| Deafness, along with most forms of disability, has | | | | established the Miss Deaf America Talent Pageant. |
| formed its own subculture in our society. That | | | | According to the Utah Association for the Deaf, the |
| subculture includes all types of media, businesses that | | | | pageant was "a new concept to help us elevate the |
| cater specifically to the deaf, even a pageant that | | | | image and self-concept of deaf ladies throughout the |
| showcases deaf women. With more than 30 | | | | United States. This is not an ordinary |
| contestants, the Miss Deaf America pageant has | | | | contest…beauty, poise, gracefulness are desirable |
| come a long way since its beginnings. | | | | qualities, but the biggest point is one's cultural talent |
| The History of Miss Deaf AmericaThe Miss Deaf | | | | performance." |
| America Pageant began in 1966 as the brainchild of | | | | The first Miss Deaf America Talent Pageant was held |
| Douglas Burke. With the goal of finding the hidden | | | | in 1972 in Miami Beach, FL, at the biannual NAD |
| talents of the deaf in the fields of visual and | | | | Convention. The pageant featured just five |
| performing arts, Burke established a National Cultural | | | | contestants and has undergone significant changes |
| Program with the National Association of the Deaf | | | | since that first year, including the omission of the |
| (NAD). After seeing the rapid growth of state | | | | word "talent" from the title in 1976 and the |
| contests held within the structure of the Cultural | | | | requirement of contestants to give a three-minute |
| Program and with the blessing of the NAD, Burke | | | | platform presentation in 1998. |