ASL SUPER BOWL PERFORMER, JUSTINA MILES PRAISED FOR HER ENERGETIC RIHANNA SHOW PERFORMANCE
One of the most talked-about parts of Super Bowl LVII was Rihanna's halftime performance last year 2023. Her performance drew a larger audience than the game itself. It was an unforgettable performance, complete with an incredible aerial stage setup and her unexpected pregnancy announcement.
Simultaneously with Rihanna's performance on stage, another artist was captivating audiences. Introducing Justina Miles, the American Sign Language interpreter who energetically signed the pop star's greatest hits for the telecast, nearly taking centre stage. She was the first deaf woman to interpret in ASL during the Super Bowl halftime show, in addition to making the exciting performance accessible.
For the 13-minute performance, Miles, a Philadelphia-born 20-year-old nursing student, put on an engaging show. To maintain the energy and convey the vibrancy of the music, she signed and danced to the songs "Umbrella," "We Found Love," and "Diamonds." She even added her own dance moves to the instrumental sections. In addition to providing vivid interpretation during Rihanna's show, the interpreter participated in the pre-game ceremony. She sang the Black National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," as Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph had sung it.
“Thank you @nfl @nad1880 for allowing me to be part of American history, Black history, and Deaf history,” Miles wrote on Instagram. “I had the honour of performing the Black National Anthem with @thesherylleeralph, and lifting every voice of the unrecognised, the overlooked, and the culture. Not only is it an overwhelming inspiration to be the first woman to perform at the pregame and halftime show, but to be Black and Deaf as well. That shows real inclusivity and big baby steps towards true accessibility.”
She has performed in ASL at various concerts across the United States, according to the National Association of the Deaf. Oscar-winning actor Troy Kotsur, who sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, and Colin Denny, a research assistant for the Navajo Nation, who signed "America the Beautiful" in a combination of North American Indian Sign Language and American Sign Language, were with her.
Miles's amazing ASL rendition of Lil' Kim's "Crush on You" went viral in 2020, and it soon became apparent that she loved sharing her favourite music with others. She yells, "I'm so happy everyone—deaf and hearing—enjoyed one of the biggest moments of the year together!"
“This experience was indescribable and I’m at a loss of words for each and every one of your love and support.”