Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1989-05-08
- Born Place: Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Nyle DiMarco
Nyle DiMarco is a highly influential American model, actor, and Deaf activist, born on May 8, 1989, in Queens, New York. Growing up in a multi-generational Deaf family, he has over twenty-five Deaf relatives, including his parents and twin brother. He attended the Maryland School for the Deaf and later graduated from Gallaudet University in 2013 with a degree in mathematics. American Sign Language (ASL) is his native language, and he is also fluent in written English, using lip-reading and non-verbal communication effectively.DiMarco first gained widespread public attention in 2015 when he became the first Deaf winner and second male winner of The CW's reality television series America's Next Top Model (Cycle 22). The following year, he further captivated audiences by winning ABC's Dancing with the Stars (Season 22) with professional dance partner Peta Murgatroyd, again making history as the first Deaf winner of the competition.Beyond his reality TV success, DiMarco has established himself as a dedicated advocate for the Deaf community. He is an honorary spokesperson for Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids (LEAD-K), a movement that campaigns for language and literacy access for Deaf children from an early age. He is also the founder of the Nyle DiMarco Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of Deaf people globally through various initiatives, including promoting bilingual education (ASL and English). His activism extends to producing content that promotes Deaf culture and storytelling, including serving as an executive producer on the Netflix docuseries Deaf U, which follows the lives of Deaf and hard-of-hearing students at Gallaudet University, and the Oscar-nominated documentary short Audible. He also co-produced the 2018 Broadway revival of Children of a Lesser God. DiMarco is a creative collaborator on The ASL App, which teaches conversational American Sign Language. In 2022, he released his memoir, Deaf Utopia: A Memoir and a Love Letter to a Way of Life.Nyle DiMarco uses his significant platform to challenge stereotypes, promote inclusivity, and advocate for greater representation of Deaf individuals in media and society. He views his deafness as an asset, not a limitation, and works to build bridges between the Deaf and hearing communities by sharing his experiences and highlighting the richness of Deaf culture.
