Messages on iPad freezing

I have iPad mini 6th gen, running latest os. In the last week been having trouble with messages app freezing. I have restarted iPad several times as well as turning off messages and turning back on. App will come up looking fine the first time I open, but next time it is frozen. Pics of people texting won’t be there, only name, but can’t open any of the messages. When I try to open texts the app shuts down. Any suggestions??