Tyra Banks fires Nigel Barker, J. Alexander, Jay Manuel from America's Next Top Model

CEBU, Philippines - Modelling is a cut-throat business, just ask Nigel Barker, J. Alexander and Jay Manuel.

The America’s Next Top Model stars have been axed by host and executive producer Tyra Banks.

Photographer Barker, 39, runway coach Alexander, 53, and creative director Manuel, 39, have been fixtures on the show however their contracts have not been renewed.

Manuel, who oversaw the show’s photo shoots, and Alexander had been with the show since its first cycle in 2003 with Barker joining a year later.

Banks confirmed the news on her official Facebook page after it was first reported in the New York Post. ‘To my Nigel Barker, Miss J, and Mr Jay: Thank you for all of our years together on America’s Next Top Model,’ Banks wrote.

On his blog this morning, Barker wrote: ‘ANTM will always have a special place in my heart.’

Barker said he was prepared for the news. ‘It wasn’t a shock. There had been a discussion that ratings were down and that something like this would happen.’ (FREEMAN)