Super Bowl signer Justina Miles becomes British Vogue cover star

Justina Miles, the Deaf sign language performer who went viral over her appearance at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show alongside Rihanna, has been unveiled as one of five disabled cover stars on the next issue of British Vogue magazine.

The 20-year-old was selected alongside activist Sinead Burke, actress Selma Blair and models Aaron Rose Philip and Ellie Goldstein to front the ‘Reframing Fashion’ project in May’s edition.

Sharing the news on Instagram, Miles wrote: “It is time the world knows, understands, and embraces us – people of all colors, shapes, and abilities. I am my undying potential.

“My community WILL leave behind a legacy.

“I’m honored to be on the cover of the British Vogue May 2023 issue. The opportunity to continue to raise awareness of the Deaf community is incredible and one I don’t take lightly.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽👛 (@_jtay_)

The magazine will also include artist Christine Sun Kim, who said she was “so so so hugely honoured” to be featured.

In a piece for British Vogue to accompany her photoshoot, Miles wrote she “wanted to match Rihanna’s power” during her performance in Arizona in February.

She said: “The Deaf community is so small. We all know each other – or each others’ mums, or dads, or grandparents – so for big events, everybody comes together to watch whoever is signing.

“Knowing the stage and spotlight was going to be shared with so many successful people, I was gunning for the recognition our community deserves.

“When the public hears Deaf they think ‘incapable’. The questions they ask can be so ridiculous: ‘How do you read? How do you drive?’

“My hope was to pop off hard enough for people to see, ‘OK, Deaf people are literally just like us!'”

Miles also revealed Rihanna’s beauty brand Fenty got in touch after her performance “with so much love”, sending her make-up and lingerie, while the “Umbrella” singer also reached out to the content creator with “really positive messages”.

“We’re besties now or whatever,” she added.

The May issue of British Vogue goes on sale from Tuesday.

Photo: British Vogue/YouTube.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.