'America's Next Top Model' Cycle 22 Live: Will Deaf Contestant Nyle DiMarco get Past Top 14?

The 22^nd and final season of The CW reality show, "America's Next Top Model", will start airing from Wednesday, 5 August. And there will be some special contestants this time.

Cycle 22 will feature the first deaf contestant and first Asian contestant.

Nyle DiMarco (25) from Washington will be the first deaf contestant in the show, which was created by super model Tyra Banks. While, many may assume that his disability would prove disadvantageous, he insists that his native tongue, the American Sign Language, gives him an advantage over the other contestants who are with him at top 14 cut-off.

"American Sign Language requires the use of facial expressions and body language expressions. With the rules of ASL immersed into my soul, it helps to bring out stories when modeling for a photo and makes for an interesting character when acting," he told Washington Life.

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DiMarco, who appeared in ABC's "Switched At Birth" as Garrett, hopes to inspire other deaf people and raise awareness. "There are many beautiful Deaf people out there but the agencies and photographers think we're not able to model, let alone collaborate. I am here to raise awareness and change that perspective and prove that Deaf people can model and collaborate to create something beautiful," he says.

"America's Next Top Model" is definitely a great platform for DiMarco to promote his message, but unfortunately, the tradition may begin and end with him.

Banks revealed to Fox News that cycle 22 will mark the last season of the reality show.

"There is only so long that a show can last and it is kind of nice to walk away from something before it walks away from you. That is what I did with modelling. I was like, 'I don't know how many years I have left, so let me go out real big,'" the 41-year-old confessed.

So, catch up with "America's Next Top Model" while it lasts, and watch out for the Cycle 22 premiere at 8.00 pm (EST) on Wednesday, 5 August on The CW.