J. Alexander

Alexander Jenkins was born and raised in South Bronx, NY. Jenkins often cited his mother, Mary Jenkins, as the person who first got him interested in fashion. Jenkins had originally planned on pursuing a career in accounting, but his life took a radical change in direction when he was stopped on the street in New York City by a scout for Giorgio Armani, who asked the striking, 6'4" teenager if he had ever considered modeling. He began to model for designer Jean Paul Gaultier soon after, and his career quickly took off. He modeled in New York, Japan and Paris, where he eventually settled down. He worked with virtually every major designer, including Bill Blass, Chanel, Nina Ricci and Valentino. In 1991, after working several years as a runway model, Jenkins began working as a runway coach. He tutored several prominent supermodels over the ensuing decade, including Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell and Kimora Lee Simmons. A close friend and frequent collaborator with Banks, Jenkins was a natural choice for "America's Next Top Model." Created and hosted by Banks, the show debuted on the UPN network in 2003. In 2006, it moved to The CW network. Jenkins was a cast member for all twelve of the show's "Cycles."While very well-known in fashion circles, Jenkins was not a mainstream celebrity until "Top Model" made him so. The openly gay Jenkins, who often dressed in drag on the show and designed all of his own outfits, was nicknamed "Queen of the Catwalk" by Tyra Banks; a title he clearly relished. Jenkins served as coach to the models for the first four "Cycles" of the show, but beginning in 2005, he started serving double-duty as one of the show's judges, as well. Jenkins also made appearances on international versions of "Top Model" over the years. In 2008, he appeared on the Finnish version, and in 2009, on "Britain's Top Model." Aside from his work on the show, Jenkins also kept up a steady schedule of appearances at charity events and modeling competitions worldwide. So successful and charming was his Miss Jay act, Jenkins was nominated in 2009 for a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Fab-u-lous.