Justina Miles
Born
Justina Taylor Miles

(2002-09-12) September 12, 2002 (age 21)
Years active2020–present
Known forSuper Bowl LVII halftime show

Justina Taylor Miles (born September 12, 2002) is a Deaflympics athlete and American Sign Language (ASL) performer. In 2023 she became the first Deaf woman to perform American Sign Language at the Super Bowl pre-game and halftime shows.

Early life

Justina Miles is from Philadelphia. She graduated from the Model Secondary School for the Deaf in Washington D.C. She is attending Bowie State University studying nursing.

Career

Sport

Miles was part of Team USA at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics (held May 2022) in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, where she received a silver medal for 4x100m women's relay. She also competed in the 100m and 200m events.[1][2][3]

Deaf Performer

Miles's performance in ASL of Lil' Kim's "Crush on You" went viral on TikTok in 2020.[4] She has signed for various live music events, such as the Super Bowl LVII halftime show and pre-show in 2023.[1] Her performance at the halftime show was the first ever by a Black Deaf woman and went viral with millions of views on social media.[5][6][7]

Awards

In November 2023, Miles was named to the BBC's 100 Women list.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "National Association of the Deaf - NAD". www.nad.org. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "Caxias do Sul 2022 - USA". www.deaflympics.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "Justina Taylor MILES". www.deaflympics.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  4. ^ Jones, Layla A. (May 7, 2020). "Deaf Philly teen's TikTok dance challenge goes viral, posted by Lil' Kim". Billy Penn at WHYY. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  5. ^ Lane, Barnaby. "Rihanna's sign language interpreter stole the show at Super Bowl LVII. Here's everything you need to know about Justina Miles". Insider. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "Meet Justina Miles, Who Made History With ASL Performance During Rihanna's Super Bowl Halftime Show". www.yahoo.com. February 13, 2023. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  7. ^ Liu, Jennifer (February 12, 2023). "Meet Justina Miles, Rihanna's Super Bowl halftime show ASL performer". CNBC. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  8. ^ "BBC 100 Women 2023: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.

External links

100 Women by BBC in 2023
Categories