Nyle DiMarco

Nyle DiMarco
DiMarco in 2015 for 2(x)ist
Born	Nyle Thompson (1989-05-08) May 8, 1989 Queens, New York
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Gallaudet University
Occupation	Model Actor Activist
Years active	2014 - present
Website	www.nyledimarco.com
Modeling information
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Hair color	Dark brown[1]
Eye color	Blue[1]
Manager	Wilhelmina Models (New York), CESD Talent Agency (Los Angeles)[2]

Nyle DiMarco (born May 8,^[3] 1989)^[4] is an American model, actor, and deaf activist. In 2015, DiMarco was the second male contestant and the first Deaf winner of The CW's America's Next Top Model Cycle 22. The following year, he won season 22 of the ABC televised dance competition Dancing with the Stars, with professional dance partner Peta Murgatroyd. He was the show's second Deaf contestant, the first being Marlee Matlin, and the first Deaf winner.

Background

DiMarco was born Nyle Thompson, explaining in 2016 that at some unspecified point, "We changed our last name from Thompson to DiMarco (our mother's maiden name)."^[5] DiMarco grew up in Frederick, Maryland, where he attended the Maryland School for the Deaf,^[6] and went on to graduate from Gallaudet University in 2013,^[7] with a degree in mathematics.^[5] American Sign Language (ASL) is his native language and he is also proficient in lip reading and nonverbal communication.^[8] He has a fraternal twin brother, Nico,^[9][10] and an older brother, Neal.^[11]

Career

In 2013, DiMarco had a leading role in the independent film In the Can, an American Sign Language Films production.^[9][12] In 2014 and 2015, he played the recurring role of Garrett Banducci in Switched at Birth on the Freeform network.^[12]

DiMarco was doing freelance modeling for about a year before he was contacted by America's Next Top Model producers in 2015.^[8] They scouted him via his social media without realizing he was Deaf.^[6][8] He was named the winner of the season after beating out Mamé Adjei in the season finale.^[13] He is the only Deaf contestant in the show's history, and the second male to win.^[13]

Shortly after winning the competition, DiMarco signed with Wilhelmina Models in New York City.^[1][14]

On March 8, 2016, DiMarco was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with professional dancer Peta Murgatroyd.^[15][16] DiMarco is the second Deaf contestant to compete on the show (see Marlee Matlin). On May 24, 2016, DiMarco and Murgatroyd were announced as the winners of the season.

In 2016, DiMarco will appear in the Hulu comedy series Difficult People.^[17]

In June 2016, DiMarco walked for Giorgio Armani at Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017.

Dancing with the Stars performances

Dimarco was partnered with professional ballroom dancer Peta Murgatroyd on the 22nd season of the ABC televised dance competition Dancing with the Stars.

¹ Score by guest judge Zendaya.

² This week only, for "Partner Switch-Up" week, DiMarco performed with Sharna Burgess instead of Murgatroyd. Murgatroyd performed with Doug Flutie.

³ Score by guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

⁴ Due to Tonioli being the judge coaching DiMarco's team during the team-up dance, the viewers scored the dance in his place with the averaged score being counted alongside the remaining judges

Personal life

In October 2015, DiMarco said he was "fluid" when asked during an interview with Out magazine about his sexuality.^[18]

Activism

DiMarco does not consider himself to be disabled by deafness and sees his media profile as an opportunity to bring awareness to Deaf culture.^[8] He views deafness as an advantage in modeling because he is accustomed to conveying messages without speaking.^[19] He also holds the belief that deaf roles should be played by deaf actors.^[8]

DiMarco is a spokesperson for LEAD-K (Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids). He is also a signer and creative collaborator on The ASL App, an app that teaches conversational ASL.^[20]

In 2016, DiMarco started The Nyle DiMarco Foundation. It is a non-profit organization with the purpose of providing more access to resources for Deaf children and their families.^[21]

Filmography

Television

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nyle DiMarco.

• Official website
• Nyle DiMarco at the Internet Movie Database