Who’s Justina Miles: ASL electric interpreter impresses during Super Bowl halftime show

WASHINGTON. Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime performance was undeniably a hit. Animated performances of the pregnant singer on floating platforms high above the field amazed millions of viewers across the country.

But another performer nearby delivered the electric performance to a different audience who couldn’t hear Rihanna’s performance at all.

Sign language interpreter Justina Miles has gone viral on social media for a video showing her energetic interpretation of the speech’s lyrics.

This is not her first encounter with internet fame. Miles has a popular TikTok account where she translates popular songs into ASL with the same enthusiasm she does on the big game.

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In addition to approaching Rihanna for the halftime show, Miles signed on to “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during the pre-game time when Sheryl Lee Ralph sang it.

MORE: Sheryl Lee Ralph made history by performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at the Super Bowl

According to CBSMiles became the first deaf black woman to compete in the Super Bowl.

Hailing from Philadelphia, Miles was on the U.S. team for the 2021/22 Deaflympics, where deaf or hard of hearing athletes compete, according to the National Association of the Deaf. She won silver as part of the women’s 4×100 track and field team.

According to NAD, she has also translated for other artists around the country at various concerts.

Other notable ASL interpreters also made appearances at the Super Bowl, including Troy Kostour.

Kostur won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for KODA in 2022, becoming the second deaf person to win an Oscar and the first deaf person to win one. He interpreted the national anthem during the Super Bowl.

Colin Denny, Super Bowl’s third Navajo Native American interpreter, is working towards a master’s degree in teaching sign language.

According to NAD, all of ASL’s Super Bowl performances were streamed live on YouTube FOX.