among others. The eccentric Miss J travels the world to participate in charity events and modeling competitions. His expertise is often sought after by journalists. He is widely known for his involvement in the popular reality show "America's Next Top Model," where he helps the contestants showcase their talent. Starting from cycle five, Alexander also served as a celebrity judge until he was replaced by Vogue editor André Leon Talley in cycle 14. He continues to be a part of the show and can be seen in many international versions, including the Canadian, Scandinavian, British, Finnish, and others.
Alexander earned the nickname "Miss J" in the first cycle of America's Next Top Model when his contestant Robin Manning, who often confused him with Jay Manuel, accidentally called him Miss J. Jay Manuel is often referred to as "Mr. Jay," and when Jay Alexander and Jay Manuel appear together, the contestants of the reality show often call them "the Jays," "the Two Jays," or "Mr. and Miss Jay." Alexander also showed an interest in designing his own clothes for America's Next Top Model, including handmade pieces. He stated, "For every dress you see on the competition, I actually sat there with needle and thread, not even on a sewing machine, and made them all by hand. I made the lace and everything."
On Tyra Banks' talk show, Alexander revealed that he has a son named Boris. His former boyfriend became a sperm donor for a French lesbian who wanted a child, making Alexander Boris' biological father. He also mentioned that he plays a "very important role" in Boris' life. In 2009, he won the Teen Choice Awards. In 2010, Jay wrote his own story and a collection of advice on how to become more confident, titled "Follow the Model: Miss J's Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power."