Amanda Nguyen. Photo:
e.l.f. Beauty
- Amanda Nguyen is leading the first all-female spaceflight on Monday, April 14
- The astronaut and activist will also be the first Vietnamese woman in space
- Nguyen, an e.l.f. partner, tells PEOPLE which beauty products she’s packing for space
Amanda Nguyen is soaring to new heights.
On April 14, the activist, astronaut, and e.l.f. partner will lead the first all-female spaceflight. As the first Vietnamese woman to go to space, the timing of the event — just two weeks shy of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War — is more than just a coincidence.
“That, to me, represents so much about how in a generation, our dreams, our healing, our justice can absolutely come into fruition,” Nguyen tells PEOPLE. “I really want Vietnamese, Southeast Asian girls, but also women or anyone who’s ever had a dream deferred, to know that their dreams matter.”
She continues, “When I fly, I really don’t think about it as just about me, but really, it’s about carrying my community with me. I might be the first, but I won’t be the last.”
The Blue Origin mission, taking off from Launch Site One in West Texas, will feature an all-star crew: Gayle King, Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowie and film producer Kerianne Flynn. In a press release earlier this year, Blue Origin noted that this would be the first all-female flight crew since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s solo spaceflight in 1963.
“I really do feel honored to be a part of this history,” Nguyen says of the group.
Amanda Nguyen. e.l.f. Beauty
Nguyen, a sexual assault survivor, founded Rise (a nonprofit organization that works to protect gender-based violence survivors) in 2014. She says the historic mission is a “full circle moment” in regards to her advocacy work.
The activist will be conducting two science experiments while in space, including research on menstruation management in microgravity.
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Nguyen is also proud to partner with e.l.f. Beauty. The brand first teamed up with the Nobel Peace Price nominee in February for an episode of its purpose-driven film series, “Show Your(s)e.l.f.”, celebrating her journey of resilience, advocacy and determination.
Finding herself in male-dominated spaces, Nguyen says she used to struggle with how she presents herself. “I didn’t know if I should shrink back and just try to blend in,” she recalls. “I love beauty. That’s just a part of my joy. I realized that no, my voice does matter. And part of that voice is how I choose to present myself. Whether that means wearing red lipstick while I’m testifying in the United Nations or in my official astronaut portrait, I want to show up as me, because I think that authenticity is power.”
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For her journey to space, Nguyen says she’s definitely packing her favorite red lip color (e.l.f. Cosmetics O Face Satin Lipstick in No Regrets), plenty of skincare (she particularly loves the e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration Hydrating Coconut Mist) and the cult-favorite e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Camo Concealer.
Her beauty bag remains a crucial element of any flight, whether it’s on an airplane or a historic journey into space. “Skincare is beauty, [but] also necessary [for] health.”
“I’m also very interested to see how well these things do in the G-forces,” she adds. “Will my eyelash glue stick?”
