Jay Manuel, the talented makeup artist, creative director, and former star of America’s Next Top Model, has a unique family story that blends adoption, multicultural roots, and deep personal connections.
Jay was born on August 14, 1972, in Springfield, Illinois. His biological mother was of Italian and Czech descent, while his biological father came from South Africa with mixed Cape Malay heritage. This made Jay biracial, a background that has shaped much of his identity and experiences.
He was adopted as a young child and raised by adoptive parents in Toronto, Canada. Growing up in a multicultural city like Toronto gave him a rich environment to explore his talents.
He attended Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute for high school and later went to York University.
His adoptive parents provided the stable, loving home that helped him build his future, though Jay has kept most details about them private.
In interviews, Jay has spoken openly about his South African roots and how they influence his views. He once shared that people often assume he’s Spanish because of his last name, but he proudly identifies as biracial.
He explained,
“My parents grew up in South Africa. They grew up under apartheid. There is no way I could see myself – thinking of my extended family seeing this, who still live in South Africa with those kind of scars and wounds and emotional trauma – seeing me as a person of colour saying we’re going to switch races.”
Via yahoo
This comment came during a discussion about a sensitive photo shoot on America’s Next Top Model, showing how his family’s history under apartheid affected his decisions and emotions in the industry.
Tragically, Jay lost his beloved father in January 2026. He shared a heartfelt tribute on social media:
“Nothing could have prepared me for how much I was going to miss you, Dad. Your light, your energy, your kindness touched everyone in your life. Your patients loved you, your colleagues and nurses adored you, and your family was always your heart. I love you. Rest in peace.”
Via Instgram
The post revealed his father’s career in medicine, where he was deeply respected by patients and coworkers alike. This loss hit Jay hard, highlighting the close bond they shared.
Beyond his family background, Jay built an impressive career. He started as a makeup artist and stylist, working with big names like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Victoria’s Secret, Revlon, and CoverGirl.
In 2003, he joined America’s Next Top Model as the creative director, guiding photo shoots and helping models pose. He stayed for nine cycles, becoming a fan favorite on one of America’s biggest reality shows.
Later, he launched a clothing line called Attitude for Sears Canada in 2011. In 2020, he teamed up with his ANTM colleague Miss J. Alexander for a popular Instagram Live series about their time on the show, which later moved to Facebook and YouTube.
Jay is openly gay and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, though he keeps his romantic life fairly private. His story, from adoption and biracial heritage to overcoming challenges in fashion and TV, shows resilience and creativity.
His parents, both biological roots and adoptive family, played key roles in the man he became today.
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