GoFundMe Created For ‘ANTM’ Star Miss J Alexander

After sharing that he suffered a debilitating stroke in 2022, which has left him with limited mobility and an extreme financial burden, friends of the former reality TV personality have created a GoFundMe to help with his expenses.

On Friday, February 20, a GoFundMe was created by friends of “America’s Next Top Model’ star Miss J Alexander as he continues his recovery from a stroke that requires “round-the-clock” medical care.

“Miss J. has been bravely fighting his way back and struggling to live independently,” the fundraiser reads, which has raised close to $6,000 of its $100,000 goal.

“We are hoping to secure full-time, round-the-clock care and help with the on-going regular physical, speech, and occupational therapies. He is currently confined to a wheelchair stemming from what we hope is only temporary paralysis and his right arm remains immobile,” the message continued.

The statement then shared that the medical expenses have put a financial strain on the former runway coach.

“While he has shown incredible strength and resilience against all odds, the financial burden of ongoing treatment, specialized care, and daily living support is beyond overwhelming,” the fundraiser read.

“Your donation—no matter the size—will go toward rehabilitation services, in-home care, medical bills, and essential living costs incurred on this long road of recovery,” the message continued.

In the Netflix docuseries “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model,” Miss J discussed his stroke and shared that, although Tyra Banks initially reached out via text message, she has yet to visit him in person.

“I had a stroke,” Miss J said. “I woke up, I didn’t know where I was, other than the hospital.”I spent five weeks in a coma. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t talk.”

When asked if Banks was among those who visited him alongside fellow “ANTM” stars Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker, Miss J offered an update. “She just sent me a text that she wants to come and visit me, but no, not yet.”

Documentary director Daniel Sivan revealed in an interview with Netflix that early conversations with Miss J shaped the way his story was told in the docuseries.

“What was important is not framing Miss J as a survivor,” Sivan said. “He is not his health. First and foremost, he’s a diva who just shattered every single glass ceiling.”

“The show did awful things to the contestants, and I think everybody expected Tyra to take more accountability,” she stated. “I understand why people are mad.”

“We’re woke now, we know so much more now than we did back then,” Shepherd continued her defense of Banks. “I hate that she’s getting so much flak. She does need to take accountability, I know that, but I also know the battles some people will never understand that are fought.”

Then, as she fought back tears, Shepherd added that she understands that things could have been done differently in hindsight, but Banks was ultimately coming from a genuine place, even though her methods may not have always been executed properly.

“To keep a show on the air there are things that we have to do that people will tell us, if you want to stay on the air, this is what you’ve got to do, and we’ve got to weigh the options, and sometimes we make bad decisions and we look up and go, in hindsight, maybe I should not have done it, but I just wanted to open up the door and give a platform to people who look like me,” Shepherd said.

Additionally, the winner of “America’s Next Top Model” cycle 3, Eva Marcille, also offered kind words for Banks and noted that she changed her life.

Speaking on “CBS Mornings,” PEOPLE reported that Marcille shared her perspective.

“I have been asked about Tyra for 21 years,” the former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star said. “No matter what project I’m doing, what I’m involved in, somehow ‘Top Model’ finds its way in my interview. I’ve done 154 projects since ‘Top Model.’ It’s been 21 years.”

Marcille, who is easily the most successful person to come from “ANTM,” then shared that she will always thank Banks, something she has consistently done for decades, for changing her life for the better.

“Thanks to ‘Top Model,’ though,” she said. “What I will say is I will never fail to thank Tyra. What Tyra set out to do in this business, I will always say — and especially for ‘Top Model,’ initially — she set out to change the world; to change what the modeling industry looked like, sound like, felt like and expected. And she did that for me.”

Marcille also pointed out that it was “very surprising” that she was not asked to participate in the documentary.

“After the show, I had so many big ideas for my life,” she said. “I’m obsessed with pivoting, and I live in Australia now. I feel like my work is not done. You have no idea what we have planned for cycle 25.”