Nyle DiMarco

Actor, Model, Activist

Winner of America’s Next Top Model and Winner of Mirror Ball in Dancing with the Stars

A model, actor, and Deaf activist who graduated from Gallaudet University with a dual degree in mathematics and education, Nyle DiMarco has become a renowned figure in the Deaf community.

He has credited much of his success to hard work and perseverance. One of his goals is to promote the concept of “Deaf gain.” For example, he points out that American Sign Language requires facial expressions and body language, a skill that Deaf people in the modeling and entertainment industries can use to their advantage. For instance, Deaf models may find it easier to convey a specific image since they greater command of their own facial expressions, which in turn enables them to read photographers’ cues. This ability--in other words, being able to tell if photographers are satisfied or not and when they want you to change a pose--can help both parties.

However, DiMarco also acknowledges the benefits he gleaned from growing up in a bilingual environment. He went to Deaf schools, all of which practiced bilingualism and emphasized the importance of no communication barriers. He was thus able to read, learn, and actively engage with his teachers and peers in both English and ASL. Moreover, he was born into a multigenerational Deaf family. Being able to recount his experiences with ease and share his own emotions and thoughts with his family members provided him with a much-needed outlet. In sum, being bilingual gave him a unique perspective on life and shaped his identity, instilling him with the pride and confidence he needed to thrive seamlessly in both the hearing and Deaf communities.

Nowadays, DiMarco is using his newfound fame to spread awareness about Deaf culture in the hopes of influencing policy makers to improve the rights of deaf individuals domestically and around the globe. DiMarco acknowledges that many people are unaware of Deaf culture and is blessed to have a great platform to reframe the community. Therefore, founding the Nyle DiMarco Foundation is what he considers to be his greatest success to date.

Finally, he enjoys teaching and hopes to become involved in educational administration in the future, which he believes will be an effective way to give back to his community. One of his main takeaways for other Deaf people is that anything is re-definable if we believe and work hard for it.