Credit: @kadancefred/Instagram
Kadance Fredericksen Has Died Aged 18
Kadance Fredericksen has tragically died at the age of 18.
Fredericksen was a pageant contestant who competed for the Miss Florida Teen USA Crown and held the Miss Okaloosa County Teen title.
The teenager was said to be looking forward to the future, having been accepted to nine colleges and aspiring to be a veterinarian, as per local CBS affiliate WKRG.
Heartbreakingly, just days before her passing, Fredericksen interviewed for the presidential scholarship – a full-ride scholarship at Mississippi State University – and was awarded it.
After hearing the devastating news of Fredericksen’s passing, people have taken to her Instagram profile and paid tribute.
One follower writes: “Rest in peace sweet girl. My heart is broken.”
A second says: “Forever in my heart. Will never forget you!”
“Heartbreaking that we have all lost this beautiful, amazing girl who helped so many people, especially the children,” pens a third. “Rest easy beautiful girl.”
Somebody else comments: “My heart and prayers go out to the whole family. Rest in peace gorgeous.”
“The most humble and sweetest angel,” posts another.
Fredericksen, who experienced abuse in her early childhood, was formally adopted by her stepmom, Lisa Fredericksen, in 2017.
According to Lisa, the teenager decided to enter the world of pageantry ‘after years of therapy.’
The stepmom recounted to People magazine: “She came home one day and she said, ‘Mama, can I do a beauty pageant?’ And I said, ‘Well, yeah, but if you do a beauty pageant, you have to talk in front of people, because she still didn’t talk a whole lot.
“And she did it. She bought the ugliest dress she could find because she just wanted to be like a princess. She didn’t win a thing.”
Her stepmom added: “But she was hooked.”
Fredericksen also volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House, completing thousands of hours and hosting an annual lemonade stand. She reportedly raised over $25,000.
The teenager eventually founded her own organization, Kada’s Promise, which donates teddy bears and blankets to children in foster care, homeless and abuse shelters, and hospitals, as per the charity’s website.
WKRG reported that Fredericksen died in a car crash on February 17. Her vehicle is said to have crashed into a tractor-trailer in Santa Rosa County at around 1:30 p.m.
People magazine obtained a Florida Highway Patrol news release which confirmed that an 18-year-old, whom they didn’t identify by name, died in a crash at State Road 4 and Hurricane Lake Road.
According to authorities, Fredericksen’s vehicle was driving and ‘crossed the center lane and entered the eastbound lane’ for ‘unknown reasons’ when it struck the tractor-trailer.
The other driver was reportedly a 56-year-old male from Milton, who suffered minor injuries.
In a statement, authorities said: “We are still in the early stages of the investigation and ask that we all take a moment for this family as well as others who have lost a loved one to a traffic crash.”
Following news of Fredericksen’s passing, Miss Florida and Teen Florida USA Family remembered her in a touching statement.
It reads: “Our pageant community has lost a beautiful soul – one who was a true light in this world. She was ambitious, driven, kind, and a leader among her pageant sisters.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and all who are mourning this devastating loss. May we honor her memory by carrying forward the light she so effortlessly shared with the world and our Florida pageant community.”
Fredericksen’s family is now hoping to continue the teen’s legacy through her charity, encouraging people to bring teddy bears for the February 22 funeral and donate on the charity’s website.
A GoFundMe page has also been launched.
“We want the whole world to know who Kadance is,” Fredericksen’s stepmom said. “We want to continue touching as many lives as we can, even though she’s not here.”
You can get involved with Kada’s Promise here.
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