If you grew up watching America’s Next Top Model, you probably remember the flamboyant, 6-foot-4 force of nature who could out-walk a gazelle in six-inch stilettos. Miss J Alexander wasn't just a TV judge with a collection of oversized ruffles. To the casual viewer, he was the comic relief—the man who wore a kilt and a miniature hat while critiquing a girl’s "smize." But if you actually look at the history of fashion, Miss J Alexander is one of the most influential figures to ever touch a catwalk.
Most people think he just showed up on Tyra Banks' doorstep for a reality show. That is a total myth. Honestly, by the time ANTM premiered in 2003, J. Alexander had already been a secret weapon for the world’s biggest luxury houses for over a decade. He was the guy Naomi Campbell called when she needed to sharpen her strut. He was the one casting for Valentino and John Galliano. He didn't just teach models how to walk; he taught them how to sell a fantasy.
From the South Bronx to the Parisian Runway
Born Alexander Jenkins in the South Bronx, J. was the seventh of ten children. Money wasn't exactly flowing. He mentions in interviews how he’d take his brothers' hand-me-down clothes and hack them apart with a needle and thread. He basically invented his own aesthetic because he didn't want the kids at school to roast him for wearing old clothes.
He didn't start as a coach. He started as a model. A chance encounter with Monique Pillard, the president of Elite Model Management, changed everything. She saw this lanky, androgynous teenager in the Bronx and signed him on the spot. Soon, he was walking for Jean Paul Gaultier. Can you imagine? A kid from the Bronx suddenly rubbing shoulders with the avant-garde elite in New York and Paris.
But the modeling world is fickle. Especially back then. As an androgynous Black man in the late '70s and '80s, the "look" wasn't always in demand. J. didn't wait for the phone to ring. He pivoted.
The Secret Architect of the Supermodel Walk
Here is the thing about Miss J: he is a technician. He understands the physics of a walk. During his time in Tokyo and later Paris, he started coaching models backstage. It wasn't a formal job at first. It was just J. being J., helping out the "new girls" who looked like baby giraffes on ice.
Tyra Banks was one of those girls. They met backstage at a show when she was just starting out, and he helped her refine that signature power-walk that would eventually make her billions. She’s the one who gave him the title "Queen of the Catwalk."
The A-List Student Body
If you look at his resume, it reads like a "Who's Who" of fashion history. We aren't just talking about reality TV contestants. We are talking about:
- Naomi Campbell (Yes, even the GOAT worked with him).
- Kimora Lee Simmons.
- Nadja Auermann.
- Julia Stegner.
He spent the '90s as a "professor of catwalk calisthenics," as some called him. He was based in Paris, working for Chanel, Nina Ricci, and Alexander McQueen. While we were all watching him give "broken doll" critiques on The CW, he was actually one of the few people in the industry who could tell Karl Lagerfeld that a model's walk was ruining the clothes.
The Reality TV "Caricature" vs. Reality
When America’s Next Top Model hit the air, J. Alexander became "Miss J." The name actually happened by accident. A Cycle 1 contestant named Robin Manning kept confusing him with Jay Manuel (Mr. Jay). Because J. Alexander often wore skirts or flamboyant "drag-adjacent" outfits, she called him Miss J. It stuck.
While the show leaned into his "extra" personality, it often glossed over his technical genius. He wasn't just being mean when he told a girl her walk was "sad." He was looking at her center of gravity. He was looking at how the fabric of a $10,000 gown would move if she didn't tuck her pelvis.
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He also made almost all of his own outfits on the show. Aside from a few specific costumes, like the nurse's outfit, he sat down with a needle and thread—no sewing machine—and hand-stitched those wild ruffles and capes. That’s not a "TV personality" trait. That’s a couturier’s soul.
Why He Still Matters in 2026
The fashion industry has changed a lot, but Miss J’s impact is everywhere. He was doing "gender-fluid" fashion decades before it was a marketing buzzword. He showed up to work in a lace top and heels because that’s how he felt like dressing.
He’s still active today, though he’s more of a consultant and a mentor now. He’s released books like Follow the Model and has even dipped his toes into the digital space with "Crypto Couture" NFTs. Even in 2026, you can see his influence in the way modern "Instagirls" and TikTok models try to recreate the high-drama walks of the '90s.
What You Can Learn from the Queen of the Catwalk
If you want to move through the world with the same presence as a Miss J protege, it’s not actually about the shoes.
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- Posture is Power. It’s about the string pulling the top of your head toward the ceiling. J. always emphasized that "beauty doesn't move you down the runway." Confidence does.
- Authenticity isn't a Trend. He was a gay Black man from the Bronx who conquered Paris by being exactly who he was. He didn't tone it down to fit in; he made the room expand to fit him.
- Manners Matter. J. often quotes his grandmother, saying that "manners will carry you where money cannot." In an industry known for being "cutthroat" and "mean," J. managed to stay respected by being a professional who actually cared about the craft.
If you’re looking to improve your own "walk" in life—whether that’s literally on a stage or just walking into a high-stakes meeting—start by recording yourself. It sounds cringey, but that’s how J. coached. Look at your shoulders. Are they tense? Look at your eyes. Are they darting around?
Fix your posture, find your center, and remember that the world is your runway, even if you’re just walking to the grocery store.
Next Step: To see his techniques in action, look up old clips of the "Casting" episodes from early America’s Next Top Model cycles. Watch specifically for how he corrects a model's foot placement—it’s a masterclass in body mechanics that applies to anyone wanting to improve their physical presence.