It’s been 10 years since Will Jardell sashayed onto national television in a pair of 6-inch patent leather heels and made reality TV history on America’s Next Top Model Cycle 21. At just 24 years old, he was fresh out of college in Texas and still navigating his identity when he stepped into the ANTM house — unknowingly stepping into a transformative decade of self-discovery, queer visibility and viral representation.
Now 34, Jardell is a husband, a reality TV champion (The Amazing Race, anyone?), a fashion trailblazer and a proud voice for LGBTQ+ authenticity. In an exclusive interview with Gayety, he reflects on what a decade of living out loud has meant for him — and for the queer people inspired by his journey.
From Small-Town Texas to High-Heeled Fame
“When I filmed America’s Next Top Model in 2014, I had no clue what was next for me,” Jardell said. “I had just graduated from college and was this small-town kid who suddenly found myself on a show I grew up loving. It changed everything.”
Following his time on ANTM, Jardell moved to Los Angeles — and never looked back.
“ANTM brought me my husband, a new understanding of myself, and completely rerouted where my life was going,” he said. “When I watch my season now, I can see my growth in real time — especially in my confidence and self-acceptance.”
While some former contestants have since criticized their time on the show, Jardell remains grateful, even acknowledging the complexities of the experience.
“It was wild. There were definitely pros and cons — quite a few cons,” he added with a laugh. “But for me, it was powerful and rewarding overall.”
Coming Out, On Camera
One of Jardell’s most memorable ANTM moments wasn’t just a fashion statement — it was a personal revolution.
“I’d only come out to a handful of people before filming,” he said. “When I stepped onto the judging panel in heels that first time, it wasn’t just for drama. It was me stepping into who I wanted to be, not who I’d been pretending to be.”
Behind the scenes, a casting director actually told Jardell not to wear the heels. He ignored the advice, asked a PA to grab them off the bus, and walked out as his full self.
@angelo_is_petty Putting the toxicity aside of the show. I loved when Tyra called him out, but what’s funny is later Denzel kissed another guy ( as a joke ). #throwback #antm #tyrabanks #topmodel #angeloispetty
“That moment changed my life. If I was going to promise myself I’d show up authentically, why let someone else tell me otherwise?”
The vulnerability he brought to the screen resonated far beyond the Top Model audience. LGBTQ+ fans, particularly young queer people wrestling with their own identities, saw themselves in Jardell.
“I don’t know if I ever truly accepted myself as a gay man before the show. But getting that encouragement from the judges, other contestants and even the crew? That was the beginning.”
The Unexpected Echoes of ANTM
Though the runways and eliminations are long behind him, Jardell admits that certain things still linger — like the very specific scent of the Top Model house.
“I know it sounds weird, but I still remember what the house smelled like,” he said. “Lights, cameras, all of us crammed in there — maybe it’s trauma, but it’s definitely unforgettable.”
He also treasures the unplugged connections he made while filming.
“We didn’t have phones. So you really got to know people,” he said. “Some of those relationships became deeper than ones I had in real life at the time.”
Becoming a Public Figure — And Staying Grounded
While ANTM gave Jardell visibility, the sudden spotlight was a challenge.
“I didn’t feel qualified to be a public figure,” he said. “I was still figuring out who I was, and suddenly people had all these opinions.”
He leaned on his Texas roots and LA support system — and chose authenticity over image.
“This was 2014, when YouTubers were just becoming a thing and Instagram was blowing up,” Jardell said. “I’ve always tried to present my most honest self online. I had to get comfortable with people not liking me, and I had to protect my own self-worth.”
His approach to social media and public life remains the same: stay kind, stay real, and never compromise who you are.
Fashion Then vs. Now: Breaking Gender Norms in Style
One of Jardell’s most lasting contributions to pop culture is how he helped push boundaries around gender expression and fashion — something he continues to embrace.
“When I first bought those heels in 2013, I could barely find a size 16,” he said. “Now I can shop men’s heels online with ease. Fashion has come so far in just ten years.”
He regularly shops across both the men’s and women’s departments, guided by one principle: if it fits and feels right, wear it.
“Fashion is about expression now. It’s not about boxes or binary,” he said. “I’m inspired by creators and everyday people who are boldly wearing what they want.”
Even athletic wear has shifted. Jardell recalls preparing for The Amazing Race in 2018 and struggling to find colorful workout clothes for men.
“Our team color was purple and we could barely find anything in stores,” he said. “Now, men’s sections are often more colorful than women’s. That kind of inclusivity — even in something as simple as gym shorts — makes a difference.”
Winning The Amazing Race — and Popping the Question
In 2020, Jardell returned to reality television alongside his partner, James Wallington. As a couple, they competed — and won — Season 32 of The Amazing Race, making history as the first openly gay couple to do so.
“We weren’t trying to be anyone’s version of the ‘right’ gay couple,” Jardell said. “We just wanted to have fun and be ourselves.”
Their victory was a milestone for LGBTQ+ representation — but the real heart-stopper came at the finish line, when Jardell proposed.
“I’d been carrying the ring the entire season, waiting for the right moment,” he said. “Phil [Keoghan] pulled us aside afterward and told us how big this moment was. That’s when it hit me.”
The proposal aired on national television — marking the first same-sex engagement in American reality TV history.
“We didn’t do it for that title. We did it for us. But realizing what it meant to others? That was powerful,” he said. “Even now, people come up to us or message us about what that moment meant to them.”
Reality TV Lessons: Resilience, Strategy and Realness
Reality competition isn’t all glamour and prize money. Jardell said his experiences taught him how to stay mentally tough and camera-ready.
“Being on ANTM prepared me for a lot — like how to be filmed constantly, and how to think ahead during interviews,” he said. “But what really helped was understanding the impact of perception. You always wonder how things will look in the edit.”
One thing fans don’t see? The downtime.
“People think The Amazing Race is nonstop action,” he said. “But we spent hours in airports. We brought a deck of cards to play with other teams — partially for bonding, partially for strategy.”
Each hour-long episode boils down days of intense travel, stress, and emotional highs and lows.
“There’s so much that never makes the final cut — things that absolutely change how you interact with other teams or how you compete.”
What’s Next for Will Jardell?
While Jardell is enjoying married life and continuing his advocacy through fashion and media, he hasn’t ruled out a return to TV.
“I’m always down for a new adventure,” he said. “Put me on The Traitors, Big Brother, Survivor — I’m ready.”
More importantly, he remains committed to using his platform for good.
“I want to continue showing people that joy, love and authenticity are worth sharing,” Jardell said. “Visibility matters. Being yourself matters.”
A Decade of Pride
Ten years after he walked into the America’s Next Top Model house as a hopeful, closeted 24-year-old, Will Jardell has become something more: a fierce advocate, a fashion trailblazer and a symbol of queer joy in mainstream media.
“I still ask myself, what if ANTM had never called?” he said. “That one moment launched me into a life I never dreamed possible. I’m so grateful — and I’m proud of what I’ve done with it.”
From heels to history-making proposals, Will Jardell proves that sometimes the boldest thing you can do is simply show up as yourself.
