Tik Tok: you either love it or hate it, unless you’re one of the few who still don’t know what the platform is all about. In an effort to demystify the viral platform, we spoke with the 13 biggest up-and-coming creators to share more about how they came to be on the app, what it’s like to create from behind the scenes and more.

Averie Bishop, @averiebishop

Averie Bishop wears several hats. Law student, Tik Tok creator and the head of an international non-profit are just a few. Oh, and one crown, for her role as Miss Dallas 2020. Being just one of those things is a lot to handle, let alone juggling them all at once. Find out how Bishop does it all!

Twenty2: Looks like you went to Texas State University and Southern Methodist University for undergrad, before pursuing law school. In that time, you've also become Miss Dallas and held several fellowships, internships and pursued entrepreneurial ventures. Can you tell us a little bit more about your background? How do all of these experiences come together?

I initially was an acting major at Texas State University. For the longest time, at the age of 18, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do in my life. But when I began my journey at Texas State, I quickly realized that I knew nothing at all. The Asian American community tends to pressure the younger generation into figuring out exactly what our life will look like at a very young age. So, because acting and singing and dancing were the only things that I knew at the time I was applying for college, I felt that I had to quickly make a decision.

It was not until my spring semester of Freshman year that I decided to leave my acting program and pursue other passions. I entered sophomore year thinking of pursuing law. It was not until the 2016 presidential election, however, when I fully committed to the idea. I left Texas State and transferred to SMU where they had a brilliant human rights undergraduate program. From there, the rest is essentially a blur. SMU provided so many opportunities for me to grow and learn as a human. I travelled to Poland and walked through Nazi gas chambers, I received multiple fellowships and grants for my international nonprofit, and even dined with President George Bush. SMU has the reputation of being predominantly white and filled with extremely wealthy students. While that may be the case, there is a deeper level of intuition and intelligence on the campus that took some time for me to find. I worked alongside the Human Rights program to further diversity initiatives and to promote racial equity.

All of my experiences as a woman of color and first-generation college student drives me to do what I do everyday. My motivation for competing at Miss Dallas was no different. First, I needed money for law school. Who doesn't need more money? Second, I heard that there has never been an Asian American woman crowned as Miss Dallas. Third, I didn't want to wait around for someone who looked like me to represent my community at the local level, the state level, or the national level. I thought to myself, "If not me, then who?" So, I went for it. It was great practice, especially since I intend to run for public office one day. I won $20,000 in scholarships the first year I competed in pageants.

Twenty2: Your Tik Toks are just as fun as they are informative. What made you join Tik Tok?

The short answer was that I was bored (lol). But, also because I knew that there was a need in the market for pre-law mentors, especially for women of color. 85% of lawyers are white, and only 5% are black and 3% are Asian, according to ABA’s 2019 report. These statistics are embarrassing. Nevertheless, I hope to mitigate the lack of diversity by teaching and motivating the younger generation through relatable content.

Twenty2: As your reach continues to grow, how do you keep content innovative & fun? What keeps you going?

I get a lot of my content inspiration from watching others on Tik Tok. I also keep up with trending Netflix shows. If it weren't for Tik Tok, I wouldn't have forced myself to watch Tiger King. I will admit that I get lost in some of the Gen-Z jargon on the platform, so I often find myself learning new words on Urban Dictionary and implementing them into my videos. My recent Gen-Z phrase I learned that I enjoy is "no cap."

Twenty2: Speaking of keeping going, you seem so busy! How do you manage law school, Tik Tok and all of your other obligations?

Google calendar is the greatest invention since sliced bread. I color code everything and have a separate calendar based on my specific events. I sync everything to my phone and laptop. Additionally, I schedule content creation days two times a week, so that I'm not making Tik Tok videos or YouTube videos everyday (who has time for that). I found that it works perfectly with any busy law school schedule. I create Tik Toks and YouTube videos every Sunday and Wednesday, and publish them throughout the week. This opens up my weekdays and ensures that I create enough content for two weeks in advance.

Twenty2: I love how diverse your background is. What advice would you give to other creators who also want to pursue a more corporate career? You don't see many law students/attorneys on Tik Tok or competing (& winning) in the Miss America Organization.

Just go for it! There was a voice in the back of my head when I decided to compete for Miss Dallas that said, "This is silly, adults don't do this. This is for people who watched Toddlers and Tiaras." And, I won't lie, it did feel silly and uncomfortable at first when I decided to compete in pageants, while also studying for law school. But, there is so much thrill in doing something that makes you uncomfortable. I felt out of place the moment I won the title of Miss Dallas. But when I went home that night, I asked myself, "Why do you feel uncomfortable and out of place as Miss Dallas?" It's because I was floating in unchartered territory. There are not a lot of women who look like me or study what I study who compete in conventional pageants. But It's important that there is an equal reflection of diversity in whatever activity or career that we pursue as women. And my mission is to change that by playing the game within the system. I, alongside other women of color, are forging our ways through the pageant industry more than ever before. We are creating paths so that the women who come after us won't feel the uncomfortable feeling that we experienced during our journeys.

Twenty2: What's the hardest obstacle you've had to overcome since joining Tik tok?

Not cussing! I'll be honest, I swear like a sailor in my personal life. But now that I've gathered such an immense following, composed of younger girls, I try my best to filter the songs that I choose to dance to. I am a firm believer that what I say out of my mouth or what I wear does not define my capacity to succeed. I do agree, though, that when I signed up to be Miss Dallas, I signed up for a job representing a community much larger than me. I have since made sure that the content I create is a reflection of the community I represent. I have also been asked to post videos of my workout routines, how I stay fit, and what I eat in a day. I refrain from doing so because my followers are impressionable and also because there really is no reason for me to post content like that. Who cares what I eat? Who cares how I workout? I always reply to those comments with, "move your body like you love it, and fill it with things that make you love your body even more." There's a huge health wannabe fitness side of Tik Tok that shows extremely harmful videos to young girls. I refuse to be a part of that.

Twenty2: Lastly, what's the best advice you've ever gotten?

The best advice that I have ever received is to say "no" more often. I have an extremely busy schedule. I am forced to prioritize certain responsibilities, friends, and family. But when I was younger, I was a people pleaser. I was nervous to say no, and I always said yes when people asked me for favors or asked me to attend an event. I would say yes to the point where I would run myself ragged and not sleep. Now, I prioritize my mental and physical health before anything else. I practice saying "no" more often because it gives me more control over my life and the things that I am passionate about.

This series is presented by NTK, AllayBox, Bean2Bean Coffee Co., The Lion’s Den Candle Company and Shop Twenty2.

Law Student, Miss Dallas 2020 & Tik Tok Creator Are Just a Few Crowns Averie Bishop Wears