For generations of America’s Next Top Model fans, America’s Next Top Model—better known as ANTM—was never just about smizing, makeovers, or dramatic eliminations. It was about transformation. Few embodied that spirit more boldly, more flamboyantly, or more unapologetically than Jay Alexander, the iconic runway mentor the world knows as Miss J.
Now, in a sobering and deeply human revelation, Miss J has shared a chapter of his life that fans never saw—one marked by survival, silence, and fierce determination.
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“I Woke Up in the Hospital”: Miss J’s Stroke Revealed
In the new Netflix documentary REALITY CHECK: INSIDE AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, Miss J revealed that he suffered a devastating stroke in late 2022.
“On December 27th of 2022, I had a stroke. I woke up. I didn’t know where I was other than in the hospital,” Alexander says in the documentary.
What followed was terrifying: five weeks in a coma, and when he woke up, he couldn’t walk. He couldn’t talk. For a man whose very legacy was built on teaching others how to move through the world with confidence, the irony was crushing.
“I spent five weeks in a coma, and I couldn’t walk. And I couldn’t talk. And I thought to myself, ‘What was I going to do?’”
Then came the line that hit ANTM fans straight in the chest:
“I’m the person who taught models how to walk. And now I can’t walk.”
But Miss J wasn’t finished.
“Not yet,” he added. “I’m determined to walk.”
That phrase—not yet—has become the emotional heartbeat of Miss J’s story. It’s not denial. It’s resolve.
“I’m sure you’re gonna see me again. I’m sure,” he said. “It’s not over for me yet.”
In an industry obsessed with youth, perfection, and disposability, Miss J’s refusal to disappear feels radical. It’s not a comeback tour announcement or a PR-polished redemption arc. It’s simply a survivor saying: I’m still here.
@podcastgaze Here at PG Towers, we’re super excited about the new Netflix documentary on America’s Next Top Model and it’s the perfect time to catch our past episode on the show. Here, one of the show’s judges, Miss J Alexander, teaches models how to strut their stuff. #antm #problematicgaze #catwalker
Former ‘ANTM’ judge Miss Jay reveals he can’t walk after suffering a stroke years ago and confirms Tyra Banks has not visited him “yet.”
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) February 16, 2026
Who Showed Up—and Who Hasn’t (Yet)
Miss J also shared who from the ANTM family showed up during his hospitalization. Photographer Nigel Barker and longtime co-mentor Jay Manuel visited him, a reminder that some bonds forged under reality TV pressure are very real.
When asked whether Tyra Banks had visited, Alexander answered plainly:
“No, not yet.”
He did clarify that Banks reached out via text and expressed a desire to visit, though the visit never materialized.
“Not yet,” Alexander repeated.
The phrase lands differently here—less defiant, more complicated.
@clippyclaire Something of an icon ✨ #missj #clippyclaire #fyppp #americasnexttopmodel #antm
Coworkers, Not Family
Online, fans were quick to weigh in with a mix of empathy and realism. One comment cut through the noise:
“I remember Mariah Carey saying Hollywood is not all niceness and everyone being friends. These people are coworkers”
Another zeroed in on Miss J’s spirit:
“i love how determined he is. It’s not over for you yet Miss Jay”
The reactions speak to a truth many LGBTQ+ viewers understand deeply: chosen family doesn’t always come from workplaces, even iconic ones.
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The Complicated ANTM Legacy
Miss J’s history with ANTM is long—and complicated. He appeared on the show’s first 18 cycles from 2003 to 2012, serving as runway coach and later a judge. He famously taught Tyra Banks herself how to walk early in her modeling career.
After Cycle 18, Miss J, Jay Manuel, and Nigel Barker were abruptly fired. Though Miss J briefly returned in Cycle 21, the damage was done.
In the documentary, Banks explains that the decision wasn’t hers, saying she was following network orders—and that she believes her former co-judges still think otherwise.
“To this day, I think they think that it was me and Ken,” she said.
Jay Manuel, meanwhile, doesn’t mince words. He claims the network was chasing drama as ratings declined.
“She was willing to do anything for her show, however you want to look at that,” Manuel said.
“[The network] always was looking for drama. The ratings were going down. They literally threw us under the bus.”
While Manuel says he wishes Banks “no ill will” and is open to talking, the hurt remains palpable.
Still Here, Still Miss J
Miss J’s voice—steady, determined, and unbroken—now speaks louder than any runway critique ever did.
For ANTM fans, queer viewers, and anyone who’s ever had to rebuild themselves from the ground up, Miss J’s story isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about survival. It’s about refusing to let illness, silence, or industry politics be the final word.
Not yet.
REFERENCE: People