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By Sue Mayfield-Geiger
Do all little girls grow up dreaming of being Miss America? Not always. Sometimes, it just pops into their heads after they're grown and married. Especially, if the title involves "Mrs." Instead of "Miss" and puts more emphasis on cause rather than beauty.
Sheree Frede was looking for something to get involved with that would enable her to project a stronger voice for prostate cancer. In today's world, it's hard to have a strong voice that supports any platform unless you are the president of a nation, CEO of a corporation, or have a title of some sort that draws national, and even better, international, attention.
Community-minded and devoted to several organizations and charities, Sheree was used to emceeing and acting as fund-raiser over the years, but local attention really wasn't getting the job done. With prostate cancer awareness and research far from the level it needs to be, Sheree started doing her homework. How could she focus more attention on the disease that had not only stricken her husband, but one that would continue to claim the lives of countless men in the years to come? More importantly, how could she do it on a large, grandiose scale?
It is no secret that women typically get the job done. Breast cancer is proof of that. With women battling for recognition and then achieving global awareness of the disease wiping out their sisterhood for the last several decades, Sheree decided this was a job meant for a woman.
Since Norman and Sheree Frede own property and maintain homes in the states of Texas and Colorado, they are considered residents of both states. After a little prompting and some research of her own, Sheree realized that she qualified to apply as a contestant in the Mrs. Colorado International contest. With her modeling and pageant consulting background, she was very aware of the pros and cons of beauty pageants. The Mrs. America contest didn't appeal to her because it was more of a beauty contest, but the Mrs. International contest did appeal to her because it was more about family values and community service. Their mission statement seemed solid. It reads:
"The Mrs. International system has been developed to promote today's married women, their accomplishments, and commitment to family and marriage. Around the world women are finding this system to be the opportunity to work with their husband and family to become positive role models. Beginning 17 years ago, Mrs. International was developed to have higher standards than other pageant systems. The focus is to showcase women 21 to 56 years old, married at least six months and a resident of her state or a citizen of her country. Each contestant is given the opportunity to select a platform of her choice that she spends the year promoting. Husbands are a part of the show escorting their wives in Evening Gown competition, and the husband crowns his wife titleholder."
Since Sheree's schedule caused her to miss the Mrs. Texas International deadline, she looked into the possibility of competing for Mrs. Colorado International. It was open. She filled out her paper work and submitted her photos. After profiling all of the applications, the committee chose three or four candidates to be interviewed via telephone. Sheree was one of them. The phone interview went well, but several days went by, and Sheree just assumed she was out of the running. Then one evening, she received another call. "Mrs. Frede, will you accept our invitation to represent Colorado in the Mrs. International contest?"
At which point, Sheree said, "Would you excuse me for a moment?" She then put her hand over the telephone receiver and screamed, "NORMAN!!!! You won't believe this!" The lady on the other end asked, "Do you need some time?" Sheree responded, "No, I don't need time. I accept!"
And so it began.
Mrs. International accepts contestants from ages 21 to 56. At age 48, Sheree is old enough to be some of the contestant's mother. But, that's okay with her. "We're from all walks of life," she says, "and we are all there representing our purpose." Here's a breakdown of the scoring: 50% of the score goes toward interview, which is based mostly on your platform of choice; 25% is evening gowns (poise, personal style); and, 25% physical fitness (no swimsuit competition; just aerobic wear). Sheree has been working out with a trainer, and with only two months left until show time, she is seeing good results.
The contest will be held September 5 and 6 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee at the Louise Mandrell Theatre with Bob Eubanks acting as Master of Ceremonies. About 60 state and international contestants will be competing. The first night will entail the interview, evening gown and aerobic wear competition. Each contestant gets a five-minute interview with each of the seven judges.
The judges will have already reviewed each contestant's platform, so they will be well-versed on what to ask. The next night will be the finals when the top ten contestants are named, and those ten will compete again.
"The whole key is to pull your platform together to where the judges see you being able to move it to an international level," says Sheree. "They are primarily interested in the total package you represent – platform, marriage, healthy lifestyle, communication skills, personal style, family and community."
Sheree's hard work in the arena of prostate cancer awareness and research has recently been recognized by a non-profit organization called "Us Too International," who just named her their official international spokesperson. She is also an ambassador for the American Cancer Society and CaP CURE, which raises private funding for research centers, and she regularly meets with research physicians at M.D. Anderson. With September being Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the timing is perfect for her platform.
And if she wins?
"Well, it will be a whirlwind year," Sheree admits. "But it will give me the voice I could never have otherwise. I can really bring prostate cancer awareness to a new level."
The oldest of three sisters and raised in the small town of Maryville, Tennessee, Sheree has always been outgoing. Her mother was a bit overprotective, but her father gave her a little more rope. After college, Sheree went to work as a flight attendant for American Airlines, but after seeing the hefty paycheck earned by her roommate (a woman pilot with American), Sheree's wheels began to turn. She took a few flying lessons, but marriage put a temporary lull into that career. But, by age 31, she buckled down, got focused, and got all her ratings in a year and a half.
Sheree took leave from American and starting flying for Aviex Jet at Hobby Airport where she flew for a multitude of corporate entities in North, Central and South America, including Mexico. "I wore a pager all the time; had six days off a month. On my six days off, I continued working as a flight attendant and flew two 3-day trips with American," she relays.
In 1989, while going though a divorce and flying for Aviex, Sheree met Norman Frede. Norman boarded the plane and immediately said, "So, when did they start putting stewardesses on these little airplanes?" Sheree thought, boy, I've got a livewire today. She said, "Well Mr. Frede, we do just about everything here." She got him a Coke, a newspaper and went into the cockpit. He saw her take a seat and said, "What's going on up there, is this some kind of joke?" Sheree turned around and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Frede, I assure you, you're in good hands." And off they went. To add fuel to the fire, it just so happened that her co-pilot that day was a man.
They wouldn't see each other again until 1991, when a mutual friend got them together.
On their first date, the sparks flew; they started dating and married in September of 1993. With Norman's two daughters, Marijane and Suzanne, from a previous marriage, and now six grandchildren – the family is complete. "Norman's daughters are like sisters to me," Sheree reflects. "I really don't play the role of mother in their lives because they have their own mother, but we are really good friends and have a lot of fun together."
An early riser who takes vitamins daily, Sheree says her 10 years of modeling (which coincided with flying) taught her a lot of discipline. She also does image consulting and judging for Miss Bay Area USA, Miss Texas USA, and other pageants.
Currently, Sheree is a member of eight or ten organizations where she helps out with live auctions and benefits. She is a board member of the Clear Lake Metropolitan Ballet & Repertory Theatre where she co-chaired the Fire and Ice Ball, is on the board of Bay Area Turning Point, and is active with various chapters of the American Cancer Society. She and Norman are very involved with their church – University Baptist in Clear Lake – where Sheree adores working with the youth and singing in the choir.
Presently adding onto their ranch house in Colorado, Sheree says it is a huge construction project, but she enjoys being involved in it. "We are in the mountains and it is paradise. I feel close to God there, the times are quiet, and we love to hike and snow ski and take care of the wildlife," she says. She is still piloting an airplane, especially in and around Colorado.
Sheree stays focused by prayer, and she never forgets where her priorities lie. "One can never get too busy for their family," she states. She feels fortunate to have Norman in her life, but relates that God is number one, with Norman running a very close second. "Prayer and meditation and remembering what my purpose is keeps me going," she says, but that she constantly reminds herself to slow down, take care of her priorities and all else will fall into place.
Have all her dreams come true? "No," she says. "I will never complete doing everything I really want to do. There is no finish line. I would like to do something with television or even the Repertory Theatre here in Clear Lake." Does she sing? "Well, I'm an okay singer. I have two songs that I know from beginning to end, so I have to learn some new ones." She's thinking about taking tap lessons and might even audition for the production of "42nd Street" next year.
Words that she lives by: "Don't ever, ever, ever give up."
If she had not taken the direction that she did and had never left Tennessee, she would probably be a schoolteacher. But that was never in her soul. She was ready to spread her wings and fly – literally. "I have that adventure of spirit, and I think that's what brought Norman and I together, because he has it too. If I'd been born a few years later, I would have probably been an astronaut, because I love the thrill and challenge of life," Sheree enthuses.
Who keeps her grounded? Dexter, her feisty Jack Russell terrier.
Her definition of the meaning of beauty: "Beauty starts within. It's a warm heart that portrays passion, understanding and caring that comes out through your expressions and actions. The physical part happens by just taking care of the God-body that you have been given. But, it is the whole inside coming out that truly makes someone beautiful. If someone does not have a compassionate soul that comes out through their actions and their words, there is not much depth or beauty there."
Her message to other women: "You can do anything. Don't listen to the negative little bird that tries to pull you down. You have to rise above it. Anything within reason is attainable. You need a game plan, lay out a road map, and mainly, take baby steps. Set your plan and go for it, but don't hurt anyone along the way. You can't look at how far you've got to go, but take it one day at a time and focus on how you're going to get there. When I started flying, the tunnel seemed so long, but I just kept thinking what I had accomplished in that one day, and the light kept getting closer and closer. I try to live by example. The girls I work with look at me, teenagers look at me, my grandchildren look at me. If I can be a role model in a positive way, I feel good about that. What I do is not for everyone. Others do great things in other ways. This is my life, and this is what works for me and fulfills me. Women are just now being given the opportunity to show how valuable they are."
Our very best wishes are extended to Sheree Frede as she competes for the title of Mrs. International in September. But, no matter what the outcome, she is definitely a winner.
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