Quick Facts
Biography
Jay Manuel (born August 14, 1972) is a Canadian American make-up artist. He is most recognizable as the former creative director on the popular reality television show America's Next Top Model.
Personal life
Manuel was born in Springfield, Illinois to a mother of Italian and Czech descent and a South African father of Dutch and Malaysian descent. He was raised by adoptive parents in Toronto where he attended Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute and York University. He is openly gay. He currently lives in Wilton, Connecticut.
Before entering the fashion industry, Manuel was a pre-med student and also studied opera, which included working for the Metropolitan Opera.
Career
He has worked in "the business of managing to aesthetic" for seven years. Manuel is known for his varied artistic palate and innate sense of aesthetics. He has worked as a makeup artist and stylist for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Victoria's Secret, Revlon, and CoverGirl. Manuel has also worked with noted fashion photographers such as Herb Ritts, Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, and Francesco Scavullo. He has been a makeup artist and stylist to celebrities such as Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Iman, Alicia Silverstone, Rebecca Romijn, Rupert Everett, Bridget Moynahan, Angela Bassett, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mýa, Kim Cattrall, Natalie Cole, Toni Braxton, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Vanessa Williams, Patti LaBelle, Rosario Dawson, Pink, David Bowie, and Jennifer Lopez. From 2003 to 2012, he was the creative director of photo shoots on Tyra Banks' America's Next Top Model. He was given the nickname "Mister Jay", a counterpart to J. Alexander's "Miss J". In April 2012, he was fired from ANTM by Tyra Banks along with Alexander and photographer Nigel Barker due to the show's plummeting ratings after 18 cycles.
Manuel was the host and lead judge of the second and third cycles of Canada's Next Top Model, a spin-off to ANTM.
He also made a cameo appearance in Degrassi Takes Manhattan, as well as playing himself in an episode of the comedy-drama television series Being Erica.
In September 2006, he introduced his own make-up line, Manuel Override, on QVC. In 2011, Manuel released a clothing line for Sears Canada by the name of Attitude. Manuel launched premiere cosmetics line Jay Manuel Beauty in 2014 under Impala, Inc.
