Who is Nigel Barker’s Wife?All About Cristen Chin Amid ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Controversy

Nigel Barker, famed photographer and former judge on America’s Next Top Model (ANTM), is back in the spotlight following the Netflix docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, which premiered on February 16, 2026. Reflecting on his decade-long tenure on the show, Barker admitted that certain moments are “painful to watch,” particularly the “extreme side” of the reality series. Amid the discussions surrounding him, fans are curious about his wife, Cristen Chin Barker.

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

Cristen Chin Barker, aged 51 as of February 2026, is a former model, makeup artist, and certified yoga instructor. She is of Chinese, Irish, and Norwegian descent and began her modeling career in the 1990s, working in Milan and Paris. Cristen is famously one-half of the Chin Twins, alongside her identical twin sister, Kimberly Chin Hise. Together, they share wellness insights on their website ChinTwins and social media. Cristen has also worked as a makeup artist, including for Nigel, appeared as a guest on ANTM, and represented CoverGirl in the 2000s. Today, she helps manage their photography business while being a dedicated wife and mother.

How did their love story begin?

Nigel Barker and Cristen Chin met in Milan in the early 1990s while both were modeling. Nigel described it as love at first sight: “I literally…that day, called my mom and went, ‘I just met a girl, and she’s going to be my wife.'” Despite coming from different backgrounds—Nigel was raised at a British boarding school, and Cristen grew up in Alabama—they connected over modeling and shared a deep bond.

Cristen’s influence on Nigel’s career

Nigel credited Cristen and her twin as the inspiration behind his transition from modeling to photography. “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,” he revealed.

Marriage and children

Nigel and Cristen married in 1999 after five years of dating. They have two children: son Jack, born November 2005, and daughter Jasmine, born December 2008. Jack is now 20 and Jasmine 17, as of February 2026. Nigel recently shared moments of settling Jack into Arizona State University, expressing both pride and the bittersweet feeling of his son moving away.

ANTM controversy

Barker’s ANTM controversy centers on his abrupt firing and alleged inappropriate conduct toward contestants. In the Netflix documentary, he admitted the firing felt “mercenary” and compared it to being “eliminated” like a contestant. Criticism also arose over claims that he made suggestive remarks and pressured contestants into uncomfortable photo shoots. “I regret my wrongdoings during my ANTM tenure,” Barker admitted, acknowledging the mistakes made during his decade on the show.