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Essay on Heather Whitestone Miss America 1995
When Miss America’s television hosts, Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford, announce the five finalists, the second name called was “Heather Whitestone, Miss Alabama.” As the five finalists moved toward center stage, her anxiety began to build (Daphne, Gregg, 1995). All five contestants looked stunning. As a burst of orchestra music signaled the end of the commercial break, a hush of anticipation settled across that vast convention hall.
When the cheering subsided, Regis announced that the new Miss America 1995 is Miss Alabama, Heather Whitestone, the crowd of 13,000 packing the Atlantic City Convention Center exploded into wall-shaking cheers. The bewildered expression Heather’s face told me she hadn’t understood the announcement. It wasn’t until Cullen pointed at her, mouthed the words, “It’s you!” and gave her a big congratulatory hug that Heather realized she’d won.
Twenty years ago this very night, eighteen-month-old Heather had lain critically ill in the pediatric ward of a hospital in Dothan, Alabama, while her doctors tried to decide what was wrong and how to treat her. Sometime during her stay in the hospital, Heather had slipped into a world of silence.
Was it possible for my deaf child to find success and happiness in the hearing world? Sometimes I’d felt very alone in my belief that she could—or even should try.
After winning the contest Heather described that the “best thing was that being Miss America gave me the opportunity to bring a positive awareness to other people about the deaf community. We all have a heart and a mind, and we’re more than just hearing or deaf people! Being Miss America gave me an opportunity to teach the world about deaf people and that deaf people can speak too” (Web, 1)
She said she love receiving surprises from God," "He always amazes me."...
