Fans of “America’s Next Top Model” were left shaken when J Alexander, beloved as Miss J, revealed that he suffered a major stroke in 2022.
In Netflix’s “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model,” the legendary runway coach opened up about the medical crisis that abruptly changed his life. December 27, 2022, remains a date he will never forget.
Miss J Shares Emotional Details of His Life-Altering Stroke
Getty“On December 27, 2022, I had a stroke. I woke up, and 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 said.
For a man whose presence defined the catwalk and whose career was built on movement, poise, and power, the reality was devastating.
“And I thought to myself, ‘What was I going to do?’ I couldn’t walk, and I couldn’t speak. It was emotional. I cried. I’m not ashamed to say that I cried.”
The Emotional Toll of Losing Mobility
The physical setback cut to the core. For Miss J, walking was never just about movement. It was his craft, his confidence, his signature.
“I miss being the queen of the runway, the catwalks, 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 said.
Yet even in that loss, there is resolve. He does not see this chapter as an ending.
“I miss being the queen of the runway,” he shared. “I’m the person who taught models how to walk. And now I can’t walk … not yet.” Those two words say everything. Not yet.
Nigel Barker & Jay Manuel Stand by His Side
Nigel Barker and Jay Manuel, who stood beside Miss J during the show’s early years, stood beside him again when it mattered most.
Nigel went to see him in the hospital. What he found was both heartbreaking and hopeful.
“When he saw me, he was happy to see me, and the two of us cried together, and I held him,” Barker said, as reported by People.
Even in a hospital bed, with movement limited, Miss J’s spirit was still there. Nigel remembers cracking jokes and watching for a reaction.
“I thought, okay, you’re still there,” the photographer said. “We’re gonna get you back.”
Jay has since witnessed the slow, steady progress.
“J is getting stronger every day,” Jay shared. “He does physical therapy every day. He can get out of that chair. That’s what people don’t know. At the time of the documentary, he couldn’t. He can. He can take steps. And look, if anyone is gonna walk again, it’s Miss J.”
At its core, this story is about Miss J’s determination. He is still in therapy. He is still putting in the work. He is still fighting for every step.
The man who once taught the world how to own a runway is now focused on reclaiming his own stride. And those who love him believe this chapter is not defined by what he lost, but by the strength he continues to show.
