Nyle DiMarco
Nyle DiMarco (born May 8,[3] 1989)[4] is an American model, actor, and deaf activist. In 2015, DiMarco was the second male winner 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.
Nyle DiMarco | |
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DiMarco in 2016 | |
Born | Nyle Thompson May 8, 1989 |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Gallaudet University |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2014–present |
Modeling information | |
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1] |
Hair color | Dark brown[1] |
Eye color | Blue[1] |
Agency | Wilhelmina Models (New York), CESD Talent Agency (Los Angeles)[2] |
Website | nyledimarco |
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 but he uses English fluently in writing. Nyle also gets by with 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 appeared in the Hulu comedy series Difficult People.[17] Later on, he appeared on Tóc Tiên's music video for "Big Girls Don't Cry" in January and Alex Newell's music video for "Basically Over You (BOY)" in March.
In June 2016, DiMarco walked for Giorgio Armani at Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017.
DiMarco was featured on DIVERSEability Magazine's 2017 Summer issue. He was also honored as DEAF LIFE Magazine's "Deaf Person of the Year" (January 2017 issue).
DiMarco played the lead role in Dan + Shay's "Tequila" music video, which premiered in February 2018.
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.
Dimarco was the show's second deaf contestant, the first being Marlee Matlin in 2008.
Week # | Dance / Song | Judges' scores | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
1 | Cha-cha-cha/"Cake by the Ocean" | 8 | 7 | 8 | No Elimination |
2 | Rumba/"Stole the Show" | 7 | 6 | 7 | Safe |
3 | Tango/"Verge" | 8 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
4 | Samba/"Trashin' the Camp" | 8 | 8/91 | 9 | Safe |
52 | Viennese Waltz/"I Get to Love You" | 9 | 10/103 | 10 | No Elimination |
6 | Quickstep/"Hey! Pachuco!" | 8 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
7 | Foxtrot / "Beautiful Day" | 10 | 9 | 10 | Safe |
8 | Paso Doble/"Victorious" Team Argentine Tango/"Habanera" |
10 10 |
9 10 |
10 94 |
Safe |
9 Semi-finals |
Trio Jive/"Hit the Road Jack" Argentine tango/"Unsteady" |
9 10 |
9 10 |
9 10 |
Safe |
10 Finals |
Quickstep/"S.O.B." Freestyle/"The Sound of Silence" Cha-cha-cha & Tango Fusion/"Summer" |
9 10 10 |
9 10 10 |
9 10 10 |
WON |
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 came out as "sexually fluid" when asked during an interview with Out magazine about his sexuality.[18].
Activism
DiMarco does not consider himself 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 communicating without speaking.[19] He believes deaf actors should play deaf roles.[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 ASL.[20]
In 2016, DiMarco started The Nyle DiMarco Foundation, a non-profit organization providing access to resources for deaf children and their families.[21]
DiMarco supported Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign during the 2016 U.S. election.[22] He criticized Republican nominee Donald Trump, after reports surfaced of ableist comments, one directed at deaf actress Marlee Matlin.[23] DiMarco stated, "[T]here are 55 million disabled people living in America. I don't want a president who marginalizes my community."[24]
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014–15 | Switched At Birth | Garrett Banducci | Season 3, Ep 18 "It Isn't What you Think" Season 4, Ep 16 "Borrowing Your Enemy's Arrows" Season 4, Ep 18 "The Accommodations of Desire" |
2015 | America's Next Top Model | Himself | Cycle 22; Winner |
2016 | Difficult People | Doug | |
Dancing with the Stars | Himself | Season 22; Winner | |
2019 | Station 19 | Dylan | Episode: Into the Wildfire |
Music video appearances
Year | Title | Original artist(s) | Director(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | "Big Girls Don't Cry" | Tóc Tiên | Đinh Hà Uyên Thư |
2016 | "Basically Over You (B.O.Y)" | Alex Newell | Alex Newell & Derec Dunn |
2018 | "Tequila" | Dan + Shay | Patrick Tracy |
References
- "Nyle DiMarco". Wilhelmina Models. Archived from the original on July 20, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- "Book Nyle". nyledimarco.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- DiMarco, Nyle (May 8, 2016). "My twin, it's our birthday!". Nyle NiMarco verified Instagram page. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- Beard, Landford (May 25, 2016). "Dancing with the Stars Champion Nyle DiMarco Reveals the Moment He Knew He Could Win". People. Archived from the original on May 25, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
...said the 27-year-old model and activist...
- Meilan, Ingrid; Gajewski, Ryan (April 25, 2016). "Dancing With the Stars' Nyle DiMarco: 25 Things You Don't Know About Me (I Get Mistaken for Bradley Cooper!)". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- Cunningham, Caroline (August 3, 2015). "Q&A with DC Native Nyle DiMarco, America's Next Top Model's First Deaf Contestant". Washingtonian. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- "Gallaudet alum to compete on "America's Next Top Model" - Gallaudet University". gallaudet.edu. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- Wang, Yanan (August 7, 2015). "His modeling photos got him noticed, but didn't show one thing: He's Deaf". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on May 25, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- Olya, Gabrielle (March 19, 2016). "5 Things to Know About Dancing with the Stars Winner Nyle DiMarco". People. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- LaScala, Marisa (August 5, 2015). "Who Is Nyle DiMarco? The America's Next Top Model Contestant Is A First For The Show". Bustle. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- "Happy birthday to my older brother Neal!". Nyle DiMarco verified Facebook page. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- Schmitt, Kiana (August 26, 2015). "'America's Next Top Model' Welcomes First Deaf Contestant". Canyon News. Beverly Hills, California. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- Towle, Andy (December 5, 2015). "Nyle Di Marco Named 'America's Next Top Model'". Towleroad. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- Miller, Taylor (February 4, 2016). "Nyle DiMarco Will Make Your Thoughts NSFW For NYFW". BuzzFeed. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- "'Dancing With the Stars' 2016: Season 22 Celebrity Cast Revealed Live on 'GMA'". ABC News. March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
- Bricker, Tierney; Bentley, Jean (February 27, 2016). "America's Next Top Model Winner Nyle DiMarco Is Joining Dancing With the Stars!". E! News. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
...the 26-year-old model/actor/deaf activist....
- Miller, Ted (March 9, 2016). "Meet the "Dancing With the Stars" Season 22 celebrity cast". WBAY. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- Sauvalle, Julien (October 7, 2015). "ANTM Contestant Nyle DiMarco Comes Out as Sexually 'Fluid'". Out. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
- "America's Next Top Model's Nyle DiMarco: I'm extremely fortunate not to be able to hear the other models, I love my world quiet!". MTV. October 28, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- Miller, Ted. "Meet the "Dancing With the Stars" Season 22 celebrity cast". WBAY. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- "About the Foundation - The Nyle DiMarco Foundation". The Nyle DiMarco Foundation.
- "Hillary Clinton Just Made the Best Use of Silent Autoplay With This Social Video Ad - Deaf activist Nyle DiMarco's memorable spot". Ad Week.
- "Deaf Actor Marlee Matlin Hits Back at Donald Trump Over 'Retarded' Comment: 'It Is Unacceptable'". Time.com.
- "Nyle DiMarco visits Ohio State, offers perspectives on deaf culture". The Lantern.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nyle DiMarco. |
Preceded by Keith Carlos |
America's Next Top Model winner Cycle 22 (2015) |
Succeeded by India Gants |
Awards and achievements | ||
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Preceded by Bindi Irwin & Derek Hough |
Dancing with the Stars (US) winners Season 22 (Spring 2016 with Peta Murgatroyd) |
Succeeded by Laurie Hernandez & Valentin Chmerkovskiy |