BEING born deaf meant that she was exposed to tremendous bullying simply because she wasn’t deemed as “normal” like other people without hearing impediments but, as the years went by, she learnt that these experiences would only make her stronger.
Michaela Gregory (28) is determined to represent the deaf community and that is why she has entered the Miss Deaf SA 2022 beauty pageant for the third time this year.
This time, she hopes to bring the coveted crown back to Nelson Mandela Bay, not only to prove to herself that she can do it, but to show others that being deaf doesn’t mean that you cannot live a normal life or have achievements.
Gregory, who hails from East London but has been living in Nelson Mandela Bay for the past six years, said that she received her first set of hearing aids at the age of two.
“I was born deaf. My mother got sick for a while when she was pregnant with me and I was born prematurely.
“Being bullied was very hard for me; just people making fun of others who can’t hear was something that I couldn’t wrap my head around.
“After a long time I learnt how to stay strong and be with people that are always understanding and more supportive toward me,” Gregory explained.
“I don’t have any worries about being deaf because it is a normal way of living, just like others. In this country, there are some of us that are deaf but we are just like the rest of you in all ways.
“The only difference is that some have the language in its beautiful spoken word and others speak from the heart by learning and communicating in sign language.”
Apart from having faced many challenges being deaf, Gregory said that there were actually some upsides to it.
“Wearing hearing aids helps protect your brain because untreated hearing loss increases the risk and the degree of distress, depression, somatisation, loneliness and becoming dependent on others.”
Gregory added that she has entered the competition once again because it is another opportunity to gain experience.
“I want to make a big difference in the deaf community that can build a bridge between the deaf and the hearing.
“I want to show how much I care about and am prepared to do to raise awareness for the deaf community. If I manage to win, it would be a win for my whole community and the whole country,” she added.
According to Gregory, people that have no hearing impediment but are willing to learn sign language to accommodate the deaf, are a huge support to them.
“To those out there that are facing the same hearing challenges as I am, I just want to say: never give up.
“Keep trying. Always build a bridge between the communities of the deaf and the hearing community, it’s worth it,” Gregory concluded.
