More mixed-ness on Top Model
CVK
Just a quick note that on last night’s episode of America’s Next Top Model, one of the judges–Nigel Barker–”came out”
as mixed. His mother is Sri Lankan, a former model herself, and she joined the contestants for dinner, and taught them how to put on a sari. (There was this whole Bollywood theme going on…) It’s just nice to see another example of mixed identity being shown in a completely normal, non-melodramatic, non-tragic, casual way.

Rachel S wrote:
I was a little taken aback by that too. He was passing for White in my mind.
Posted 01 Dec 2005 at 4:41 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:
Go Nigel, be proud of your Sri Lankan Heritage
Posted 01 Dec 2005 at 11:09 pm ¶
Laura wrote:
Nigel is a sexy beast!
Posted 02 Dec 2005 at 12:00 pm ¶
Heather W. wrote:
I was also shocked when I saw it. I had no clue. I also love how it wasn’t shown to be a big deal. His mom just came on, he acknowledged she was his mom, and that was it. There weren’t any sob stories of their past as a mother with a mixed child, and no one was making weird comments.
Posted 03 Dec 2005 at 1:24 am ¶
dcmc wrote:
Just wondering, is Nik(of this cycle) mixed?
Posted 08 Dec 2005 at 3:19 am ¶
James Landrith wrote:
I wonder, why does Rachel instantly rush to the judgment that Nigel was passing? Because he didn’t say he was multiracial at every turn or make it the focal point of every situation?
Why is it that certain academics continue to project the concept of only one form of racial identity ? Why can’t he choose to reveal or not reveal at will without such loaded and racialist terms such as “passing” being applied?
It seems a bit suspect of her to instantly jump to the “passing” conclusion.
Posted 25 Sep 2006 at 2:41 pm ¶