Justina Miles, a sign language performer, gains online popularity for her rendition of Rihanna’s halftime performance at the Super Bowl.

Deaf performer Justina Miles stole the show during the Super Bowl LVII halftime performance. Miles performed Rihanna’s lyrics into American Sign Language (ASL) and quickly went viral online. Miles, who is hard of hearing, has previously gone viral on TikTok for performing other popular songs in ASL. She was also on Team USA at the Deaflympics, winning silver as part of the 4X100 women’s track relay team during the 2021-2022 games.

Miles is no stranger to doing ASL performances during live events and has performed at various concerts. She not only performed during the halftime show at the Super Bowl, but she also performed during “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black National Anthem, performed by Sheryl Lee Ralph during the pregame.

Other ASL performers, chosen by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), also took the field. Troy Kotsur, who won an Oscar for best supporting actor for “CODA” in 2022, performed the National Anthem. Kotsur became the second Deaf person and first Deaf man ever to win an Oscar. The title, “CODA,” is an acronym for Child of Deaf Adults. Kotsur and Marlee Matlin, the first Deaf person to ever win an Oscar in 1987, play the parents of a hearing teenager who is her Deaf family’s link to the hearing world.

Colin Denny, a Deaf Native American from Navajo Nation in Arizona, performed as Babyface sang “America the Beautiful” during the pregame. Denny used a blend of ASL and North American Indian Sign Language, according to NAD. He is currently a research assistant studying North American Indian Sign Language at the University of Arizona.

All of the ASL performers were live-streamed by Fox on YouTube during the Super Bowl, according to NAD. Fans praised the performances on social media, with many people expressing their appreciation for the inclusion of ASL interpretation at such a high-profile event.

The NAD has been advocating for the inclusion of ASL interpretation at major events for years, and the Super Bowl is just one example of their efforts paying off. ASL interpretation provides accessibility for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and helps to create a more inclusive society.

Miles’ performance at the Super Bowl has raised awareness about the Deaf community and the importance of ASL interpretation. Her energy and passion on stage have inspired many people, and she has become a role model for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals around the world.

Original Story at www.cbsnews.com – 2023-02-13 15:38:00