Amanda Nguyen's list of accolades is deservingly endless: she was the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman to fly to space, received a Noble Peace Price nomination after unanimously passing the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights through congress, she is the founder and chief executive officer of Rise, a civil rights organization working closely with legislators and congress to pass the laws that matter to the people, and became a New York Time's bestselling author after publishing Saving Five: A Memoir of Hope chronicling her experience as a survivor, her path towards healing and, in turn, giving others hope that their lives can be reclaimed. Her Instagram bio reads "Civil Rights Astronaut," fully encapsulating how multi-faceted she is and how she didn't allow one passion to get in the way of the other.
In line with the release of e.l.f.'s 2025 Impact Report which noted some serious wins, as well as a complementary campaign in which Nguyen says "I give an e.l.f. about women's rights," we had the opportunity to catch up with the civil rights astronaut and learn about what she does to unwind when she's not adding to her list of accomplishments, and doing everything in her power to change the world.
Where Are You From?
Amanda Nguyen
From: California
Located: "I just moved to New York after living in DC for 14 years!"
What's Entertaining You?
Amanda Nguyen
Reading: "Right now I'm reading Malala Yousafzai's new book, Finding My Way and Shonda Rhimes' Year Of Yes."
Watching: "I'm also huge sci-fi nerd—I've just finished the season of 'Foundation' so now looking for my next show."
What's In Your Cart?
Amanda Nguyen
Home decor: "I love interior design, and I just moved so designing and furnishing my new space has been a lot of fun for me. I’m looking for pieces that feel cozy and have a lot of character to make this place my new home."
A (thrifted) Carhartt Coat: "I'm looking for a good thrifted Carhartt Chore Coat so that I can paint on the back of it."
Bacha Coffee dish-ware: "Last but not least, there is this dishware from Bacha Coffee that I saw in Marrakech and I haven't stopped thinking about since. Though, I can't bring myself to buy more cups until I've at least unpacked the rest of my moving boxes."
What Are You Saving?
Amanda Nguyen
Beauty products: "I just finished organizing my makeup and skincare shelf. I've been loving e.l.f. SKIN’s Holy Hydration! Face Cream. Especially as the weather gets cold and dry, I need my skin to feel hydrated at all times. That, and the e.l.f. O FACE Satin Lipstick are my everyday essentials."
Matcha: "In my kitchen, I'm saving the last grams of my Marukyu Koyamaen Matcha. I stocked up when I was in Japan over the summer, but it's definitely time to order more."
What Are You Browsing?
Amanda Nguyen
TikTok: "I've been going back through my TikTok folder of New York things to do & eat. Now that I live here and don't just travel here for work, I have a lot more free time, and a long list of things to do!"
