‘She was humble’: Florida pageant queen’s coach remembers teen after tragic death

Kadance Fredericksen, the 2024 Teen Miss Okaloosa County, will be known as a beacon of hope and light for others especially to her pageant coach.

Michelle Watts coached Fredericksen since she was 15 years old. Fredericksen’s mother would drive her from Baker, Florida, to West Mobile, Alabama, for practice with Watts.
Florida pageant queen dies in car crash
The two met when Fredericksen was preparing for Miss Florida Teen USA.

“She was the light in every room that she was in,” Watts said. “But yet she was meek and humble at the same time.”

She said that Fredericksen made an impact on her life, making her the Coaching Student of the Year for 2024.

“I have several people that come through my door, and normally they’re here for me to go ahead and coach them and me to be their mentor,” Watts said.

“However, some people that do come through my door; they’re coaching me and mentoring me,” Watts said that Fredericksen was one of those people.

Leaving behind a legacy for not just pageantry but also for children in need all across the world.

“Even though she passed away at 18 years old, literally, her life story and her life start song still sings,” she said. “She is going to have such a legacy behind her.”

Kadance created Kada’s Promise when she was 13 years old. That has now helped children all over the United States and three other countries.

Kada’s Promise is an organization that collects teddy bears and blankets to children enduring abuse and trauma like she did when she was younger.

Watts said the teen’s childhood, her loving family and stepmom, was a big reason why Kadance was so strong.

“One of my favorite things that I got to witness about Kadence and her mom, Lisa, was that her mom was able to display the love of Christ to her in every aspect,” Watts said.

“She was there to love her, support her and whatever she did, and she truly did love unconditionally,” she continued.