The new host of Canada's Next Top Model promises to spice things up.
By Toni-Marie Ippolito
Put a bunch of girls together in a house, dangle a $100,000 modelling contract in front of them, and chances are you’ll get a fistful of bitchiness, a handful of tears and a good helping of back-stabbing.
“You can’t have models without it,” agrees Jay Manuel, America’s Next Top Model’s favourite creative director and the new host of Canada’s Next Top Model. “Unfortunately, it’s a cold, cliquish business, but everybody wants to be a part of it. The show offers people a backdoor glimpse into the industry.”
Open that door and you’ll find that the perceived glamour, expensive clothes and jetsetting lifestyle aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. As viewers judge the contestants from their couches, models try to pose while balancing in dresses on an elephant—proving that looking beautiful at the same time really is a challenge.
With former host Tricia Helfer stepping down to concentrate on her acting career and Manuel taking the reins, CNTM’s second cycle (airing Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST on Citytv, beginning at the end of May) promises to be more nail biting, and Manuel says he will be bringing noted industry talent and friends to the show.
“I’m actually going to look for the ‘Jay Manuel’ of Canada,” he laughs. “With the first cycle of CNTM, we didn’t really define that character, and my role on the show is to be that person who helps guide the girls through the various challenges. Tyra showed up on photoshoots; I’m going to show up on challenges. I’m not just going to be that person who intros the show and shows up at judging.”
Manuel’s star certainly has risen since both shows aired. Now based in New York, he was raised in the decidedly unglamorous suburb of Scarborough, Ontario, and started his career as a makeup artist. He climbed the ladder by working with some of the most noted celebrities, models and photographers in the industry, including the late Francesco Scavullo, who once told Manuel, “I would not have a picture without you.” It may be a little hard to believe he was once pre-med at New York University, but excelling at science would later help Manuel launch his own makeup line, Manual Override.
ANTM built his fashion cred. Now, along with hosting Style Her Famous, Manuel is a member of E!’s red-carpet Fashion Police. How does he do it? “I always give the nice answer all the time, but it’s very, very hard some days. It is challenging, but I enjoy it.”
Then there’s the matter of national pride. “If you think about it, a lot of the top models in the world come from Canada. They go somewhere else, and someone else claims them. For me, it’s really important to show how amazing the talent is here, not only in terms of models but also the other talent we’re bringing on the show.”
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