Heather Whitestone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Heather Whitestone
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Whitestone in 2012
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| Born |
Heather Leigh Whitestone
February 24, 1973 Dothan, Alabama, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Jacksonville State University |
| Occupation | Motivational speaker and author |
| Known for | First deaf Miss America |
| Title | Miss Alabama 1994 Miss America 1995 |
| Predecessor | Kimberly Clarice Aiken |
| Successor | Shawntel Smith |
| Spouse(s) |
John McCallum
(m. 1996) |
| Children | 4 |
Heather Leigh Whitestone McCallum (born February 24, 1973) is an American activist and former beauty queen. She made history as the first deaf person to win the Miss America title. Heather lost most of her hearing when she was just 18 months old.
Heather's Early Life and Learning
Heather Whitestone was born in Dothan, Alabama. When she was a baby, a serious ear infection caused her to lose her hearing.
In fourth grade, Heather learned about Helen Keller. Helen Keller was a famous deaf and blind author and activist. Helen became a huge inspiration for Heather.
Because of her hearing loss, Heather found it hard to keep up in school. She asked her family to send her to a special school. At the Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis, Missouri, she learned very quickly. She caught up with her classmates in just three years! After that, she returned to Alabama and finished high school with great grades.
When she was sixteen, Heather moved to Birmingham. She loved ballet and spent a lot of time practicing. She then went on to study at Jacksonville State University.
Becoming Miss America
Heather first joined a program called Junior Miss. This experience gave her the confidence to enter beauty pageants. She won the Miss Jacksonville State University title. Then, she became Miss Alabama.
In the finals of the Miss America 1995 pageant, she stood next to Miss Virginia. When the first runner-up was announced, Heather could not hear the host. But she could read his lips! She was surprised and looked at her fellow contestant to confirm she had won.
As Miss America, Heather traveled all over the country. She shared her special program called S.T.A.R.S. This stands for "Success Through Action and Realization of your dreams."
The S.T.A.R.S. program has five important points:
- Having a positive attitude
- Believing in your dreams
- Being willing to work hard
- Facing challenges
- Building a strong support team
Heather also worked on the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. She has written four books.
Life After Miss America
After her time as Miss America, Heather finished her studies at Jacksonville State University. She continued to raise awareness about issues affecting deaf people. She also often speaks about her strong faith.
Heather has spoken at national events, sharing her inspiring story.
In 2002, Heather decided to have a cochlear implant operation. This device helps some deaf people to hear sounds. She chose to have the surgery because she wanted to hear her son's cries for help. She said she has never regretted her decision.
Today, Heather is a motivational speaker. She lives in Georgia with her husband, John McCallum. They have four children: John Jr., James, Wilson, and William.
Heather was appointed to the National Council on Disability by President Bush. She also served on the board of the Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education. In 2002, she joined the Advisory Council for the National Institutes of Health on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
Heather has appeared on many TV shows, including CNN, ABC's Good Morning America, and The View. She has also been featured in magazines like USA Today and People Magazine.
In 2003, Heather filmed public service announcements for "Dogs for the Deaf." This organization trains hearing dogs to help deaf people.
Heather has also been a spokesperson for the Starkey Hearing Aid Foundation and Cochlear America.
She has written four books: Listening with My Heart, Believing in the Promise, Let God Surprise You, and Heavenly Crowns. She also led a big campaign to help identify early hearing loss in children.
