Rihanna may have been billed as the star attraction during her 15-minute Super Bowl half time show, but she risked being upstaged by her energetic sign language interpreter.
Justina Miles, a 20-year old nursing student and American Sign Language specialist, won a legion of new fans when she became the sporting event’s first ever deaf performer at State Park Stadium in Arizona on Sunday.
Miss Miles also made history by becoming the first deaf person to perform its pre-show anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing - sung live by Tony Award winning singer and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Her impressive take on the Barbadian singer’s hits including Umbrella and Diamonds - accompanied by some energetic dancing - has since gone viral.
Social media was full of praise for Miles, with one Twitter user writing: “I know exactly what she singing and I don’t know sign language (SIC).”
“The sign language interpreter got the moves that Rihanna didn’t have,” raved a second.
“That sign language interpreter for Rihanna’s half time show, Justina Miles, should be front and center on her dance crew. Damn she good,” agreed another.
While a fourth declared: “The sign language interpreter was better than Rihanna.”
Miles was present at a press conference ahead of the highly anticipated event on Thursday, in which she stressed the importance of “empowering millions and millions of black deaf people all over the country who’ve never really seen that before.”
Adding: “I feel that is truly lifting every voice, even my voice.”
