Amanda Nguyen, 34, the Nobel laureate scientist turned civil rights activist, has become very vocal about her own depression. This came on the heels of a barrage of harassment she suffered after participating in Blue Origin’s landmark work flight back in April 2025. With that successful flight, Nguyen made history as the first Vietnamese woman to fly in space. Her return to Earth was marred by life-threatening challenges that clouded the acclaim for her historic journey.
Nguyen, a survivor of sexual assault, put her pursuit of becoming an astronaut on hold for years. She experienced trauma while in college, putting her dreams on the back burner. It was her ardent commitment to policy advocacy that powered her ascent to one of the foremost leaders in the fight for civil rights. She advocates fiercely on behalf of women’s health issues. During her nine days aboard the Blue Origin spacecraft, Nguyen performed multiple experiments. Those efforts have done much to raise the scientific knowledge base in this important area.
Nguyen’s accomplishment was indeed historic, as it was the first all-female space voyage since 1963. She confronted a “tsunami of harassment” online, with the straightforward actions of her flight catalysts for organized social media trolls after the flight. This flood of media scrutiny adversely affected her mental health.
“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” Nguyen recounted. “A month later, when a senior staff at Blue Origin called me, I had to hang up on him because I could not speak through my tears.”
Eight months have gone by since the first harassment, and as Nguyen looks back on the ordeal, she continues healing from her ongoing experience. She told me that the “fog of grief has begun to clear,” marking an end to the isolation that came in the months after her loss.
Beyond her own experience, Nguyen wanted to underscore the larger implications of her story in her statement. As she made clear, that comes with the reality that women like her frequently feel “buried under an avalanche of misogyny.” The rates reflect the systemic discrimination and marginalization that continue to plague our society and workplaces.
Nguyen shared her appreciation to those who have rallied around her through this difficult period. She thanked her supportive followers who passed along well wishes and encouragement. Their support was immeasurably important to her remarkable recovery.
Amanda Nguyen is a fierce champion for women’s health and civil rights. Her legacy serves as a reminder to create safer communities and combat systemic racism in all forms. Her journey serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing both personal and societal challenges in pursuit of justice and equality.