How Julia Fraser, Mrs. Texas American, is Bringing Sepsis Awareness to Center Stage
By Monica Wallis
In the pageantry world, makeup, crowns, and sashes are common staples, but behind the curtain is typically a different story - one of resilience, courage, and hope. Meet 23-year-old Julia Fraser, Mrs. Texas American, and sepsis survivor.
At just 18 years old, Fraser’s life took a dramatic turn when she developed sepsis from an undiagnosed urinary tract infection (UTI), leading to septic shock and a near-death experience. “I had a seizure,” Fraser explained. “My dog woke up my brother because I woke up dazed and confused. I tried to call out for my mom, and she wasn’t answering, and then I just couldn’t hold my phone at that point. So, my brother came, saw what was happening, ran in my mom’s room, called an ambulance, and then I was transported to Plano Presbyterian ICU. I was there for about a week.”
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition when the body’s immune system reacts poorly to an infection. It can come about quickly and unexpectedly, leading to septic shock, organ failure, and even death. The critical health scare left Fraser with long-term effects on her nervous, immune, and cardiovascular systems. Fraser’s recovery has been a long and arduous process, marked by countless doctor visits and a slew of diagnoses like Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a fainting disorder, and more.
The Path to Pageantry
Despite facing life-altering challenges at such a young age, Fraser’s resilience shone through as she embarked on a new chapter: pageantry. She was having her lashes done by a neighbor who, interestingly enough, was a judge for the Texas International Pageant. Knowing she had a unique platform and something special to share, he suggested she give it a try. Initially skeptical due to her inexperience and having described herself as “riddled in tattoos,” Fraser eventually decided to compete. “At first, I was like, ‘No way. I definitely am not a pageant girl,’—I can eat a Chipotle burrito in record time!” she admitted.
But just as she overcame years of post-sepsis effects, she believed she could overcome this new feat, too. “I was like, ‘You know what? I have the opportunity to try it. Why not? I’ve gotten this far. I woke up that morning; I was able to wake up and do that day.’ I thought I should just be grateful that I can even do those things.”
So, off she went. Her first pageant experience was both rewarding and challenging. She placed second runner-up in the Texas International Pageant, a shock to not only herself but her fellow contestants. Thinking that was the end of her short-lived pageant career, she remembers crying for days until one unexpected message arrived. It was Mrs. America 2023 Regina Stock. The fellow Texan (Stock lives in Midland) encouraged Fraser to compete for Mrs. Texas American and share her powerful story of overcoming sepsis and her advocacy for proper healthcare. With the added support of Fraser’s husband, Cole (a professional hockey player), and the Frisco community, she decided to compete in the Mrs. Texas American Pageant in May 2024.
Clinching the Title
After Fraser’s prior pageant, she’d been told she didn’t win because she was too young for the Mrs. division. Since she was married, she couldn’t compete as a Miss unless she participated in the Universe or USA pageants. The feedback she received was disheartening, and she was advised to keep trying as she got older, perhaps after having a couple of kids. Fraser felt defeated, as she didn’t believe that having children was a prerequisite for establishing herself as a Mrs. or demonstrating dedication to herself and her family. Nevertheless, she once again decided to go for it, thinking, “I’m just going to do it. I’m going to do it because Mrs. America was 27 when she competed.”
And she certainly did it, winning the competition with not only beauty and grace but strength and courage. Initially caught off guard (“I wasn’t ready to win,” she revealed), the announcement sent chills down her spine. When they called “American,” she only heard “Fraser” and not “Julia.” Disbelief completely overwhelmed her in the best way possible, shedding happy tears this time around.
Fraser’s first meal as Mrs. Texas American? A celebratory bite of Whataburger, like any good Texan would do. “This is just the beginning—Nationals is August of this year, so we’re going to Las Vegas, and we’ll compete for Mrs. America and Mrs. American. But it’s been an absolute ride.”
Advocacy Work
Fraser isn’t content with just wearing a tiara and a sash. Instead, she’s harnessed her new platform to bring awareness to the Frisco and greater DFW communities about sepsis. As Mrs. Texas American, Fraser’s role involves representing Texas at national events, participating in community service projects, and using her platform to raise awareness about sepsis. She’s partnered with the Sepsis Alliance, an organization dedicated to educating the public while supporting survivors and their loved ones.
Infections can easily lead to sepsis, with UTIs being a major concern, representing 2.8 million to 9.8 million cases in the U.S. and Europe, and resulting in 1.6 million deaths (European Association of Urology). In the U.S. alone, sepsis kills more than 270,000 adults annually (Sepsis Alliance). Countless women Fraser has met with have experienced severe complications from UTIs, including kidney failure and multisystem organ failure – something she herself narrowly escaped.
Her goal is to bring attention to these issues and advocate for better preventive measures, like misleading information provided by certain medications. She shared her personal experience with a UTI medication that did not disclose the potential risks of kidney failure, multisystem organ failure, sepsis, and death. She discovered that instead of making the UTI go away, the medication was actually suppressing her symptoms. Julia is working alongside the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to have this medication removed from the market due to its misleading claims and lack of FDA approval. “It’s misleading to a lot of women in America, and I believe that women are the foundation of America. So, if we’re not protecting them on the front lines at all, then what are we doing?” Fraser said.
Sepsis is a leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), yet it remains widely unknown. “I felt like a survivor who was constantly answering the question, ‘What is sepsis?’ I was constantly having to explain myself,” she said. Furthermore, sepsis leads to more deaths in the U.S. annually than opioid overdoses, prostate cancer, and breast cancer combined—so, why is there such a lack of awareness and advocacy? “I just don’t think that the people who are suffering from it are allowed to tell their story or around to tell their story,” Fraser shared. “I think that those it’s happening to are arriving in a far worse condition than I was. I’m able to tell my story because I didn’t get amputations or certain organs removed, and I didn’t go into a direct coma.”
Fraser’s Future is Bright
In March 2024, Fraser collaborated with Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson to secure the first-ever proclamation in Dallas County for Sepsis Awareness Month, observed every September. Her ultimate goal is to have this proclamation recognized at both the state and national levels. Remarkably, the first step has already been achieved: Texas Governor Greg Abbott has officially declared Sepsis Awareness Month for the entire state. Fraser aspires to be in Washington advocating for national recognition of Sepsis Awareness Month by this time next year.
Fraser reflected on the five-year anniversary of her initial hospital visit, which was June 19. “I like to call this experience my gigantic puzzle. Every little piece had a purpose, and it was frustrating not knowing where this piece went. But it has a place; I promise you it will always find a place. I never thought that I would be in pageantry, but it just dawned on me: the platform for women is pageantry! It’s a women-led industry. So, of course, I’m going to go directly to the source and explain how I got from point A to point B, and it was never about the sash and the crown. It was 100% about telling my story and trying to reach other women in any way, shape, or form that I could.”
Undoubtedly, holding titles like Mrs. Texas American and Mrs. Frisco International is a prestigious honor, but Fraser is most proud of her current title: the woman she is today. “I think that if I could go back and hug 6-year-old me, or 13-year-old me or 18-year-old me, I would just give her the biggest hug and tell her, ‘You are going to be so proud of us, you just wait,’” she concluded.
Fraser plans to compete at Nationals in Las Vegas this August. Follow along and support this accomplished Frisco resident on Instagram @mrsjfras.
Monica Wallis is an award-winning writer, witty headline fan, and founder of Copy That, full-service copywriting for brands in destination, food, beverage and beyond. A Frisco resident since 2018, she loves popping into all the coffee shops and restaurants Sports City USA has to offer—not to mention chasing its incredible sunsets, too. Follow along with Monica on Instagram @copythat_creative!
