Jay Manuel
Encyclopedia
Jay Manuel is a Canadian
make-up artist, fashion photographer
, and model
. He is most recognizable as the director of photo shoots on the popular reality television
show America's Next Top Model
. Manuel is also the host and lead judge of the second
and third cycle
of Canada's Next Top Model
, a spin-off to the original.
Manuel was born in Toronto
, Ontario
to a mother of Italian
and Czech
descent and a South African father of Malaysian and Dutch descent. He was raised in Toronto where he attended Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute
high school and York University
.
Before entering the fashion industry, Manuel was a pre-med student and also studied opera, even working for the Metropolitan Opera
at one point. Eventually, he became a makeup artist, working for clients such as Tyra Banks
and Iman.
Manuel and friend J. Alexander, also an America's Next Top Model personality, often appear on E!: Entertainment Television
's Fashion Police episodes with Debbie Matenopoulos
, which air the day after E!'s Live From the Red Carpet coverage of major awards shows such as The Academy Awards, The Grammys, The Golden Globes and The Primetime Emmy Awards. Manuel also hosts his own show, Style Her Famous, on the Style Network
. In September 2006, he introduced his own make-up line, Manuel Override, on QVC
. He is the personal make-up artist of television personality and supermodel
Tyra Banks
. On America's Next Top Model, Manuel is also known as "Mister Jay", a counterpart to J. Alexander's "Miss J."
He also made a cameo appearance in Degrassi Takes Manhattan
, as well as playing a brief role in season 3 of the comedy-drama television series Being Erica.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
make-up artist, fashion photographer
Fashion photography
Fashion photography is a genre of photography devoted to displaying clothing and other fashion items. Fashion photography is most often conducted for advertisements or fashion magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, or Elle...
, and model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
. He is most recognizable as the director of photo shoots on the popular reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
. Manuel is also the host and lead judge of the second
Canada's Next Top Model, Cycle 2
Canada's Next Top Model, Cycle 2 began airing on May 30, 2007. Jay Manuel serves as the host after season 1 host Tricia Helfer left to pursue her acting career. Serving as judges are Jeanne Beker, who is the only returning judge from last season, Paul Alexander, and Yasmin Warsame...
and third cycle
Canada's Next Top Model, Cycle 3
Canada's Next Top Model, Cycle 3, the third season of reality series Canada's Next Top Model, premiered on May 26, 2009, on CTV. Jay Manuel returned for his second season as the host...
of Canada's Next Top Model
Canada's Next Top Model
Canada's Next Top Model is a Canadian reality show in which female contestants compete for the title "Canada's Next Top Model" and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry...
, a spin-off to the original.
Manuel was born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
to a mother of Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
and Czech
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
descent and a South African father of Malaysian and Dutch descent. He was raised in Toronto where he attended Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute
Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute
Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute is a high school in Toronto, located in the northwest part of Scarborough. It was founded in 1979 and named after Norman Bethune. The school is attended by over 1800 students, most of whom speak a primary language other than English, the language of instruction...
high school and York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
.
Before entering the fashion industry, Manuel was a pre-med student and also studied opera, even working for the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
at one point. Eventually, he became a makeup artist, working for clients such as Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks
Tyra Lynne Banks is an American model, media personality, actress, occasional singer, author and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough...
and Iman.
Manuel and friend J. Alexander, also an America's Next Top Model personality, often appear on E!: Entertainment Television
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
's Fashion Police episodes with Debbie Matenopoulos
Debbie Matenopoulos
Thespina "Debbie" Matenopoulos is an American television personality and actress.- Early life :Matenopoulos was born in Richmond, Virginia, of Greek ancestry. Her birth name is Despina Matenopoulos, named after her grandmother...
, which air the day after E!'s Live From the Red Carpet coverage of major awards shows such as The Academy Awards, The Grammys, The Golden Globes and The Primetime Emmy Awards. Manuel also hosts his own show, Style Her Famous, on the Style Network
Style Network
The Style Network is an American cable television network based in Los Angeles.Owned by NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of General Electric and Comcast, its sister channels include E! Entertainment Television, USA Network, Syfy, G4, Golf Channel, and Versus, among others.-Network Overview:Style's...
. In September 2006, he introduced his own make-up line, Manuel Override, on QVC
QVC
QVC is a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, United States, QVC broadcasts in five countries as QVC US, QVC UK, QVC Germany, QVC Japan and – QVC Italy to 200 million households...
. He is the personal make-up artist of television personality and supermodel
Supermodel
The term supermodel refers to a highly-paid fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling. The term became prominent in the popular culture of the 1980s. Supermodels usually work for top fashion designers and labels...
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks
Tyra Lynne Banks is an American model, media personality, actress, occasional singer, author and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough...
. On America's Next Top Model, Manuel is also known as "Mister Jay", a counterpart to J. Alexander's "Miss J."
He also made a cameo appearance in Degrassi Takes Manhattan
Degrassi Takes Manhattan
The Rest of My Life: Degrassi Takes Manhattan is a 2010 Canadian film adaptation of the popular, long-running teenage drama Degrassi, which was known as Degrassi: The Next Generation prior to this film. The movie premiered in Canada on MuchMusic on 16 July 2010, and in the United States on TeenNick...
, as well as playing a brief role in season 3 of the comedy-drama television series Being Erica.