By Alexandra Fraser
When people see a pageant sash, they might think of beautiful dresses, glamorous events and the excitement of competing for a crown.
But for me, this journey has a much deeper meaning.
I’m Sasha Fraser, a Richmond mum of two, an award-winning massage therapist and a full-time carer for my husband, Corrie, who lives with Pompe disease, a rare genetic condition.
And now, I’m also Ultimate International Mrs South East.
It’s a title I’m incredibly proud of, but what matters most to me is what I can do with it.
Life behind the sash
My life is a little different from what people might imagine when they think of a pageant contestant.
Alongside being a mum to two wonderful children, I care for my husband, whose condition means he depends on significant daily support, including a breathing ventilator.
Caring for someone you love is something that changes your life in ways you cannot fully understand until you experience it yourself.
There are appointments, responsibilities, difficult days and moments when you have to find strength you didn’t know you had.
But there is also love, laughter, family life and the determination to keep going.
I know how easy it can be for carers to become invisible. You spend so much time looking after someone else that your own dreams and ambitions can quietly move to the bottom of the list.
For me, entering pageants has been a way to reconnect with a part of myself that exists beyond my caring responsibilities.
I’m still a woman with passions, goals and dreams of my own.
And I believe that’s something many carers will understand.
Why rare disease awareness matters to me
My husband’s diagnosis of Pompe disease has given me a very personal connection to the rare disease community.
Rare diseases are often misunderstood, and many families face challenges that people around them may never see.
Behind every diagnosis is a person, a family and a story that deserves to be heard.
That is why I created Dear Rare Ones, an advocacy platform dedicated to giving a voice to people living with rare diseases and the unpaid carers who walk beside them.
I want to create a space where people feel comfortable sharing their experiences, where families can feel less alone and where the realities of rare diseases are brought into the open.
My message is simple: rare diseases may be rare, but the people affected by them should never feel invisible.
A new chapter with a bigger purpose
Taking the title of Ultimate International Miss South East has opened an exciting new chapter for me.
In November, I will compete at the national competition, with the opportunity to win a trip to America to represent the UK at the UIM international finals.
Of course, the thought of competing nationally is exciting. There is the preparation, the outfits, the rehearsals and the anticipation of standing on stage.
But I’m also thinking about the people I want to represent.
The families navigating rare diagnoses. The carers who quietly keep everything going. The people who may feel that their own dreams have to wait because someone they love needs them.
I want them to know that their stories matter, too.
Whether I return from the competition with a crown or simply wonderful memories, I hope to use every opportunity to raise awareness and make a meaningful difference.
More than a competition
I’ve learned that strength doesn’t always look like what we expect.
Sometimes it looks like getting through a difficult day. Sometimes it means asking for help. And sometimes it means putting on a beautiful dress, stepping onto a stage and allowing yourself to dream again.
For me, this pageant journey is about bringing all the different parts of my life together: being a wife, a mother, a carer, a therapist and an advocate.
I don’t want to hide the challenges of being a carer, but I also don’t want those challenges to define everything I am.
I want to celebrate the people who keep going, even when life is difficult. I want to encourage carers to remember that they matter, too.
And I want to help make rare diseases a little less rare in people’s conversations.
As I prepare for the national competition in November, I’m carrying more than a sash with me.
I’m carrying my family, my experiences and the stories of a community that deserves to be seen, heard and supported.
And that, to me, is what makes this journey truly special.
Follow Sasha’s journey:
Instagram: @heyitsactuallysasha
Rare disease advocacy: @dearrareones
Massage practice: @richmondbodywork
