America’s Next Top Model judge Miss J Alexander reveals Tyra Banks has not visited him after suffering debilitating stroke in 2022

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Miss J Alexander, a popular face from America’s Next Top Model, shared that he had a stroke in December 2022, and is now unable to walk.

Alexander Jenkins, the 67-year-old TV personality, recently shared details about a serious health issue on the Netflix show Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model. He also mentioned that Tyra Banks, the show’s host, hasn’t visited him since the incident.

The judge on the reality show became emotional, sharing how much she missed her days as a leading model. She explained that she used to teach other models how to walk the runway, but now struggles with walking herself.

Not yet—I’m still determined to walk. I know we’ll meet again, I really do. This isn’t the end of my story.

Someone asked me if Richard Banks, the host who’s 52, had visited after his really serious stroke. It was a tough question, and I was worried about what the answer might be.

Alexander said she texted him saying she’d like to visit, but he’s not ready yet.

He then shot a very pointed look toward the camera. 

Daily Mail has reached out to Banks’ representatives for comment and has yet to hear back.  

The coach who works with contestants on the show talked about what happened after the medical issue.

Alexander explained that he woke up in the hospital with no memory of how he got there. He’d been in a coma for five weeks and had lost the ability to walk or speak.

‘It was emotional. I cried. I’m not ashamed to say I cried.’

Although Tyra Banks hadn’t visited yet, her fellow judges Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker did come to see him while he was in the hospital.

Barker wasn’t sure if the other person intended to make that impression, but they were determined to meet. Discovering what happened was a deeply shocking, upsetting, and frightening experience.

Manuel noticed he was clearly very upset and said he couldn’t fathom what the other person was thinking.

Alexander was clearly moved that his old colleagues visited him while he was sick.

‘I thought back to when we used to do shows together,’ he said. ‘I just missed them so much.’ 

In the Netflix documentary, the three friends shared a sweet moment, taking their first selfie together since 2019.

Alexander has been the runway coach on America’s Next Top Model since its beginning in 2003, appearing in every season through 2018. He’s also worked on international editions of the show.

He began judging in Cycle 5 and continued through Cycle 13, after which Andre Leon Talley took over in Cycle 14.

This reality competition show has faced a lot of criticism over the years. Issues have included risky challenges, questionable photo shoots, and makeovers that didn’t go well.

The new Netflix docuseries covers controversial issues like a photoshoot featuring blackface and accusations of sexual harassment.

The series includes interviews with host Tyra Banks, producer Ken Mok, and past judges. It also features stories from former contestants and winners like Whitney Thompson, Giselle Samson, and Shandi Sullivan.

Giselle, a contestant from the first season of the show, shares that she was subjected to harsh and upsetting criticism from the judges off-camera. Meanwhile, Ebony Haith, who appeared on the second season, reveals she experienced racist remarks about her skin tone.

Shandi, a contestant from season two, also speaks about the backlash she received after being filmed in a compromising situation with a man in Italy while she was in a relationship. The incident occurred during a European trip featured on the show.

The model has described losing consciousness before the incident, and claims no one intervened, instead choosing to record it for the show.

Other former contestants are also speaking out about a controversial photoshoot where white models were made up to look like they were Black, using what many consider to be ‘blackface’ makeup.

Several stars have reported experiencing fat shaming and harassment from male models, including unwanted physical contact and touching on set.

In 2020, old videos from the show started circulating online, leading people to once again discuss how contestants were treated and whether the producers went too far.

Many people criticized judges like Banks for making comments about contestants’ bodies, being overly harsh, and giving challenges that felt intended to create drama rather than provide constructive feedback on their modeling skills.

Banks herself has addressed much of this criticism in recent years. 

During the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards, she acknowledged that America’s Next Top Model wasn’t perfect, admitting she ‘said some silly things’ at times. However, she also explained that her goal was to increase diversity in television.

Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model is available to stream on Netflix.

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2026-02-16 20:34