Nyle DiMarco was born deaf but does not let that stop him from living his dreams. Already a winner on “America’s Next Top Model,” he decided to try “Dancing with the Stars.” His performance stunned the judges and impressed the audience.
DiMarco, 26, and his partner, Peta Murgatroyd, chose to do a cha-cha routine to DNCE’s “Cake by the Ocean.” The pair danced in amazing synchronicity, netting them a score of 23 out of 30 and a first-place tie with another couple, Ginger Morris and Wanya Zee.
When asked how he dances so well to music he cannot hear, DiMarco replied via an interpreter that he just follows the movements of his partner as he is also unable to detect any sort of vibration. He added that growing up as a deaf person, he did not want the world to have a negative impression of him, which is why he worked so hard to develop his dance skills. He concluded by saying that deaf people are capable of accomplishing anything they want.
DiMarco was the first deaf contestant to win on “America’s Next Top Model.” He was the second deaf contestant on “Dancing with the Stars,” preceded by Marlee Matlin in 2008.