#and the crowning ceremony was very sweet. the 1st runner up delightedly pointing at her saying ‘you won!’

[dozydawn]

Heather Whitestone of Alabama is crowned Miss America 1995. She was the first deaf woman crowned Miss America in the pageant’s 75-year history. Her talent was ballet.

Presenter: Miss Alabama, you may have read, is hearing impaired. No hearing at all in one ear and 5% in the other. So I must ask you, you dance so beautifully, do you hear the music?

Heather: I can hear some sounds with my hearing aid, but what I did, I feel the music and listen to the music for the first time, a couple times, and then I count the numbers, and then I memorize in my heart and that’s how I dance.