While Rihanna was delivering her historic performance during Super Bowl’s halftime show Sunday night, another Black woman was also making history. Justina Miles became the first female deaf performer for the Super Bowl’s halftime show with her American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation of Rihanna’s songs.
“Rihanna was incredible but omg the ASL interpreter they had for her performance was LIVING. 10/10 all around,” one viewer wrote on Twitter.
The 20-year-old deaf ASL performer from Philadelphia also signed the pre-show’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing” sung by actress Sheryl Lee Ralph. Miles became the first deaf person to perform the ASL rendition of the song at the Super Bowl.
During a press conference last week ahead of the Super Bowl, Miles said the event was very special to her. “Not only for me to share this experience with the whole world but to really bring that empowerment to millions and millions of Black deaf people all over the country who’ve never really seen that before,” she said. “I feel that is truly lifting every voice, even my voice.”
As she continues to earn rave reviews on social media, here are three things you should know about her:
