Jay Manuel life and biography

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.

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