Tyra Banks declared Nyle DiMarco as "America's Next Top Model" cycle 22 winner. (Photo : Facebook/America's Next Top Model)
Right after the airing of "America's Next Top Model" cycle 22 finale on The CW on Dec. 4, Friday, "Switched at Birth" star Nyle DiMarco took to Facebook to thanks Tyra Banks and give a promise to the judges of the modelling competition show.
"I am... AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL!" DiMarco captioned a celebratory photo. "AND THE LAST WINNER AND WHO HAPPENS TO BE DEAF! I still can't believe it. I still am at a loss for words. I am on Cloud 9 all over again."
The photo DiMarco shared was the traditional picture taken right after the "ANTM" winner is declared. According to the "Switched at Birth" actor, he was very nervous as Banks prepped up for the photo shoot with her but their energy quickly formed and multiplied as soon as they worked together.
DiMarco said they "kept moving and moving in perfect synchronicity that not even advanced calculus could solve." He described the experience as amazing and he is keeping the photo and experience forever in his heart.
The deaf model and actor thanked not only Banks but also "ANTM" judges Kelly Cutrone and Miss J Alexander as well as photographer Yu Tsai for believing in him and giving him "the voice." He also wrote, "I will never disappoint you all and I will keep thriving! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!"
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, DiMarco said "ANTM" changed his life because he became more aware of the modeling world and he has a great network now and even more fans than he did before.
Banks also told Entertainment Weekly that "ANTM" has offered an avenue for reality television stars to be accepted as models. Such reality stars who are also high fashion models, she said, are Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner.
