Champion bodybuilder Paula Davis raises awareness with ASL | MSN
ASL-infused bodybuilding performance
Paula Davis, a competitive bodybuilder known as “Wonder Woman,” is on a mission to promote inclusivity and raise awareness about American Sign Language (ASL) within the bodybuilding community. As a member of her church’s deaf ministry, Davis has integrated ASL into her bodybuilding performances to encourage acceptance and make the sport more accessible to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Davis began her journey in bodybuilding in 2005 but had to put her aspirations on hold due to a breast cancer diagnosis, which led to a mastectomy and chemotherapy. Ten years later, in 2016, she returned to the sport and began competing. Despite the delay, Davis remained determined to achieve her goals, including becoming Miss Indiana.
Incorporating ASL into her routines, Davis aims to bridge the gap between the hearing and deaf communities within the sport. During her one-minute routine, she signs the lyrics of her chosen song, allowing those who are hearing impaired to engage with her performance.