You know that walk. The one where the hips move like they’re on a swivel, the back is as straight as a ruler, and the floor seems to beg for mercy with every step. If you watched even ten minutes of television in the mid-2000s, you know it belongs to J Alexander. Or, as the world more affectionately calls him, Miss J.
But here’s the thing: people often treat Miss J like a "character" from a reality show—a funny sidekick who wore giant ruffles and gave us the best reaction memes of all time. That's a massive mistake. Honestly, the legacy of J Alexander on America's Next Top Model is only the surface of a career that basically redefined how we look at gender, professional coaching, and the literal architecture of a runway strut.
The Bronx, Gaultier, and a Chance Meeting
J Alexander didn’t just wake up one day and decide to be a judge on a CW show. He grew up in the South Bronx as Alexander Jenkins. His mom, Mary, was the one who actually pushed his aesthetic sensibilities early on. Fun fact: his baptismal gown was actually a dress meant for a girl, which feels like a pretty clear foreshadowing of the gender-fluid icon he’d eventually become.
By his teens, he was already signed to Elite Model Management after meeting Monique Pillard. He was walking for Jean Paul Gaultier in New York while most kids his age were just trying to pass algebra. But J’s real superpower wasn't just walking—it was seeing what was wrong with other people's walks.
He met a young, unknown Tyra Banks backstage at a show and started giving her "Catwalk Tricks." Think about that. The woman who became one of the biggest supermodels on the planet credits J with teaching her how to move. He did the same for Naomi Campbell and Kimora Lee Simmons. By 1991, he wasn't just a model; he was a consultant for houses like Valentino, Galliano, and Chanel.
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America's Next Top Model: More Than a Coach
When America's Next Top Model launched in 2003, J was the secret sauce. He appeared in every single cycle. In the beginning, he was strictly the "Runway Coach," but by Cycle 5, they realized he was too good to keep backstage and moved him to the judging panel.
The name "Miss J" actually started as a mistake. A contestant named Robin Manning kept confusing him with the photo shoot director, Jay Manuel. She called Alexander "Miss J" because he was usually in heels and a skirt, and she called Manuel "Mr. Jay." It stuck. It became a brand.
But what was truly wild—and sort of revolutionary for the early 2000s—was that Miss J never felt the need to explain his gender expression. He just was. One day he’d be in a sharp suit, the next he’d be in a handmade tutu. He taught us about "voguing" and presence long before Pose or Drag Race brought those conversations into the mainstream.
"I didn't want to just live and hang out in the South Bronx... I liked the style of the people living in Manhattan. I knew I had to be around them."
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He wasn't just teaching girls how to walk; he was teaching them how to take up space. He’d tell them to walk "like the rent is due tomorrow." It's funny, sure, but it's also a lesson in urgency and survival that most models today still desperately need.
What J Alexander Is Doing Now (2026 Update)
If you think he retired after the ANTM cameras stopped rolling, you haven't been paying attention. J has spent much of the last decade split between Paris and New York. He’s become a massive fixture at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).
Since 2013, following a suggestion from the late, great André Leon Talley, J has been coaching students for their annual runway shows. He treats these student shows with the same intensity he’d give a Dior couture presentation. He’s also ventured into the digital space with "Miss J's Crypto Couture" NFTs and continues to be a high-demand consultant for international versions of the Top Model franchise in places like China and Estonia.
As of early 2026, he is still incredibly active. He’s been seen anchoring key moments at international fashion weeks, acting as a "stabilizing force" for production teams. He’s essentially the industry's go-to guy when a show needs to look expensive and professional.
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Why We Still Talk About Him
The reality is that the modeling industry has changed. We have "social media models" now who get hired based on their follower count rather than their walk. Miss J has been vocal about the "decline" of the runway strut, often posting clips on social media (where he has over half a million followers) reminding everyone how it's actually done.
He represents a bridge between the old-school era of "The Supers" and the modern, chaotic world of digital fame. He’s a self-taught designer who handmade almost every outfit he wore on TV—literally with a needle and thread, rarely even using a sewing machine. That level of craft is rare.
Key Takeaways from the "Queen of the Catwalk"
- Authenticity is a weapon. J never apologized for his style or his identity, and it made him untouchable.
- Master the basics. You can have the best face in the world, but if you can’t walk, you’re just a mannequin.
- Evolve or die. From the Bronx to Paris to NFTs, J has constantly shifted his career to stay relevant without losing his soul.
If you’re looking to channel a bit of that J Alexander energy in your own life, start by paying attention to how you carry yourself. Whether you're walking into a boardroom or a grocery store, remember: shoulders back, eyes forward, and act like you own the floor you’re standing on.
To really see his influence, go back and watch the early cycles of the show. Pay attention to the transformation of the girls after just one session with him. It wasn't magic; it was precise, technical coaching from a man who spent thirty years studying the way humans move.
Next Steps for Aspiring Pros
If you're serious about the industry, follow J's lead: stop looking at your phone and start looking at how people move in the real world. Study the archives of 90s runway shows (Gaultier and Mugler are great starting points). Most importantly, find your "thing"—that one specific skill or look that makes you irreplaceable. J found his in a pair of high heels and a Bronx-born attitude, and he hasn't looked back since.