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The Wig, The Bitch & The Meltdown
The Wig, The Bitch & The Meltdown is a satirical look behind the scenes of Model Muse, a fictional reality model competition show and global phenomenon. Seen through the eyes of our moral compass Pablo Michaels-the heart of production in the helter-skelter world of Model Muse-we see behind the scenes and backstage shenanigans of the fashion/reality TV world. As "The Fixer," Pablo is the man everyone turns to in crisis. Struggling to hold the fledgling production together, he juggles his duties to his "BFF," the ruthless and vulnerable antihero Keisha Kash, his Supermodel boss while trying to hold on to his own soul.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2020
About the author
Jay Manuel
5 books38 followersI’ve spent 20 years on both sides of the camera working with the world’s most celebrated celebrities and for fashion industry magazines as a Fashion Correspondent, Series Regular, Host, Judge, Creative Director and Executive Producer on some of the decade’s hottest television shows. I’m most well recognized for my roles as Fashion Correspondent for E! Network and as the Creative Director and Producer of the global phenomenon “America’s Next Top Model.”
I first came up with the idea to write my debut novel in 2014, and like many new writers, I said to myself, “who am I to write a book?” However, the concept and the characters wouldn’t leave my mind. I started writing down story ideas, followed by character studies, and then one day—while on a six-mile run, back in 2017—I saw Chapter One play out in my mind like a movie on a screen. I knew then, I had to put pen to paper, and write the book.
Ultimately, “The Wig, The Bitch & The Meltdown” was a book I needed to write myself—without a ghostwriter. I had two amazing writing mentors along the way who pushed and empowered me to do the work myself. I’ve always been fascinated with storytelling, and have told many a story through images and interpretation in the world of glamour. But I found that I equally love the world one can create with words. I had taken a few writing classes while at NYU, but, at that time, I ultimately decided I had other passions I needed to explore first and decided to jump into the world of images and fashion. At 47, completing my first novel has become the most fulfilling project I’ve done in my career.
I first came up with the idea to write my debut novel in 2014, and like many new writers, I said to myself, “who am I to write a book?” However, the concept and the characters wouldn’t leave my mind. I started writing down story ideas, followed by character studies, and then one day—while on a six-mile run, back in 2017—I saw Chapter One play out in my mind like a movie on a screen. I knew then, I had to put pen to paper, and write the book.
Ultimately, “The Wig, The Bitch & The Meltdown” was a book I needed to write myself—without a ghostwriter. I had two amazing writing mentors along the way who pushed and empowered me to do the work myself. I’ve always been fascinated with storytelling, and have told many a story through images and interpretation in the world of glamour. But I found that I equally love the world one can create with words. I had taken a few writing classes while at NYU, but, at that time, I ultimately decided I had other passions I needed to explore first and decided to jump into the world of images and fashion. At 47, completing my first novel has become the most fulfilling project I’ve done in my career.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
October 1, 2021
Jay Manuel's takedown of Tyra Banks and America's Next Top Model on which he was a judge. Andre Leon Talley, also a judge, in his autobiograpy, The Chiffon Trenches didn't even dare mention the show. There are only two reasons for not mentioning someone as famous as Tyra Banks and ANTM, one is that there is nothing to say, everyone was sweet-natured and no one took drugs, smashed cell phones, played queen bee, was an absolute bitch firing people left right and centre or playing them off against each other or she had them tied up in contractual knots. So Jay Manuel decided fiction was the way to go. "Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental." You know when you read that, the characters are actually based on the ones you think they are!
Quite a lot of the characters in this really terrible book are identifiable. One of the funniest (but sympathetic) was Janice Dickinson. Miss Thing is Miss Jaye, Mason Hughes is Nigel Barker - neither portrayed sympathetically. In factNigel Mason is disliked for being so English, probably homophobic (although he is a closet gay) and racist, it was a very mean portrait of the man. I wonder what caused jay Manuel to hate Nigel so much as it is quite obviously meant personally. And Tyra herself is Keisha. Keisha starts off being absolutely lovely to Pablo (who is the author, Jay Manuel) but is a narcissist diva with an overweening sense of her own importance (and she's a bit of a thief with a mother in prison thrown in for extra drama which makes no sense whatsoever).
The author is Pablo who is perfect in all ways and a superman as he can handle Keisha, the judges, the models, the producers, anything and anyone. Coincidentally, Pablo gets the exact same platinum blond makeover as Jay Manuel has - and he looks just the epitome of fabulousness! Pablo just lacks one thing, self-confidence. But he has a life coach who helps him with that. And that is the twist, that if this book had had a star worth dropping, it would have dropped one for that.
Several of the contestants are mocked and not one of them is treated with any respect. Not that any of them actually deserve any respect since drink, drugs, sex and stabbing each other in the back is the name of the game.
Tyra had written a book Modelland which was excreble and she heavily promoted it on ANTM. And so Keisha also has written a terrible book of which Pablo quotes a review. This is actually quite well written and extremely nasty of course.
So the whole book goes from bad to worse, it is at points far too simplistic and at others I had no idea what was going on. But just when you think it can't get any worse it dissolves into some plot to do with jewellery, drugs and getting Keisha's mother out of prison where she was either going to or will in fact 'tell all', whatever the all is.
The twist at the end that deserves a minus star. Pablo's life coach, is a man who always gives him the best advice, who pats him on the back, but he's never met him, he's just a voice on the phone
So there you go, a very bad book badly written, about on par with Tyra's own book, but hers was to glorify herself and her show, and Jay Manuel's is to make himself look really a fabulous person and most of the others, especially Tyra and Nigel Barker, on ANTM absolute shits. In this the book succeeds. Jay, I really liked you as a judge, being on tv in such a major way pays very well. Don't give up the day job!
Quite a lot of the characters in this really terrible book are identifiable. One of the funniest (but sympathetic) was Janice Dickinson. Miss Thing is Miss Jaye, Mason Hughes is Nigel Barker - neither portrayed sympathetically. In fact
The author is Pablo who is perfect in all ways and a superman as he can handle Keisha, the judges, the models, the producers, anything and anyone. Coincidentally, Pablo gets the exact same platinum blond makeover as Jay Manuel has - and he looks just the epitome of fabulousness! Pablo just lacks one thing, self-confidence. But he has a life coach who helps him with that. And that is the twist, that if this book had had a star worth dropping, it would have dropped one for that.
Several of the contestants are mocked and not one of them is treated with any respect. Not that any of them actually deserve any respect since drink, drugs, sex and stabbing each other in the back is the name of the game.
Tyra had written a book Modelland which was excreble and she heavily promoted it on ANTM. And so Keisha also has written a terrible book of which Pablo quotes a review. This is actually quite well written and extremely nasty of course.
So the whole book goes from bad to worse, it is at points far too simplistic and at others I had no idea what was going on. But just when you think it can't get any worse it dissolves into some plot to do with jewellery, drugs and getting Keisha's mother out of prison where she was either going to or will in fact 'tell all', whatever the all is.
The twist at the end that deserves a minus star. Pablo's life coach, is a man who always gives him the best advice, who pats him on the back, but he's never met him, he's just a voice on the phone
So there you go, a very bad book badly written, about on par with Tyra's own book, but hers was to glorify herself and her show, and Jay Manuel's is to make himself look really a fabulous person and most of the others, especially Tyra and Nigel Barker, on ANTM absolute shits. In this the book succeeds. Jay, I really liked you as a judge, being on tv in such a major way pays very well. Don't give up the day job!
June 4, 2026
Ohhhh.....helllllo Mistah Jay Manuel.
So THIS is what you've been up to since America's Next Top Model...
Update
3.5 stars
Alrighty y'all, listen up and I'll serve you all the tea on this book.
This book is about a creative director (Jay/Pablo), who meets a supermodel (Tyra Banks/Keisha Kash) and together they create a sensational TV series about helping models break it into the industry (America's Next Top Model/Muse Models).
This book takes a fast-track through Jay's (excuse me, Pablo's) life as the assistant/creative director/emotional punching bag of Tyra.
If you are a fan of the show - there's a TON of overlap - so much that you really wonder where Jay's book ends and the real world begins (probably by design?).
For example: the judges were thinly veiled replicas of the usual ones - Miss Thing - a gay man who loves to strut his stuff on the runway (Miss Jay), Sasha - the most famous supermodel/plastic surgery addict (Janice Dickinson), and Mason - famous photographer/eye candy (Nigel?).
But there were extra details woven in - Keisha constantly stole lines from Miss Thing and cut out his funny bits so Keisha would look better. Sasha was popping pills and slurping down booze as much as possible much to Keisha's amusement. Mason was homophobic.
In addition, there were other elements that seemed to confirm what most of the longtime fans of ANTM have been saying for years.
Keisha having a heavy-hand in the winners - and when she didn't get what she wanted - MELTDOWN.
Keisha manipulated and back-stabbed - often putting her contestants into increasing difficult or disastrous situations. But then gas-lighting them (and the rest of the crew) in order to always come out in top.
And, of course, how Keisha had a complete meltdown over one of the contestants standing up to her (WE WERE ROOTING FOR YOU thing). (which, by the way, the book seems to confirm the more wild claims about what actually happened behind the scenes).
So, those parts were hugely interesting to me.
However, the writing varied wildly for me and is what ultimately influenced my rating the most.
There were moments where my eyes could not read fast enough - it was addictive, it was insane, it had just enough overlap with what I saw on-show to really make me wonder if it was all true. (I'm talking about...THE WIG!!)
But there were also moments (lots of moments) that felt underdeveloped - where the actions were blocked and the dialogue was there but it just didn't feel "real" (like when Jay met Keisha and immediately was swept into her world).
The up-down-up of the writing ended up affecting how much I enjoyed the book overall. I feel like if only the drama-less moments were stronger, then the whole book would've hit 5 stars for me.
Ultimately, I feel like this book would hit the best for fans - who have been wondering for years what the "truth" is behind the scenes. But it also fits fairly well for those who like a peek at behind-the-scenes of reality TV.
One thing's for certain though - his writing was leagues better than Tyra's!
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Mr. Jay Manuel and the publisher for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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August 17, 2020
Dear Mr. Jay Manuel.
You don't know me. It's unlikely you'll ever read this, but writing a review as if I'm talking to you directly is the only way I can get my thoughts out. I can only feel I can obtain justice, if I pretend I'm facing you head on. So, here we go.
First, background. You were my favorite on ANTM. I had no idea what a creative director was, and I know now what you did was far removed from the real thing. Everything about the show was, but that's fine. ANTM was a reality show that did soap opera drama the best. I looked up to you, because you helped me feel connected to the mainstream fashion industry; more than Nigel, whose work was actually relevant to the industry.
Now, here we are, a decade later after the peak of the show that made your name, and we have this....book that's far removed from what it was clearly meant to be.
You clearly wanted to write a memoir, and, maybe you knew your fellow alum was also releasing one on his time in Vogue. But it's likely you're under a strict NDA. So all you are left is doing a roman-a-clef. For anyone who isn't sure what that is, it's autobiography disguised as fiction. Often, people who write them are trying to put someone they knew in a negative light, without being sued for slander. Sometimes, roman-a-clefs are referred to as revenge fiction, which is what this book goes for.
There's nothing wrong with revenge fiction. It's produced some classics. Think Valley of the Dolls. While using revenge fiction to rant about someone is fine, ranting does not make for the actual story.
And that's the big problem with reading Mr. Manuel's debut novel. The intentions were clearly in the wrong place. The real-life person who shall not be named so the author isn't sued is parodied, but each chapter is purely just to look at that parody, and not anything else. Parodies are great, but, in the case of the book, if there's no story to carry the parody, it gets old after the first chapter. No, really, I do mean it gets boring after the first chapter. The only reason we're reading a dramatized (or not so dramatized) version of the lady who shall not be named is this format of writing provides the only medium to "expose" the subject matter, without a lawsuit. Even taking in the argument there is no parody going on, meaning the main character is indeed an accurate portrayal, gawking at someone crazy isn't a story. You know, a story, the thing you need to write a novel?
I'm sorry you're so bitter, Jay. We've known for years she's a mega diva. What happened to Angelea proved that. I'm sorry you can't write the nonfiction book you wanted. It would've been better. I do wonder if you thought you could get away with satirical chick-lit is due to her novels have had some recognition. I mean, that sudden sequel to her TV movie from years ago based off her first novel? That was odd.
Most of all, I'm sorry you couldn't sustain the fame you had from the show. It seems all the alum, including the host, are struggling with that. You definitely deserved it the most. I would like to see you mingling int he public fashion eye again, but, before you do, please take these notes.
While the world of fashion in ANTM's heyday was at its peak lavishness, it's no longer relevant. The viewers grew up and know better. We're not interested in working with divas, anymore, because we're not fascinated by them. It's not a cute novelty. A lot of us would rather give up a dream job than put up with the toxic work culture you did. The next time you write about the industry that made you famous, do it to connect with us, not connect us with what made you important. We already got our fill.
You don't know me. It's unlikely you'll ever read this, but writing a review as if I'm talking to you directly is the only way I can get my thoughts out. I can only feel I can obtain justice, if I pretend I'm facing you head on. So, here we go.
First, background. You were my favorite on ANTM. I had no idea what a creative director was, and I know now what you did was far removed from the real thing. Everything about the show was, but that's fine. ANTM was a reality show that did soap opera drama the best. I looked up to you, because you helped me feel connected to the mainstream fashion industry; more than Nigel, whose work was actually relevant to the industry.
Now, here we are, a decade later after the peak of the show that made your name, and we have this....book that's far removed from what it was clearly meant to be.
You clearly wanted to write a memoir, and, maybe you knew your fellow alum was also releasing one on his time in Vogue. But it's likely you're under a strict NDA. So all you are left is doing a roman-a-clef. For anyone who isn't sure what that is, it's autobiography disguised as fiction. Often, people who write them are trying to put someone they knew in a negative light, without being sued for slander. Sometimes, roman-a-clefs are referred to as revenge fiction, which is what this book goes for.
There's nothing wrong with revenge fiction. It's produced some classics. Think Valley of the Dolls. While using revenge fiction to rant about someone is fine, ranting does not make for the actual story.
And that's the big problem with reading Mr. Manuel's debut novel. The intentions were clearly in the wrong place. The real-life person who shall not be named so the author isn't sued is parodied, but each chapter is purely just to look at that parody, and not anything else. Parodies are great, but, in the case of the book, if there's no story to carry the parody, it gets old after the first chapter. No, really, I do mean it gets boring after the first chapter. The only reason we're reading a dramatized (or not so dramatized) version of the lady who shall not be named is this format of writing provides the only medium to "expose" the subject matter, without a lawsuit. Even taking in the argument there is no parody going on, meaning the main character is indeed an accurate portrayal, gawking at someone crazy isn't a story. You know, a story, the thing you need to write a novel?
I'm sorry you're so bitter, Jay. We've known for years she's a mega diva. What happened to Angelea proved that. I'm sorry you can't write the nonfiction book you wanted. It would've been better. I do wonder if you thought you could get away with satirical chick-lit is due to her novels have had some recognition. I mean, that sudden sequel to her TV movie from years ago based off her first novel? That was odd.
Most of all, I'm sorry you couldn't sustain the fame you had from the show. It seems all the alum, including the host, are struggling with that. You definitely deserved it the most. I would like to see you mingling int he public fashion eye again, but, before you do, please take these notes.
While the world of fashion in ANTM's heyday was at its peak lavishness, it's no longer relevant. The viewers grew up and know better. We're not interested in working with divas, anymore, because we're not fascinated by them. It's not a cute novelty. A lot of us would rather give up a dream job than put up with the toxic work culture you did. The next time you write about the industry that made you famous, do it to connect with us, not connect us with what made you important. We already got our fill.
September 7, 2020
This book is exactly like watching ANTM, in that it was absolute garbage and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
January 3, 2023
JAY MANUEL CREATED A FAKE AVATAR OF HIMSELF TO IDOLIZE HIS REAL SELF AND INCLUDED A THREE-PAGE BLISTERING FAKE REVIEW OF WHAT WAS CLEARLY A FAKE VERSION OF MODELLAND WRITTEN BY A FAKE AVATAR OF TYRA...I TAUGHT CREATIVE WRITING BUT YOU CAN’T TEACH THIS KIND OF NATURAL GIFT
September 15, 2020
Sigh. I wanted to like this. I really did. But the writing was frankly atrocious. I feel like elementary school kids could take one creative writing course and come out of it writing a better story than this.
February 25, 2026
GUYS must read!!!!!! This shows ANTM was just a crazy psycho experience. Wish there was more haha had me hooked the whole time especially after watching all the doc and had to get this book after…. Drama continues haha.
November 9, 2020
lmao this book is so bad in so many ways and like TRULY makes me wonder what his endgame was here if not just to burn every bridge had had in the fashion world??? MUCH TO DISCUSS.
https://www.frowl.org/worstbestseller...
https://www.frowl.org/worstbestseller...
May 22, 2020
The Wig, The Bitch & The Meltdown is so engrossing, you don’t want to put it down! Pablo Michaels’ experiences and dilemmas are really felt by the reader, who is rooting for him (we are all rooting for him!). Fans of the show, “America’s Next Top Model” will devour the book in one sitting, as it features numerous references to the show (including infamous quotes and certain scandalous situations). They will also have many questions for Jay Manuel regarding how much of the story is actually true and how much is fiction.
May 4, 2023
I mean, it’s exactly what you think it’s gonna be if one of your favorite past times is binging ANTM. It’s just a trashy and fun beach read for people who know the show.
May 11, 2021
This is a poorly written mess of a book. But it's so good!!
If you grew up watching America's Next Top Model in the early 2000's, you'll look this very thinly veiled look behind the curtains. This is totally a memoir disguised as fiction, and I'm living for all the tea! It's pretty obvious who he's talking about in this book (Keisha Kash=Tyra Banks and so on) and it's pretty entertaining to try and knit pick which scenes from ANTM and actions of the cast are in fact fiction and which ones are true. Jay Manuel's self glorification while simultaneously annihilating the other characters is hilariously good fun. It is salacious, ridiculous and just so fun!
If you're a fan of ANTM, give this book a read. Just don't take it too seriously, and you'll enjoy it.
If you grew up watching America's Next Top Model in the early 2000's, you'll look this very thinly veiled look behind the curtains. This is totally a memoir disguised as fiction, and I'm living for all the tea! It's pretty obvious who he's talking about in this book (Keisha Kash=Tyra Banks and so on) and it's pretty entertaining to try and knit pick which scenes from ANTM and actions of the cast are in fact fiction and which ones are true. Jay Manuel's self glorification while simultaneously annihilating the other characters is hilariously good fun. It is salacious, ridiculous and just so fun!
If you're a fan of ANTM, give this book a read. Just don't take it too seriously, and you'll enjoy it.
August 10, 2020
Don't let the three stars make you think I didn't enjoy every minute of reading this book--if you were ever a fan of ANTM, you'll enjoy the tea this story serves. It may not be the greatest novel ever written, but it's Jay Manuel's story, it has heart, and it's hopeful. It's also funny as hell if you can spot the Easter eggs (they're pretty obvious if you know the show), and even if you didn't watch the show this could still be a fun read. I really just hope the things Keisha does and says in this novel aren't 100% taken from her inspiration because DAMN.
August 20, 2020
I wanted to like it so much, but it was so hard to get through. In particular, the exhaustive overuse of proper nouns and adjectives. There weren't any characters that had redeeming qualities and all seemed to be written with a condescending tone. Perhaps a co-writer could have helped Jay sift out the kinks and polish this up better.
August 10, 2020
A literary masterpiece this is not. But it is a fun light summer read and especially enjoyable if you're an ANTM fan. (I did wonder if Miss J approved of the Miss Thing character.)
August 13, 2020
OMG, this book is just too much! Y'all probably know Jay Manuel from his fashion correspondence and from America's Next Top Model. Who else is better qualified to write a satirical fiction novel about the behind the scenes act of a reality modeling competition? Exactly.
If you've ever wondered what it might be like to be behind the scenes of a reality show, here's your very big story. Every character is so very extra and I was here for every single sip of tea. Manuel gives us the story of Pablo... who has a chance meeting with Keisha Kash that propels him into the reality world, the struggles of being a jack of all trades without the accolades of being the master of most, and a whirlwind of responsibility ... now where's the damn glory?
Fans of ANTM will notice parallels in Model Muse. While you can't help but notice SO many similarities, keep in mind... this is SATIRE and FICTIONAL. There are some truly hilarious and cringe worthy that had my face doing expression gymnastics (in the very best way). For pure entertainment alone, if you like this subject matter, this is absolutely worth the read. One of my favorite moments was the article included about the book within a book mention of Planet Fierce - a sci-fi adventure about alien models with superpowers who save Earth. The critique had me rolling!
And while this is a very humorous read through and through, at the end of the day, it's a story about the reconciliation of your own past and recognizing your deeper self in a world where everything can seem extremely shallow. And that was an unexpected lesson can appreciate.
If you've ever wondered what it might be like to be behind the scenes of a reality show, here's your very big story. Every character is so very extra and I was here for every single sip of tea. Manuel gives us the story of Pablo... who has a chance meeting with Keisha Kash that propels him into the reality world, the struggles of being a jack of all trades without the accolades of being the master of most, and a whirlwind of responsibility ... now where's the damn glory?
Fans of ANTM will notice parallels in Model Muse. While you can't help but notice SO many similarities, keep in mind... this is SATIRE and FICTIONAL. There are some truly hilarious and cringe worthy that had my face doing expression gymnastics (in the very best way). For pure entertainment alone, if you like this subject matter, this is absolutely worth the read. One of my favorite moments was the article included about the book within a book mention of Planet Fierce - a sci-fi adventure about alien models with superpowers who save Earth. The critique had me rolling!
And while this is a very humorous read through and through, at the end of the day, it's a story about the reconciliation of your own past and recognizing your deeper self in a world where everything can seem extremely shallow. And that was an unexpected lesson can appreciate.
December 12, 2023
the most bizarre piece of top model metafiction... which is already saying a lot because modelland exists? i have no grasp on how true this book actually is but i think no matter how you slice it the sheer act of publishing this while remaining at least cordial with almost everyone involved is wild. cartoonishly evil especially regarding the tyra character but even the accusations made about all the others is so extreme like?! how are we supposed to react to the nigel character or even the miss jay character and not be enraged one way or another. idk it's so hateful but also obtuse enough that it can evade any sort of actual critique... other than the writing of course but tbh it was not even half as bad as i was expecting. i guess i had fun but now i need the full breakdown
January 25, 2021
As someone who has watched her fair share of ANTM episodes while growing up and (must confess recently - hello, pandemic bingeing) this book was a riot!
Was it well written? Hell no! It is the kind of book that explains itself when it is attempting to be meta and repeats certain phrases ad nauseum.
It’s ridiculous yet hilarious and so entertaining!
It’s the kind of book I would only recommend to those who have watched America’s next top model.
It’s the kind of book that I would call a ‘guilty pleasure’ if not for the words of the awesome Fran Leibowitz, who declared that as long as whatever you are doing gives you pleasure and doesn’t harm anyone, there is no need to feel guilty about it.
So yes, I had fun reading this book and feeling like a fly on the wall of the reality show that I enjoyed watching too.
Was it well written? Hell no! It is the kind of book that explains itself when it is attempting to be meta and repeats certain phrases ad nauseum.
It’s ridiculous yet hilarious and so entertaining!
It’s the kind of book I would only recommend to those who have watched America’s next top model.
It’s the kind of book that I would call a ‘guilty pleasure’ if not for the words of the awesome Fran Leibowitz, who declared that as long as whatever you are doing gives you pleasure and doesn’t harm anyone, there is no need to feel guilty about it.
So yes, I had fun reading this book and feeling like a fly on the wall of the reality show that I enjoyed watching too.
September 12, 2020
Truly sad that Jay Manuel would throw his reputation away on a book that could be easily mistaken for 3AM Top Model fanfic.
He should have either written about his experiences at ANTM or made a plot that was completely separate from the series. Instead, the book is in the unsatisfactory middle, where the characters are clearly based on Top Model folks (you know who) but the plot points are so deranged that they’re not credible. So, like I said earlier, it reads like fanfic.
If you want a relatively quick read by the pool, this book will be a fine but unsatisfying read. Everyone else should stay away.
He should have either written about his experiences at ANTM or made a plot that was completely separate from the series. Instead, the book is in the unsatisfactory middle, where the characters are clearly based on Top Model folks (you know who) but the plot points are so deranged that they’re not credible. So, like I said earlier, it reads like fanfic.
If you want a relatively quick read by the pool, this book will be a fine but unsatisfying read. Everyone else should stay away.
August 18, 2022
it’s just really bad. lol
i wanted to like this book. i was excited about it. but the writing is awful and this is clearly his way of talking about everyone involved with antm…but trying to do so in a way that avoids a lawsuit.
i only finished because i’m not a quitter lol
i wanted to like this book. i was excited about it. but the writing is awful and this is clearly his way of talking about everyone involved with antm…but trying to do so in a way that avoids a lawsuit.
i only finished because i’m not a quitter lol
September 25, 2022
This was utter garbage. Not to mention the blatant racism, homophobia, body shaming, sex shaming and transphobia that ran rampant throughout. Truly and utterly disgusted by the willingness to publish and/or endorse this “book.”
April 2, 2026
this felt like something he wrote in his diary to process trauma that maybe should not have ever left those pages 🙃
March 13, 2026
3.5/5 stars
Definitely more creative non-fiction than fiction. I feel conflicted: the real life connections are disheartening and disgusting; the creative license and writing is well done; the story, interesting. Wish it was more fictionalized. Feels a little petty.
Definitely more creative non-fiction than fiction. I feel conflicted: the real life connections are disheartening and disgusting; the creative license and writing is well done; the story, interesting. Wish it was more fictionalized. Feels a little petty.
November 29, 2021
This book made me dislike Mr. J. A tell-all is one thing, but mean-spirited and vicious attacks on people, even "fictional ones," based oftentimes on their appearance or struggles, are not a cute look.
BUT I seriously enjoyed listening to the POD LEDOM podcast cover this book and I will carry that joy with me as long as I love ANTM, which is forever, no matter how trainwreck-y it gets.
BUT I seriously enjoyed listening to the POD LEDOM podcast cover this book and I will carry that joy with me as long as I love ANTM, which is forever, no matter how trainwreck-y it gets.
October 10, 2020
This feels more auto biographical than fiction. However, if your fans of the show that the author was on then you will absolutely love it. The introduction to the book gives you an insight. Jay was let down by many people and this is his way off setting his record straight.
The book is very entertaining. You’ll spot the the characters easily and you’ll take Pablo/Jay to your heart.
This was obviously something that Jay need to do and I certainly hope if won’t be his only foray into writing. I like his style and he’s a very easy read. Totally recommend this book.
Many thanks to the publisher , author and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review
#jaymanuel #thewigthebitch&themeltdown #netgalley
The book is very entertaining. You’ll spot the the characters easily and you’ll take Pablo/Jay to your heart.
This was obviously something that Jay need to do and I certainly hope if won’t be his only foray into writing. I like his style and he’s a very easy read. Totally recommend this book.
Many thanks to the publisher , author and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review
#jaymanuel #thewigthebitch&themeltdown #netgalley
August 3, 2020
I literally just got my copy of The Wig, The Bitch & The Meltdown and found myself reading until 4 in the morning-- eyes burning! I could not put the book down and read it cover to cover. It was SO good! I didn't want it to end. Highly recommended, easy read for the summer. I found myself laughing, screaming and cheering on every page and not just because I am an ANTM fan. I can't wait to see what's in store for Pablo Michaels and Ms. Ty--er... I mean Keisha Kash! Jay has definitely outdone himself!
June 10, 2020
This is one of the most entertaining books I have read in a long time. Fast-paced and laugh out loud funny, not only does it give you are behind-the scenes look at reality...all the way behind...but it points out the abuse of power in the subculture of entertainment and how easy it is for one to lose their soul. I loved it!
February 25, 2021
A must for fans of America's Next Top Model and anyone interested in the fashion industry ! This book has taken The Devil Wears Prada, thrown in some gay & gender fluid characters, turned up the bitchiness factor by about 100 % and made the hero biracial. I'm loving it.
No, this book probably won't win any awards. Hell, It's a fun read. Go for it.
No, this book probably won't win any awards. Hell, It's a fun read. Go for it.
July 13, 2021
I was honestly surprised at how good this book was. It's not my usual genre of book, so I didn't think I'd enjoy it or even finish reading it. I only picked it up because I am a huge Top Model fan. The cameo near the end was a little too cheesy for my taste though. So the question is, how close does fiction follow reality? Because I kept picturing Tyra Banks as Keisha Kash, and now I'm curious.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2021
**only for ANTM fans!!!
I was SO into this book. A fictional juicy tell all because he probably signed an NDA??? I LIVE for this type of book.
Hot. Amazing. Salacious. Tell me more about everyone, including you, Jay Manuel!!!
I was SO into this book. A fictional juicy tell all because he probably signed an NDA??? I LIVE for this type of book.
Hot. Amazing. Salacious. Tell me more about everyone, including you, Jay Manuel!!!
September 16, 2020
I wouldn't call this good, but it is a funny light satire if you've ever spent a Saturday watching ANTM on VH1.
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