Averie Bishop: Filipino-American becomes first Asian-American to win Miss Texas

Filipino-American Averie Bishop has made history in the US.

She is the first Asian-American to win the title of Miss Texas in the 85-year history of the beauty pageant.

“It’s such an emotional feeling because when I was a kid, I never dreamed of becoming Miss Texas because I didn’t think that anyone looked like me as Miss Texas,” she said in an interview with NBC Dallas Fort-Worth.

Bishop, 25, is a Southern Methodist University graduate, who also studied law at the same school.

On her website, she describes herself as a “first-generation law student diversifying the digital space through education and career-based content.” She also lists herself as a marathon runner who has dined with two presidents and is a Dallas council member.

Another important detail she lists on her website is that of The Tulong Foundation, a non-profit organisation she started with her mother. Bishop is the co-founder and current director. The goal of the non-profit is to aid children in third-world countries with affordable education. It currently sponsors more than 45 children in the Philippines.

Bishop is also quite active on social media, where she has more than 65,000 followers on Instagram and 809,000 followers on TikTok. During her week-long participation in Miss Texas, she shared a number of behind-the-scenes posts. They ranged from how she readies her make-up for portions of the competition to showing off her outfits of the day.

However, some of her most popular recent TikToks have included her winning moment, in which she wrote over the video: “I am the 85th Miss Texas. I am the very first Asian-American woman to represent the Lonestar state but not the last. Representation matters.”

Another video after her winning moment has 2.2 million views, in which she writes: "Me at 2am after crowning finally seeing myself in front of the mirror for the first time. Literally in shock I didn't have anything to say. Pure panic."

Bishop will represent Texas in the coming Miss America pageant to be held in Uncasville, Connecticut later in the year. No date has been announced for the competition as yet.

In other beauty pageant news, scroll the gallery below to see the current Miss Universe 2022 beauty queens that have been crowned.

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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