Nyle DiMarco

Nyle DiMarco is an American model, actor, and Deaf activist born on May 8, 1989. He is widely recognized as the winner of season 22 of The CW's reality television series America's Next Top Model and season 22 of ABC's televised dance competition Dancing with the Stars. In addition to his modeling and television work, he is an author, film director, producer, and prominent advocate for Deaf culture and language access.

DiMarco was born Nyle Thompson in Queens, New York, and is of English, Scottish, Italian, and German descent. While at university, he and his brothers changed their last name to DiMarco, which was their mother's maiden name. He grew up in Frederick, Maryland, attending the Maryland School for the Deaf, and graduated from Gallaudet University in 2013 with a degree in mathematics. American Sign Language is his native language, though he uses written English fluently, lip reads, and uses nonverbal communication. He has a fraternal twin brother, Nico, and an older brother, Neal.

His career began in 2013 with a leading role in the independent film In the Can, produced by American Sign Language Films. From 2014 to 2015, he played the recurring role of Garrett Banducci on the Freeform network series Switched at Birth. After working as a freelance model for about a year, he was scouted via social media by producers of America's Next Top Model in 2015. He won the competition after competing against Mamé Adjei in the finale, becoming the show's first Deaf winner and second male winner. Following the show, he signed with Wilhelmina Models in New York City.

In 2016, DiMarco competed on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars alongside professional dancer Peta Murgatroyd, becoming the second deaf contestant on the show after Marlee Matlin. The duo won the competition, making DiMarco the first deaf celebrity to win any global version of the franchise. That same year, he walked for Giorgio Armani at Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017, appeared in the Hulu comedy Difficult People, and performed in music videos for Tóc Tiên and Alex Newell. He later played the lead role in Dan + Shay's 2018 music video for "Tequila."

In 2025, DiMarco produced and directed his first full-length documentary film, Deaf President Now!, distributed on Apple TV. Focusing on the 1988 protests at Gallaudet University, the documentary earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for directing and outstanding nonfiction special. He also authored the 2023 memoir Deaf Utopia and was named DEAF LIFE Magazine's "Deaf Person of the Year" in January 2017.

DiMarco views deafness as an advantage in modeling and advocates that deaf actors should play deaf roles. He came out as sexually fluid in 2015. In 2016, he created The Nyle DiMarco Foundation to support deaf children and families. He has also served as a spokesperson for LEAD-K, collaborated on The ASL App, supported Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, and delivered a keynote address at the 2020 American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages convention.