Angelica-Jasmine Bates

Angelica Jasmine Bates is an educator, philanthropist, and pageant titleholder whose life story is a testament to perseverance, service, and advocacy. From her humble beginnings to her current role as Ms. Texas 2025 for the Royal American Miss pageant, Angelica has continually used her platform to champion inclusivity and empower others. 

Born in 1996 in Fort Worth, Texas, Angelica Jasmine Bates came into the world weighing just 2 lbs. 7 ounces. Despite concerns over her premature birth, her determination to thrive was evident from the start.

Angelica’s early years saw her winning titles in baby beauty pageants before she could even walk, earning recognition within small pageant circles. However, as she grew older, she distanced herself from the pageant world, instead dedicating herself to her community. Her involvement with the Girl Scouts of America helped ignite a passion for helping others.

In her early teens, Angelica’s family faced significant hardships, including homelessness and hunger. During these challenging times, she leaned on her faith, community, and education, finding solace in her studies and extracurricular activities. It was during this period that she discovered a passion for American Sign Language (ASL), feeling a sense of purpose in helping others communicate and fostering inclusivity.

Mentored by Elizabeth Ellis, Angelica immersed herself in the D/deaf community, working to promote messages of resilience, communication access, and unity. Inspired to give back, she returned to pageantry, winning the title of Miss Texas Teen 2014 for the Princess America organization. During her reign, she completed over 2,000 hours of community service, advocating for her platform, "All Senses Are Beautiful."

Angelica graduated from Plano West Senior High School in 2014 with honors, earning recognition in ASL Honor Society and PALS. She pursued an ASL Interpreter Program at Collin County Community College, focusing on law, and aspired to become a lawyer for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing to address the scarcity of court-certified interpreters.

In 2021, she graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in communications and business entrepreneurship, where she developed skills to support her philanthropic vision. During her pageant career, Angelica held numerous titles, including Miss Denton County, Miss Spring Texas, and Miss Energy Capital. Her pageantry journey saw her dedicate over 40,000 hours to community service, raising funds for organizations like Children’s Miracle Network and Special Olympics.

By 2021, Angelica established her non-profit, SignUp! Texas, focusing on character development, communication, and creativity through after-school programs and community outreach. Additionally, she launched HerEnergySpeaks, a national brand amplifying her philanthropic initiatives.

As Miss DFW for the Miss for America Strong organization, Angelica completed over 400 community events and raised scholarships to support her non-profit work. Her dedication to service continues to inspire and impact countless lives.

Today, Angelica teaches ASL at the very school where she first discovered her passion for the language. Her role as an educator allows her to mentor and inspire the next generation, fostering communication and inclusivity.

As Ms. Texas 2025 for the Royal American Miss pageant, Angelica Jasmine Bates hopes to leave a lasting legacy of resilience, service, and empowerment. Through her tireless advocacy and dedication, she continues to show that beauty shines brightest through adversity and action.