06-03-2025
Kadance Fredericksen named forever Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA — title retired
BAKER, Fla. – The Miss Florida Teen USA organization has officially retired the title of Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA — permanently awarding it to Kadance Fredericksen in her memory.
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The announcement was made by Jaclyn Nesheiwat Stapp, director of Miss Florida Teen USA, in honor of Fredericksen's lasting impact on the pageant community.
'From this moment on, Kadance will always be the FOREVER Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA,' Lisa Fredericksen, Kadance's mother, shared in a statement. 'There are no words to fully express what this means to us.'
Kadance, 18, died in a car crash on Feb. 17. She had been involved in pageantry for years and used her platform to support charitable causes, including founding 'Kada's Promise,' a nonprofit that donated more than 15,000 teddy bears to children in crisis.
Her family said the title retirement is a meaningful tribute to her legacy.
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'It feels amazing. In one aspect, it's hard to believe that my daughter at 18 could have had such an impact. But at the same time, it doesn't surprise me. That's just who she was,' said her father, Matt Fredericksen.
Kadance's family said future pageant contestants will now represent their city rather than Okaloosa County.
'She was more than a titleholder. She was a light in this world, and she will always be remembered that way,' Lisa Fredericksen said.
Kadance had been accepted to Mississippi State University and Auburn University, where she planned to study veterinary medicine. She was also a National Honor Society member and recipient of the Ellison McCraney Ingram Foundation Scholarship.
Miss Florida Teen USA officials said the title retirement is a permanent decision, ensuring that Kadance's name will always be part of the pageant's history.
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'We are grateful to everyone who continues to love and remember Kadance,' her mother said. 'She may not be physically here, but her love, kindness, and passion will never fade.'
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