Sometimes, stars align and the improbable becomes real; fate overcomes odds, and special, unforgettable moments are born. That was the case for a young woman standing on an Atlantic City stage in September 1994, when an unlikely dream to become the next “Miss America” was realized. When announced the winner of the prestigious pageant by celebrity-host Regis Philbin, Heather Whitestone, a junior in college and reigning Miss Alabama, became the country’s first deaf Miss America in the 70-year history of the competition.