Heather Whitestone McCallum.Heather Whitestone Heather Whitestone McCallum (born February 24, 1973 in Dothan, Alabama) is a beauty queen who was the first deaf Miss America title holder, having lost her hearing at the age of eighteen months. Whitestone was born and raised in Dothan for the first eleven years of her life. McCallum inspired us with her personal story, motivation, and hard work that culminated in her being crowned Miss America Miss America annually selected most beautiful young woman in America. [Am. Hist.: Allen, 56–57] See : Beauty, Feminine Miss America winner of beauty contest; femininity high among virtues desired. [Am. Hist. despite being deaf. Hers was a story of incredible determination to succeed against all odds, beginning with learning to communicate in a hearing world. Just to learn a dance routine took months, since she had to memorize mem·o·rize tr.v. mem·o·rized, mem·o·riz·ing, mem·o·riz·es 1. To commit to memory; learn by heart. 2. Computer Science To store in memory: the music line by line and adjust her moves without ever hearing the beat. Ms. Whitestone McCallum told of her determination to learn to speak her name so that others could understand it and of being mistaken occasionally for a French person because of her pronunciation. She has a new challenge now, having recently undergone a cochlear implant cochlear implant n. An electronic device that stimulates auditory nerve fibers in the inner ear in individuals with severe or profound bilateral hearing loss, allowing them to recognize some sounds, especially speech sounds. . She can hear some sounds and has had to learn to decipher Same as decrypt. them. She is still every bit as beautiful as the day she was crowned Miss America and, although she carries a tiara, she has within her an inner beauty that earned our love and admiration. |
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