Heather Whitestone McCallum.

Heather Whitestone McCallum inspired us with her personal story, motivation, and hard work that culminated in her being crowned Miss America 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 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. She can hear some sounds and has had to learn to decipher 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.