This season of America’s Next Top Model has its first deaf contestant – 26-year-old Nyle DiMarco.

The model is one of this year’s most popular contestants, standing at 6’2” with “piercing blue eyes and washboard abs”.

Although host Tyra Banks and others on the show initially thought of his deafness as a possible hindrance, the 26-year-old model has said that it’s actually a benefit.

“Reading body language comes naturally to me. It helps me understand how to pose with my body,” he told ET Online.

He says he can also shut out all the unending fights that take place on the show each week.

“Fortunately, I’m deaf, so I don’t have to hear all of their drama,” says DiMarco.

“I just want to say that you all are complaining about hair, hair, hair. Am I complaining about my deafness? No, I am not.”

The handsome model also took some time out to share some basic, gay-friendly sign language – that may come in very useful if you ever lucky enough to meet him…