America’s Next Top Model judges Tyra Banks and Paulina Porizkova attended the Costume Institute Gala event last night in New York City. The event celebrated the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s newest exhibit, “The Model as Muse” which looks at the role of models throughout the history of fashion. The exhibit looks stunning, nearly as stunning as the stars who walked the red carpet last night.

Nearly every model of importance from both past and present stepped out last night. Tyra took a risk with a daring hairpiece, do you think it paid off?

Image: Splash News Online

Paulina opted for a more casual look in a floaty orange dress. I’m not loving it, but Paulina is working the hell out of it. What do you think?

Image: Newscom

FabSugar put together a great slideshow showcasing all the models who attended last night. It’s beautiful and you can check it out here.

Nigel Barker sat down with Reality Check Radio to talk about the current cycle of America’s Next Top Model. He reveals quite a bit during the interview, including how he got involved with the show, how he misses the judging competitions, how he selects a favorite girl early on, how the winners are selected and more!

The interview starts at about 28 minutes in, so if you just want to listen to Nigel, click here to download the show yourself.

I learned quite a bit about Nigel and what goes on behind the scenes at Top Model.

Image: Newscom

Nigel Barker and three-year-old Jack left the girls, mom Christen and baby Jasmine, at home as they enjoyed a sunny winter day in New York city on February 2nd. The twosome enjoyed a walk in the West Village and ran a few errands, taking their time to enjoy the city, the sunshine and each other’s company.

Image: Splash News Online

I hope Nigel has been enjoying the few slow winter months. Cycle 12 of America’s Next Top Model wrapped up filming before Christmas. Now, with the premiere on February 25, Nigel will have to pick up the pace as he starts promoting the show.

Tyra Banks was spotted at the LAX airport this weekend and did her best to hide from photographers. She was searched in a private room and was allowed to go through security with her high collared coat, hat, and sunglasses on in an effort not to be noticed. Unfortunately for Tyra, she’s a pretty distinctive person and the paparazzi noticed her anyway.

Image: Splash News Online

Tyra is definitely off to New York, where she tapes her talk show. I understand her desire to not be bothered by fans and paparazzi (you can’t be in the mood to deal with that every day), but being so blatant at trying to hide you face only further draws attention to herself!

This week on her show, she’ll have Janet Jackson on Tuesday, discuss whether “he’s just not that into you” on Wednesday, find the latest beauty secrets across America on Thursday and set women up on the date of their dreams on Friday.

US Magazine crashed the Oxygen America’s Next Top Model: Obsessed party last week and chatted with all the former competitors and current judges. One of the weirder questions they asked was whether this was the year that Tyra Banks would make it down the aisle with businessman boyfriend John Utendahl. The two have been dating quietly for several years. Tyra has never publicly talked about the relationship, though the two have been photographed together several times.

Miss J appears to respect that privacy. US asked the runway coach to confirm the relationship and he refused, claiming all he knows is that Tyra is married to her work.

“I don’t even think about that!” Miss J told the magazine. “I’m too busy in my own head, I can’t think about hers.” He added that their relationship remains very professional, saying “I don’t go there with her.”

However, US pushed the issue (why, I’ll never know!) and finally got this answer out of Miss J:

“If I don’t get invited, then she’ll get cursed out,” he joked. “There’ll be a fight. You’ll all be invited to a big old smackdown.”

I respect Miss J for recognizing the ridiculousness behind these questions and respecting Tyra’s right to privacy. Does anyone else get the impression the Jays are not close to Tyra at all? I feel like they were once–why else would they be asked to be on ANTM?

I don’t understand why US was pushing this question so hard (unless they have privileged information that Tyra is indeed planning a wedding). I doubt this theory, I just think US are idiots who were hoping to get a confirmation about a relationship the whole world knows about already.

Image: Splash News Online

Thursday, January 8, was the grand opening of Nigel Barker’s newest photo exhibit, Haiti: Hunger and Hope at the Milk Gallery in New York.

The exhibit was a fundraiser for the charity Edeyo, an organization that works towards better food and education for children in Haiti.

Over 800 people came out to support Nigel, including designer, Harper’s Bazaar fashion editor Mary Alice Stephenson, Seventeen editor Ann Shoket, Adrien Brody, actrees Susan Sarandon, model Kristy Hinze, director Spike Lee and House’s Lisa Edelstein.

The event raised over $20,000 for Edeyo, which is enough to build a school cafeteria and cover the teachers’ wages for a while year.

Nigel posted some pictures of the event on his blog, check them out here.

The exhibit runs until January 13th at the Milk Gallery (450 West 15th street). All of Nigel’s photos are for sale, and those proceeds will also go to benefitting Edeyo.

Image: Newscom

BuddyTV made a list of the sexiest women of TV in 2008. America’s Next Top Model winner McKey Sullivan made the list, coming in at #44.

McKey made the list for her “young, sexy, innocent” vibe. BuddyTV expects McKey to shake up the modeling world.

I love that McKey made that list. She’s definitely sexy, but in an understated sort of way. The best part? She beat out al of Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends, Holly Madison (#50), Bridget Marquardt (#48) and Kendra Wilkinson (#46) as well as Paris Hilton (#45), four stars who fall under a more traditional and masculine version of sexy.

One person she didn’t beat is ANTM’s creator, Tyra Banks, who came in at #38, thanks to her “curves that could inspire any architect and legs that go on for miles” and her ability to “smile with her eyes.”

The top ten sexiest women on TV on the list were: Cote de Pablo from NCIS (#10), Sarah Chalke from Scrubs(#9), Eva Longoria Parker from Desperate Housewives (#8), Cat Deeley from So You Think You Can Dance (#7), Hayden Panettiere from Heroes (#6), Olivia Wilde from House (#5), Sophia Bush from One Tree Hill (#4), Kristin Kreuk from Smallville (#3), Kristen Bell from Heroes (#2) and Evangline Lilly from Lost (#1).

This list seems pretty subjective and I bet another sexy list would look very different! BuddyTV’s choices are pretty interesting. You can see the whole list here.

Image Courtesy CW/©2008 Pottle Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nigel Barker is continuing his quest to make the world a better place. On January 8th, Nigel will present the photography exhibit Haiti: Hunger & Hope, which is a collection of photographs he shot during the May UN closure and food riots. The event is being held at the Milk Gallery in New York City and doors open at 7:30.

Proceeds from the event will go to Edeyo, an organization that works towards better food and education for children in Haiti.

The suggested donation is $25 and includes an open bar, live and silent auctions, special music guests in addition to admission to the exhibit.

Nigel has been an advocate for causes he believes in for a long time. He held another photography exhibit to raise money and awareness for the seal hunt and he used his birthday as an opportunity to raise funds for Haiti.

Nigel Barker has been enjoying a quiet holiday with wife Christen, son Jack and brand-new baby daughter Jasmine. He was spotted on Daddy-duty on December 29, carrying Jack and a friend from a park in New York City. Jasmine was carefully strapped his his chest.

How cute is this photo?

I hope Jack enjoys being a new big brother and that the family had a wonderful first Christmas with Jasmine. Next Christmas should be even more fun, seeing as Jasmine is only three weeks old this time.

Nigel Barker and hid family welcomed 7 lbs., 11 oz. Jasmine Barker into the world at 5:03pm on Sunday. Jasmine joins big brother Jack, making the Barkers a gorgeous family of four.

Both mother and baby are doing just fine and Nigel feels like the luckiest man in the world.

“I feel like the luckiest man alive!” Nigel told US Magazine. “Not just a gorgeous wife and son who I adore and love but now a perfect little girl! I feel truly blessed and want personally for little more.”

Im so excited to see pictures of baby Jasmine. She’s going to be absolutely gorgeous, I just know it. I can only wonder if she’ll grow up to model, just like mom and dad!

Congratulations to the Barkers!