Up close with sexy Nigel and fashionable-since-birth Miss J

Leave it to Ayala Malls to pull off a one-of-a kind fashion coup with “Style Origins,” their latest summer campaign of lifestyle activities, highlighted by up-close and personal encounters and forums with famed photographer and former model Nigel Barker and renowned runway guru Miss J Alexander (or Miss J as she is fondly called), mainstay judges of America’s Next Top Model.

Despite jetlag, both Nigel Barker and Miss J were real troopers at the intimate press conference as they answered questions gamely and exchanged playful banter. 

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“Dada, no hair!”

We all know Nigel Barker as the sexy, good-looking photographer judge with closely shaved head in America’s Next Top Model but today he sports a full head of wavy dark hair. Asked about the change to his once familiar appearance, Nigel replied: “One day, I was playing with my two and a half year-old little girl and she uttered her first words, “Dada, no hair!” “I decided to grow my hair starting that day.” 

Tyra Banks saw the new look and told him, “Nigel, keep the hair, I love it!”

So starting next season, Nigel will be judging America’s Next Top Model, dark wavy hair and all. 

THE PHILIPPINE STAR: You have been with America’s Next Top Model since its first season, what do you enjoy most working on the hit TV show?

NIGEL BARKER: I love the idea of meeting and working with different people all the time; the show has produced many very good models, some of whom have moved on to establish successful careers on television and in film so I am proud to have been a part of that process.

Do you see yourself involved in the show for some time to come?

Yes, absolutely! I will be a part of the future shows and, in fact, the network in the US has just picked up America’s Next Top Model for the 17th and 18th seasons so we’ll be around for a few more years.

What has been your most challenging and rewarding photo shoot?

I consider my ANTM shoot in Barcelona with Caridee the most challenging, if not dangerous. We were shooting in the bullring with a live bull and three matadors and I kept coming closer and closer to the bull for that one last shot of Caridee without realizing I was getting too close for the bull’s comfort because I was looking through my camera lens. The bull started to charge toward me, luckily the staff pulled me away on time; the bull’s horn tore my shirt, got me on my side and gave me a serious gash. That shoot knocked the wind out of me.

My most rewarding shoot would be the one in 2003 with Make A Wish Foundation, a charitable organization I have been involved with for many years, that grants wishes for the day to young cancer patients. I had the chance to make Nicole Mueller, a 14-year-old cancer patient who had a badly scarred left arm, a model for the day. Without trying to embarrass her, I was coaching her to pose with her left arm hidden but she wouldn’t have any of it. “This is me, this is who I am,” Nicole told me confidently; at that moment, I realized that a bad side is a good side.

You are constantly in the presence of models, what do you think makes a good, successful model?

Passion and energy, those are the two most important things a model must have to find success in the highly competitive fashion industry, plus that “it” factor. A girl can be beautiful, but that alone does not make for a good, successful model.

It has been a great source of pride for us to find out that a Filipino designer, Michael Cinco, will be featured in an episode of this season’s America’s Next Top Model, what are your thoughts on his recyclable designs?

His clothes are far from the predictable recyclable designs I’ve seen, they are extremely cutting-edge; the models looked extremely chic, like fantastical princesses from another world. The juxtaposition between the landfill and the models in their Michael Cinco couture gowns was simply a photographer’s dream; I consider that shoot to be one of my top three, most favorite shoots ever.

From being a successful model, how did you become a renowned photographer?

I was always interested in creating iconic imagery with a story to tell so at the age of 14, I began printing black and white photos. I dabbled in photography even when I was a model so when I decided to quit modeling, I took up photography full time.  In 1996, I opened my own studio and a couple of years later I got involved with ANTM. The show and my photography work have kept me very busy but I’m lucky because I am able to bring my family on occasion to our international location shoots.

Which celebrities or personalities would you like to photograph if you had the opportunity?

Top of mind, I’d say President Barack Obama and Kate Middleton.

If you didn’t become a photographer after your modeling career, what would you have wanted to become?

A doctor, perhaps a zoologist or biologist since I love animals!

Photoshop has become such a status quo in the fashion industry, are you a fan of Photoshop? Do you use Photoshop?

Altering photographs was already being done even before Photoshop was introduced. In my opinion, Photoshop is not a bad thing for as long as it is used for the right reasons, with moderation and caution.

There has been so much controversy about how young models should start working or how thin they should be; how young do you think girls should be to start modeling?

For me, it isn’t so much about age but attitude and common sense. I mean, we have clothing catalogues for babies, toddlers, teenagers, adults and so on, how can you put a young girl in a toddler’s fashion campaign?

Women think you are very sexy and fit, how do you keep looking like that?

 (Chuckles) I work out 5x a week, lift weights and follow the Mediterranean diet. 

What is the image of the model for 2011?

Asians are “in” especially since China has become an influential fashion market but Eurasians are big this year.

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It All Started With J-San

Curious, I asked Ms. J what J stands for. He said, “Jenkins, that’s my last name.”

“My first name is Alexander but when I was living in Japan the Japanese had a difficult time pronouncing both my first and last name so they started calling me J-san. The moniker kind of stuck, so I became J. Alexander,” he adds. “When I joined ANTM, one of the producers of the show kept getting confused between myself and Jay Emmanuelle; one day she was trying to get my attention and by mistake, she called me Miss J. Tyra overheard it and said excitedly “That’s it, that’s what we’re going to call you on the show.” And that is how the title Miss J was born.”

THE PHILIPPINE STAR: At what age did you know you wanted to be involved in the fashion industry?

MISS J:  From birth! (bursting into laughter) or maybe when I first saw my christening dress! (laughs some more) Seriously, it was when I peeked into my mother’s closet and I saw her wedding dress; it was a navy blue coatdress with an ivory fabric inside embroidered with blue flowers, it was exquisite and I was blown away by it.

Where were you born? Were you exposed to a lot of fashion growing up?

I was born in the South Bronx and, yes, honey, I grew up surrounded by fashion. Nothing beats black church on Sundays for a fabulous fashion serving; those hats, petticoat dresses, immaculate white gloves, and crisp linen skirts and tops were just gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. But it was when I moved to Paris that I became overtly exposed to fashion and decided to get involved in the business seriously.

I’ve seen you strut your stuff in the show; did someone teach you how to walk the runway?

No, I learned all by myself because I wanted to walk the runways so bad. Then, quite naturally, I just started helping girls backstage to improve their walk on the runway; fashion designers saw and liked what I was doing so they ended up hiring me as a runway coach. I don’t claim to be an expert but I am good at what I do.

What is your most important J tip to aspiring models?

I teach the girls to bring their personalities with them to work, to always be themselves and be the best at everything they do.

I asked Nigel this same question; you look like you’re in great shape, do you exercise?

I have only been to the gym twice in my entire life! I bike a lot in Paris and walk when I have the chance. I eat everything I want but I know when to pull back on the eating and when I need to lose weight.

What do you do to de-stress, relax?

Nothing, absolutely nothing!

You said you’re a great cook, what kind of food do you love to cook and eat?

Anything chicken, I love to cook and eat chicken!

You have worked with many supermodels, who is your most favorite model of all time?

She’s long gone but she was the best in my opinion; her name was Lisa Fonssgrives, wife of legendary fashion photographer, Irving Penn. She was the star during my most favorite fashion decade, the 1950s; I’m a big fan of the fashion from the ‘20s to the ‘50s.

I’m sure you’ve traveled extensively and visited all the fashion capitals quite often, which do you consider the most fashionable city of all?

Paris because it just oozes with so much creativity, the people there take more risks, while New York is more about the business/commerce side of fashion.

Of course, you are privy to what happened to John Galliano, do you think he will  be able to make a comeback? Is there any designer at the moment like Galliano?

There will never be anyone like Galliano; he is one of a kind. Bad copies, yes there are, but like Galliano, no one. What happened was unfortunate but I am quite sure he will bounce back; it may take some time but he will definitely make a comeback.

In your opinion, who has a tougher job — a runway model or a photographic model?

Without a doubt a runway model because she must be able to make the clothes come alive and take on different characters on the runway at any given moment, according to the demands of the designers.

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding fashion’s obsession about the size-zero model, what is your take on that?

Come on, who started this whole thing about size zero anyway? I really don’t get it; “Fashion is for everyone, trend is not.” I believe we should see more six- to eight-dress-size models on the runway.

Who do you wear on most occasions?

My dear friend Marc Jacobs is really very generous with me so I wear a lot of his clothes. I also wear a lot of eco-fashion, meaning old stuff that I can restyle, make new; when I got into fashion, I had no money, I couldn’t afford expensive brands so that habit has kind of stayed with me.

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Given their whirlwind fashion romance with the Filipino fashionistas on this trip, I won’t be surprised if Nigel Barker and Miss J Alexander come back once again to the Philippines. Nigel Barker has since flown back to the States but Miss J has decided to remain and enjoy the beaches of our southern islands. I suggested Palawan for a future visit but he said, “Why wait for the next time?”

Whether he went or not, your guess is as good as mine.