"Switched at Birth" actor Nyle DiMarco, 26, is the first ever and the only deaf contestant of "America's Next Top Model." Winning cycle 22 made him the last top model of the reality competition show created by Tyra Banks.
In a recent interview with People after winning "ANTM" cycle 22, DiMarco said, "I'm Deaf, but shooting in the dark also made me blind. I've never been so frustrated in my life because I knew that I could do it."
In one episode of "ANTM" cycle 22, the contestants had an outdoor photo shoot in pitch-black darkness in the woods, which DiMarco found very difficult. He also said "ANTM" cycle 22 was certainly a lot of fun but it was also quite tough particularly the part where he has to live with his fellow models in one house.
In addition, DiMarco found it difficult to be unable to use his language, American Sign Language. He said it was not easy to have no communication, information access and the general connection to the world.
For DiMarco, it felt incredible just to be on "ANTM" cycle 22 but it was amazing to win it was amazing. He said simply being a Deaf person on a television show is quite ground-breaking.
In another interview with Out, DiMarco said it was not easy to try to keep up with what happened within the "ANTM" house and pointed out that communication is the dignity to live. To stay involved, the deaf model tried to communicate with his fellow models through the OPPO phone.