America's Next Top Model winner Nyle DiMarco showed that he was a major frontrunner to win Dancing With the Stars this week—made all the more impressive by the fact that he is deaf.

DiMarco and his pro dancing partner Peta Murgatroyd performed a strong cha-cha to the song "Cake by the Ocean" by DNCE in the premiere. They received a 23 out of 30 from the judges, tying them with two other couples for the highest score of the night.

Dancing With the Stars is difficult for most celebrities, but DiMarco's deafness adds another layer of challenge. Yet, the model told Us Weekly after his performance Monday that he felt more at ease after just one day of rehearsal.

"Before I started DWTS, I knew it was going to be a huge challenge for me, but the first day that I met Peta, in our first rehearsal, I thought, 'Hey, this isn't really that challenging! I can dance!'" he said, through his interpreter. "It's not all about hearing, it's about our connection and Peta's pace and following it, and it's really becomes not too bad. It wasn't a challenge today and I'm glad the world knows that now, that we can dance and I can dance with Peta!"

DiMarco also spoke about growing up not dancing due to fear of ridicule.

"Growing up I didn't dance at all, and I wasn't sure if I could. I didn't want to make a fool of myself as a deaf person," he admitted. "If I made a fool out of myself I think the world would have that negative perception that a deaf person can't dance, and it's important for me to do so well so that I can preach to the world that deaf people can do anything."

DiMarco is the second deaf contestant in Dancing With the Stars after Marlee Matlin in season 6, who ultimately came in seventh place. Matlin is completely deaf in her right ear but only 80 percent deaf in her left ear, so she was able to at least feel and hear vibrations, while DiMarco is purely relying on Murgatroyd's leadership.

Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Tags
Dancing with the Stars, Reality TV, ABC