Miss J Alexander, a beloved figure from America’s Next Top Model, discloses that he suffered a severe stroke in December 2022, leaving him unable to walk. The 67-year-old runway coach shares his emotional journey in Netflix’s docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.
Emotional Revelation on the Runway Legacy
Alexander, born Alexander Jenkins, grows emotional while reflecting on his iconic role. “I miss being the queen of the runway, the queen of the catwalk, of course. I’m the person who taught models how to walk. I taught models how to walk, and now I can’t walk,” he states. “Not yet. I’m determined to walk. I’m sure you’re going to see me again. I’m sure. It’s not over for me yet.”
When asked about host Tyra Banks, the 52-year-old supermodel and show creator, Alexander responds directly: “No, not yet. She sent me a text that she wants to come and visit me, but no. Not yet.” He delivers the comment with a pointed glance at the camera.
Details of the Debilitating Stroke
Alexander recounts waking up disoriented in the hospital after spending five weeks in a coma. “I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t talk,” he explains. “It was emotional. I cried. I’m not ashamed to say I cried.”
Support from Fellow Judges
While Banks has not visited, judges Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker made time to see him during his hospitalization. Barker shares, “I don’t know if he wanted me to see him in that way, but I was going to see him. That was such a terrible shock and really upsetting and horrifying and scary.”
Manuel adds, “I could feel how upset he was, for sure. I can’t even imagine where he was in his mind.” Alexander reflects warmly, “I thought back to when we used to do shows together. I just missed them so much.” The trio captures a heartfelt selfie together, their first since 2019.
Miss J’s Role on America’s Next Top Model
Alexander served as runway coach for every cycle of the show from 2003 to 2018 and later as a judge from Cycle 5 through Cycle 13, before Andre Leon Talley took over in Cycle 14. He also featured in international versions.
Revisiting ANTM Controversies
The Netflix docuseries delves into the show’s past issues, including dangerous runway challenges, problematic photoshoots, disastrous makeovers, a ‘blackface’ photoshoot, and sexual harassment claims. Former contestants like Giselle Samson describe shocking behind-the-scenes insults from judges. Ebony Haith recounts racist comments about her skin tone.
Shandi Sullivan addresses a controversial episode where producers filmed her in a compromising situation with an Italian man while she was ‘blacking out,’ despite her relationship status. “Nobody did anything to stop it” and instead captured it for broadcast, she reveals.
Other models discuss ethnicity-swapping photoshoots, fat-shaming, and non-consensual touching by male models on set. Clips resurfaced online in 2020, sparking renewed debates over body-shaming and boundary-pushing by judges, including Banks.
Banks addressed the criticism at the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards: “Hell no. I said some dumb s—,” while defending her efforts to promote diversity on television.
Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model streams now on Netflix.
