Viking_Yearbook_95

Miss Ame ric a A deaf woman from Alabama became the first contestant with a disability to win the Miss America Pageant. The 68th Miss America was 21-year-old Heather Whitestone. After receiving the crown, she signed "1 love you" amidst the thunderous applause from the audience at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Her slogan in the competition was "Youth Motivation: Anything is Possible." She was proof enough of that, having lost most of her hearing after a reaction when she was 18 months old. Whitestone became Miss America 1995 in part through her talent routine, a two-and-a-half minute ballet performed to music that she couldn't hear. Instead she counted the beats in her head and synchronized her dance moves to reflect changes in pitch. Whitestone said she didn't think it would be hard for a deaf woman to be Miss America. "1 think I'll do it just fine," said the Birmingham native who reads lips but used an interpreter at a news conference after her victory. "1 mean, look at us, we're doing just fine." Courtesy ofAssociated Press 25 i