Meet Nigel Barker’s Wife, Cristen Chin And Children Amid His ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Controversy

Nigel Barker is currently the talk of the town following the premiere of the Netflix docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, which debuted on February 16, 2026. Nigel, who served as a judge and photographer for nearly a decade, has been making several media appearances to reflect on the show’s legacy and controversial history. On February 16, 2026, he admitted that certain parts of the show are “painful to watch”, specifically noting the “extreme side” of the reality series. Amid the buzz around him, here’s a look at his better half, Cristen Chin Barker.

Who is Cristen Chin Barker, Nigel Barker’s wife?

Cristen Chin Barker is a former fashion model, makeup artist and yoga instructor, who is aged 51, as of February 2026. She is of Chinese, Irish, and Norwegian descent. She began her career as a fashion model in the 1990s, working in major fashion hubs like Milan and Paris. Cristen is widely known as one-half of the Chin Twins alongside her identical twin sister, Kimberly Chin Hise. Together, they are wellness influencers and certified yoga instructors who share their practice and philosophy on their website, ChinTwins, and social media.

Besides yoga training and modelling, Cristen Chin Barker has also worked behind the scenes as a makeup artist, including for her husband, Nigel Barker, 53. Her notable venture was her appearance as a guest makeup artist on America’s Next Top Model. In the 2000s, Cristen also worked as a CoverGirl representative and appeared on Lifetime’s makeover show Next Stop New You. According to Swoon, she currently manages her and Nigel’s photography business. Beyond her life as a talented professional, she is a loving wife and a doting mother.

How did Cristen Chin Barker and Nigel Barker’s love story start?

Cristen Chin Barker and Nigel Barker met in Milan in the early 1990s when both were working as models. Nigel, then 22, described their first meeting as love at first sight, as reported by Bustle. The couple met through Cristen’s agent, and thanks to him, Nigel found the love of his life. He was so awestruck by her that he called his mother that same night to tell her that he had met the girl he was going to marry. Opening up about the same, Nigel said:

“I literally…that day, called my mom and went, ‘I just met a girl, and she’s going to be my wife.'”

Cristen and Nigel were very different from each other; however, they had one thing in common, modelling. Regarding their varying backgrounds, Nigel was raised at a British boarding school, and his mother was a former Miss Sri Lanka, while Cristen grew up in Alabama with strict religious parents. Despite their differences, they felt connected and soon fell in love.

Nigel Barker credited Cristen Chin Barker and her twin for his career transition

Nigel Barker credited his wife, Cristen Chin Barker, and her identical twin sister, Kimberly Hise (collectively known as the ChinTwins), as the primary muses for his transition from modelling to photography. According to Bustle, Nigel stated that he first picked up a camera because he wanted to capture the beauty of the sisters, an interest that evolved into a three-decade-long “obsession”. Thus, the captivating subjects led Nigel Barker to consider an entirely different career path, and he is glad that it turned out that way. He shared:

“I first picked up a camera [because] I wanted to capture them and their beauty. It became an obsession of mine, and it’s now been 30 years of these two people being my muse.”

Nigel Barker and Cristen Chin Barker’s marriage and children

Nigel Barker, the former America’s Next Top Model judge and photographer, married Cristen Chin in 1999, after five years of dating. The exact date of their wedding or the timeline of their dating era is not widely reported. The couple are currently a family of four, including their two lovely children. Nigel and Cristen’s first child, son, Jack, was born in November 2005, followed by their daughter Jasmine in December 2008. Jack and Jasmine are 20 and 17 years old as of February 2026, respectively. In 2024, Nigel moved to Arizona to start his University. Sharing the news, Nigel wrote:

“Spent the week as a family in Arizona settling my son in to a new State before he starts @arizonastateuniversity…I’ll miss him very much but am also really proud of him and his decisions to experience a new world.”

What is the ANTM controversy surrounding Nigel Barker?

The controversy surrounding Nigel Barker on America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) primarily centres on his abrupt firing from the series and long-standing criticism of his behaviour toward contestants. In the 2026 Netflix documentary, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, Barker and the Jays revealed they felt betrayed by Tyra Banks. While they were told their departure would be announced in a joint statement, the news was instead leaked to Page Six. Tyra Banks later clarified that the decision came from high-level network executives at The CW who wanted to refresh the show’s format due to declining ratings.

Nigel has since admitted the firing felt “mercenary” and compared it to being “eliminated” like a contestant. Besides the controversial firing of Nigel Barker, another issue mad ehis dominate the discussion forums. He has been criticised for allegedly making suggestive remarks to young models, such as openly flirting with April Wilkner or commenting on Jayla Rubinelli’s body. He also drew criticism for pressuring Anna Bradfield to participate in a n*de photo shoot despite her religious and personal objections. Commenting on the controversy, Nigel admitted that he regrets his wrongdoings during his ANTM tenure. 

What are your thoughts on Nigel Barker’s bond with his family and his ANTM controversies? Let us know.

Also Read: ANTM’s Tyra Banks Didn’t Visit Miss J After Stroke And Coma Left Him Paralyzed? Here’s What Happened