Asia Rose Simpson, 15, is a sophomore homeschool student who has maintained straight A’s since elementary school. Asia was born in Hobbs, New Mexico, and is a dual citizen of the United States and the Philippines. She entered her first pageant at the age of 14, where she won first runner up, as well as Active Wear. Asia is half-Filipino and credits her love of pageants to her Filipino culture. When she was 8 years old, she was able to attend the 65th Miss Universe in Manila with her family, and she even met Paula Shugart and took a picture with her! It was there she saw the impact that the platform of pageantry could make. “I looked at the stage, and I was so inspired by these strong, beautiful women, and I knew that I wanted to join pageantry so that I could make a difference as well.”
Asia loves everything creative! She loves to dance, sing, do gymnastics, crochet, draw and paint, make clothes and amigurumi and bake. She joined the Fine Arts program in over 20 different categories, and has won 7 Merit Awards, the highest honor, at the district competition in Albuquerque. Her creativity can also be seen in her 5 children’s books which she co-wrote and illustrated! Her first book, Animal Sounds of Praise, which she wrote with her sister Jenesis, won 2nd place at the National Fine Arts competition in Florida. Asia has also been on national television, dancing with her brother and sisters in the Philippines, on shows such as ABS-CBNS’s Kid’s Choice, Your Moment, as well as Pilipinas Got Talent, S5 which was seen by millions on national television and has almost 1 million views on YouTube. Merging her creativity and entrepreneurship, she started her online business “Sweet Treats,” which has raised almost $1,000 for missions!
Asia loves to travel, and has visited places such as the Philippines and Hong Kong. She actually took her first international flight when she was 6 months old! During her time as Miss NM Teen USA, she will be sharing her travels throughout her beautiful state of New Mexico via social media.
Being raised as a missionary kid and spending her childhood in both New Mexico and the Philippines has given Asia the ability to lead others with authenticity, empathy and integrity. Asia has a huge heart for loving and serving others, and she is actively involved in her church and her community through various outreaches like teaching free dance workshops, leading groups for elementary school play days, outreaches to the elderly, as well as coordinating and leading monthly children’s church services. During the pandemic, Asia led an online fundraiser/competition called “Light Shine Bright,” to raise money for 150 families and typhoon victims. Asia says, “My faith is most important to me, and it is the center of my life. I have learned at an early age that serving God and serving people is the foundation of who I am.”
Her SCubed Program – Serve, Share, Shine - strives to teach kids and youth the importance of community service through acts of service, sharing with others and letting their light shine by using their talents and abilities. Her message is “Serving and loving others doesn’t have an age limit,” and her favorite Bible verse is 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
