The final season winner of ‘America’s Next Top Model’ originally wanted to teach math.
I got my mathematics degree because I wanted to teach Deaf children math, he tells EW.
I was doing a little modeling on the side.
Credit: Adam Taylor/ABC
ThenANTMfound me on social media, and it pretty much flipped my life around, all for the better.
My goals are the same.
Now Im using my stardom to educate the world and invest in Deaf children.
Seventy percent of parents who have Deaf children dont know how to sign.
Its one of the reasons I want to doDancing with the Stars, its a platform to educate.
WinningANTMgave him a voice.
I was definitely an amateur at the beginning and I didnt know what I was doing.
I thought it was going to be simple but there was so much more to it.
Fans really listened to me.
They could see the struggles that I faced on that show, and they became my allies.
It was difficult to live in that house with all hearing people.
The language deprivation for two months was a different experience for me since Im from a Deaf family.
A lot of the [models] were very self-centered.
Its a competition, I get that, but its also an opportunity to get to know each other.
I dont think they took that opportunity with me, which is fine because I ended up winning.
HisDWTSpartner, Peta Murgatroyd, had to change her teaching technique when she met DiMarco.
She started speaking to me, but I wasnt responding.
She thought there was something wrong until she was told I couldnt hear.
She was dumbfounded and confused.
Its more of watching Petas pace.
When Peta tells me how long I have to hold a movement, I memorize it.
I never danced my entire life until that first day with Peta.
I was quite nervous, but it ended up being a great day.
I think Peta realized being Deaf didnt make much of a difference.
She congratulated me and I definitely thanked her for it.
Chmerkovskiy hasnt said dont stand next to me because you make me look bad… yet.
Maybe hes thinking that but not saying it!
DWTSairs Mondays at 8 p.m.
