Miss Florida Teen USA Contestant Passed Away in Crash Just Minutes from Home

Kadance Fredericksen, an 18-year-old pageant contestant with a bright future ahead, tragically lost her life in a car crash in Florida earlier this week.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Kadance was driving in Santa Rosa County on February 17 when, for unknown reasons, her car veered into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a tractor-trailer. She was pronounced dead at the scene, just three minutes from home.

Her mother, Lisa Fredericksen, expressed her heartbreak over the sudden loss. “She had the whole world right there in her hands, and she was ready to take it on,” Lisa said.

Kadance’s journey was one of resilience and determination. After a difficult early childhood, she was adopted by Lisa in 2017 and eventually found her passion in pageantry.

Despite her initial nerves about speaking in public, she embraced the challenge and became deeply involved in the pageant world. She held the title of Miss Okaloosa County Teen and competed for Miss Florida Teen USA.

Beyond pageantry, Kadance was dedicated to giving back. She volunteered thousands of hours with the Ronald McDonald House and raised over $25,000 for charity.

She also founded Kada’s Promise, an organization that donates teddy bears and blankets to children in need.

Lisa described her daughter as “generous” and “the most kindhearted person” who wanted to spread happiness wherever she went. Kadance had big dreams—she was accepted to nine colleges and had just been awarded a full-ride scholarship to Mississippi State University to pursue her goal of becoming a veterinarian.

The family is now focused on preserving her legacy. They are encouraging donations to Kada’s Promise and asking attendees of her funeral on February 22 to bring teddy bears in her honor.

The Miss Florida and Teen Florida USA community mourned her loss, calling her “a true light in this world.” Lisa hopes that through her daughter’s legacy, “the whole world will know who Kadance is.”