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Nyle DiMarco

Allan Tsai
Feb 23, 2017
2 min read

Is a disability a disadvantage?

This next inspirational person shows you that anything is possible even with a disability. I'm going to talk about Nyle DiMarco.

(Credit to Google Search? It was the first thing to pop up.)

I first found out about Nyle through the show America's Next Top Model. He was the first deaf model to compete for the title. I knew from the beginning that, if he were to win, it would be hard since he had all the odds stacked against him. However, he prevailed.

Here are some of the challenges he faced on the show:

- Since he couldn't hear, he had a hard time interacting with the other contestants on the show. The only way he communicated was through a phone.

- During the judging, he had to rely on a translator to sign him the critiques from the judges.

- In the 13th week, the contestants did a photo shoot in the dark. Nyle struggled because he couldn't hear or see. He survived that week after being in the bottom.

- During the last runway show, he couldn't hear the music. He had the challenge of keeping his runway walk at the same speed as the other models and pacing his walk to the beat of the music.

In the end, he won the title of America's Next Top Model. He showed people who are deaf ( and people with disabilities) that they can accomplish anything, even when the odds are stacked against them.

Nyle's story doesn't end there.

He took on the daunting task of competing on Dancing with the Stars. Yes, competing in a dancing competition.

I'll be honest;I was skeptical of his abilities to go the distance, at first, but I knew, if he made it halfway, that he would win.

Nyle slayed the competition and his performances were so inspiring to watch. Here's my favorite performance from him:

Credit to Dancing with the Stars and ABC

He did, eventually, win and I was ecstatic that he did.

Nyle's journey solidifies how a little persistence and determination is all you need to overcome any obstacle. It also shows how people who are deaf, and people with disabilities, can accomplish anything! You just have to put your mind to it!

I hope you found Nyle's story as inspiring as I did and I will talk to you next Thursday.

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