Bioastronautics researcher and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen is opening up about a dark period in her life following her journey to space. In April, Nguyen made history as the first Vietnamese woman to cross the final frontier as part of Blue Origin’s NS-31, the first all-female flight crew.
While the mission was a milestone, the public reaction—largely fueled by criticism over the cost and privatization of space travel—turned into what Nguyen describes as a “tsunami of harassment.”
A Dream Turned Nightmare
In a moving statement shared on Instagram, Nguyen revealed that the aftermath of the flight led to a deep depression. She recalled telling fellow crew member and news anchor Gayle King that the mental health struggle “might last for years.”
Nguyen felt that her years of training and her scientific work were overshadowed by public vitriol. “Everything I had worked for… was buried under an avalanche of misogyny,” she wrote.
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The scale of the negativity was overwhelming. Nguyen described the billions of hostile impressions as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure.” The weight of the backlash was so heavy that she spent a week in Texas unable to get out of bed and found herself unable to speak through tears during professional calls a month later.
Finding Strength in Community
Despite the “fog of grief,” Nguyen says she is finally starting to feel like herself again eight months later. She credits her recovery to the support of her friends, her heritage, and the global community that reached out to uplift her story.
Read more: Amanda Nguyen Makes History as First Vietnamese Woman to Grace a Solo Vogue Cover
“Vietnam saved me. My friends who continually checked in on me saved me. The love of my community saved me,” she shared.
Nguyen, a 2019 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, is well-known for her work as the founder of Rise, an organization that protects the rights of sexual assault survivors. She noted that she had to tap into the strength of her “survivor self” to navigate this latest crisis.
Looking Toward the Future
While the experience was painful, Nguyen acknowledges the “overwhelming good” that the flight achieved. The mission brought significant attention to her research on women’s health and breast cancer, and she successfully used her platform to meet with world leaders regarding her advocacy.
She ended her message on a hopeful note, telling Gayle King that it won’t take years to recover after all. Nguyen remains focused on her goal of using science as a tool for diplomacy and continues to be a powerful voice for the AAPI community and survivors everywhere.
Mental Health Support
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health:
In the UK: Call 111 to reach the NHS mental health services, or contact Samaritans anytime at 116 123.
You can also text SHOUT to 85258 for confidential support via text.
In the US: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or text STRENGTH to 741-741.
