Philadelphia ASL performer Justina Miles went viral during Rihanna’s Super Bowl 2023 halftime show

GLENDAL, Arizona. Rihanna’s headline Super Bowl halftime performance was another iconic performance at the same time as the show’s American Sign Language interpreter.

Justina Miles, a Philadelphia native, took the internet by storm on Sunday night with her sign-language interpretation of a medley of Rihanna’s hits.

“Rihanna was incredible but my god the ASL interpreter they had for her performance was LIVE. 10/10 in all respects, ”- one — wrote a Twitter user.

“Um Justina Miles for the ASL #SuperBowl #Rihanna was the real star of the #AppleMusicHalftimeShow” wrote another viewer.

Deaf Miles was seen split screen with Rihanna during part of the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, which aired on Fox.

The performer was also on the field at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona during the pre-game show, where she signed during Sheryl Lee Ralph’s “Raise Every Voice and Sing.”

In a press conference last week ahead of Sunday’s game, Miles called the performance a big deal.

“Not just for me to share this experience with the world,” she said, “but to really give this opportunity to millions and millions of black deaf people across the country who have never seen it before. I feel like it really lifts every voice, even my voice.”

Miles went viral three years ago for performing Lil’ Kim’s “Crush on You” music video on ASL, which the rapper later shared online.

While her performance with Rihanna on Sunday was on the biggest stage in the world, it wasn’t Miles’ first live performance.

According to the National Association of the Deaf, she “performed magnificent music in sign language at various concerts around the country.”

According to the association, Miles is now a nursing student and a cheerleader at Bowie State University in Maryland.