Rihanna’s Sign Language Interpreter Steals the Show: Here’s Why

ASL interpreter Justina Miles was another star who rocked the stage alongside Rihanna during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Rihanna delivered a jaw-dropping show on the night of the Super Bowl championship. She began her performance with a medley of her hit songs. Along with the spectacular performance is her revelation of baby no. 2.

Justina Miles DID THAT 💅🏾 💅🏾 💅🏾 not just because she ate and left NO crumbs for Rihanna's performance, but she's also the first ever Black deaf woman to perform the ASL rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" https://t.co/hVrcvlQuAV

— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) February 13, 2023

After the buzz about her pregnancy revelation died down, the internet just can’t stop talking about everything Rihanna. Now, the spotlight is on her song interpreter during the halftime show. 

Justina Miles, the American sign language (ASL) translator appeared twice at Super Bowl. She first interpreted the pre-show version of Sheryl Lee Ralph’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Then, she signed for Rihanna’s glitzy performance during the halftime show. The event made her the first deaf woman to give an ASL interpretation in the history of the Super Bowl halftime show.

Justina Miles, Rihanna’s American Sign Language Interpreter, made HISTORY as the first deaf Black woman to perform at the Super Bowl. #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/dPHfnqhbnu

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) February 13, 2023

An Insider report said that praises from online users poured in for her energetic translation of Rihanna’s songs. She signed with dance moves for the songs “Diamonds,” “Umbrella,”, and “Work.”

Non-profit org Off Colour tweeted, “Shoutout to ASL interpreter Justina Miles for absolutely going off for Rihanna’s #SuperBowl performance.”

In addition, British broadcaster Dan Walker also expressed his applause. “Enjoying watching the woman doing the sign language for Rihanna at the #SuperBowl halftime show having the time of her life.”

Enjoying watching the woman doing the sign language for Rihanna at the #SuperBowl half time show having the time of her life. Her name is Justina Miles 🙌🏻pic.twitter.com/pO32nMECFv

— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) February 13, 2023

Who is Justina Miles?

Miles is a 20-year-old ASL performer. According to CNBC, she is a deaf translator and is currently a nursing student at HBCU Bowie State University. She first gained popularity in 2020 after her video went viral on Twitter.

It was the video of her interpreting rapper Lil Lim’s hit song “Crush on You.” It has over 1 million views on Twitter. 

The ASL interpreter told Billy Penn that time, “I really was trying to go viral on TikTok but somebody retweeted it. All my friends were like, ‘You’re on my timeline. I was like, what’s a timeline?”

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In addition to her incredible talent for signing, she is also good at sports. She was a member of the USA team that head onto the Deaflympics in Brazil. Miles won a silver medal in the women’s track relay.

Before her Super Bowl performance, Miles told CNBC that she was hoping her performance will motivate others to  “not to let any obstacles prevent you from achieving your dreams and to always believe in yourself to go beyond.”

Furthermore, she was also grateful for the huge opportunity of performing at the Super Bowl. “I value the opportunity to make it possible for all deaf people to enjoy these songs, and not have them miss out on the full Super Bowl experience.”

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