Eva Marcille Calls the “America's Next Top Model” Judges the 'Guardians' of the Models' Careers, Praises Jay Manuel
Eva Marcille Calls the “America's Next Top Model” Judges the 'Guardians' of the Models' Careers, Praises Jay Manuel
Michelle Lee, Hedy PhillipsSun, February 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM UTC
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Eva Marcille and Jay Manuel
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Eva Marcille is speaking on her positive experience with the judging panel on her season of America's Next Top Model, which is entering the zeitgeist again with a new Netflix docuseries, Reality Check
Speaking at a signing for Jay Manuel's book, The Wig, the Bitch and the Meltdown, Marcille — the winner of cycle 3 in 2004 — called the judges her "guardians"
In addition to Manuel, host Tyra Banks, Nigel Barker and Miss J Alexander were on the judges' panel in the height of the show's success
America's Next Top Model cycle 3 winner Eva Marcille is giving the show's judges their flowers.
The hit modeling reality series is experiencing a second life following the release of Netflix's new documentary, Reality Check, which looks back on the underbelly of what went into introducing the world of high fashion to network and the nation. And while multiple former contestants have shared their reactions to the mistreatment in front of and behind the cameras, Marcille, 41, is taking a moment to give credit where it's due.
Attending a Feb. 19 book signing for The Wig, the Bitch and the Meltdown, a fictional novel by former ANTM creative director Jay Manuel, Marcille described the judges as "guardians" who have "inspired" her and the contestants in her season, despite how much negativity has come to light.
The cycle 3 cast of 'America's Next Top Model' in 2004
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In addition to Manuel, the judges' panel included host Tyra Banks, photographer Nigel Barker and runway coach Miss J Alexander. Everyone but Banks was removed from the show in 2012.
Marcille, who competed under her maiden name, Eva Pigford, shared that Manuel taught her and "a lot of the girls" on her season the value of "diligence" and "hard work."
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Eva Marcille and Tyra Banks at 'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen'
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"Not just work," Marcille added, "but work beyond work. Excellence beyond the bar," which she said is what she truly needed "in this business." Praising the duo of Manuel and Miss J, she added to Manuel, "If J Alexander is the spine, then you are the heart."
Following Reality Check's premiere on Feb. 16, Marcille appeared on CBS Mornings, where she revealed that she was "gobsmacked" by the three-part documentary.
"I was in awe. ... my mouth was wide open. To be a part of a club and not know what’s going on in the club is crazy.” She later claimed that she was not approached to participate in the documentary, which revisits ANTM's more controversial moments. "They didn’t ask me," she said. "It was very surprising."
During the Feb. 19 interview, Marcille also revealed how she felt watching Banks' many apologies.
"She apologized a million times,” she began. “But an apology to the person that you wronged is only as good as they could appreciate it. And so for the young girls that were sexually assaulted... for the young girls that now have eating disorders or look at themselves and never feel beautiful — that little girl in them that will always live in the woman that is them — there is no sorry, I think, that’s big enough to truly feel and heal that kind of hurt."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
