大象传媒

If you watch most beauty pageants - as people still do around the world even if they've grown out of favour in some tv markets - you'll find the contestants tend not to say anything controversial.

That's not the case for Averie Bishop, the first Asian-American to be crowned Ms Texas.

Though her reign has now ended - she passed the baton on to the daughter of an African-American policeman - she'll be remembered for her political views which are at variance with the overwhelmingly conservative views of many of those who hold power in Texas.

Newsday asked her what she hopes she's achieved.

"I certainly have been challenged. What gets me up out of bed everyday is... I'm planting the seeds [of change] for the future."

"I certainly have on my 'to do list' to run for office within the next five years... I think we just need a lot of younger generations to run and simply take up space."

(Pic: Averie Bishop; Credit: Paul Brent Weber)