America's Next Top Model star J. Alexander, better known as Miss J, has opened up about his 'horrifying' three-year health battle and stroke that has left him unable to walk. The TV personality, who famously coached models on the reality show for 18 seasons in the 2000s, was hospitalised and spent five weeks in a coma in December 2022 after suffering a stroke.
Miss J tearfully recounted his health ordeal on the third episode of Netflix's Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model documentary series, in which he returns alongside fellow former judges, Nigel Barker and Jay Manual.
"I woke up. I didn't know where I was other than in the hospital. I spent five weeks in a coma and I couldn't walk, and I couldn't talk," he shared in an interview for the new series, which looks back on the bombshell moments and take viewers behind-the-scenes of the long-running ANTM.
© Netflix"And I thought to myself, what was I going to do?" he continued. "It was emotional. I cried.
"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," Miss J admitted later in the episode, adding that he can't walk "yet".
He concluded: "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."
His fellow judges visited in hospital
© NetflixMiss J reunited with his fellow former judges, British fashion photographer Nigel Barker and creative director Jay Manuel, for the documentary special. The duo both visited Miss J in the hospital after his debilitating stroke. "That was such a terrible shock, and really upsetting and horrifying and scary," Nigel said in an interview for the series.
Speaking to Miss J in person alongside Jay, Nigel told the star: "You are battling through. When we first saw you in that hospital you could hardly move, hardly talk. And now you're sitting up doing an interview, chatting, talking, rolling your eyes, making us laugh.
Miss J shared that the show's creator and host, Tyra Banks, sent him a text after his stroke, but hadn't visited him yet.
America's Next Top Model role
Miss J was a judge and runway coach on America's Next Top Model from 2003 to 2012. He was previously a model himself before becoming a runway coach and working with the likes of supermodel Naomi Campbell and Kimora Lee Simons.
© Michael Loccisano"I taught a girl how to walk with confidence. When that clicks, it's like, 'Woah. Oh my god, you're really, really quite beautiful'," he explained his role on the reality TV series in the new documentary.
Miss J was axed from the show alongside fellow judges Nigel and Jay in 2012. "For my birthday, Tyra sent me flowers...and then I was fired five days later," he claimed in the show. Tyra Banks said in the docuseries that the order "came from above" and recalled being told from higher-ups at the network that changes were needed on the show.
