The deaf model becomes the second male winner of the series.
The judges have deliberated, and America’s next top model is…
Nyle DiMarco!
The 26-year-old model becomes the second male winner of the
series -- following Keith Carlos, who won cycle 21 -- and the only deaf
contestant to compete on the reality competition show. He’s also the final model to
land on top after creator and host Tyra Banks announced the series’
cancellation midway through the cycle.
WATCH: Tyra Banks Reminisces About 'Bittersweet' End of 'ANTM'
From the beginning of cycle 22, the judges -- Banks, Kelly Cutrone,
and J. Alexander -- and other contestants made a big deal about his hearing,
but being deaf didn’t seem to be a disadvantage. In fact, DiMarco said it
helped him in the competition.
“The biggest advantage of me being deaf is that my language
requires me to move my body,” DiMarco told ET in September, “so it's easy for
me to show movement in my body and brings the best of me in photographs.”
WATCH: 'ANTM' Contestant Nyle DiMarco Names His Sexiest Feature and Signs 'Top Model' Phrases
DiMarco quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his
washboard abs, piercing blue eyes and charming persona. But he also delivered fierce
photos each week, winning two elimination challenges and only landing in the bottom two once.
While the competition itself may be over, DiMarco’s career
is just beginning. The budding model told ET that he hopes to become the next
male supermodel and to create an equal space for men in the modeling world.
“America's Next Top
Model changed my life because I am more aware of the modeling world and I
have a great network now,” he said of the experience, adding: “I have even more
fans than I did before.”
MORE: 6 'ANTM' Contestants Who Actually Went on to Become Famous
Oh, we bet he does!
You can check out more about DiMarco in ET’s exclusive interview
with him below. Check back next week when we sit down with the big winner to catch up
on everything that’s been going on since the competition aired.