Beauty queen one step closer to becoming an astronaut

By Adam Dutton via SWNS

A beauty queen will take one small step towards fulfilling her dream of becoming an astronaut after landing a major role with NASA.

Miss England model Jessica Gagen proved she has brains as well as beauty after graduating as a rocket scientist in the summer.

Since gaining her degree in aerospace engineering from Liverpool University, the 27-year-old has jetted around the world to share her expertise on space travel.

Later this month she will be one of the keynote speakers at a conference organized by the International Space Station.

She will also be given a VIP tour of the Kennedy Space Center and help count down the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9.

The rocket will launch a Dragon 2 spacecraft on a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.

Jessica, from Skelmersdale, Lancs., said: “This trip is everything an aerospace engineer could have ever dreamed of, I feel incredibly blessed.

“Having been one of only a handful of girls studying aerospace engineering at my university, I made it my mission to promote how exciting the sector is and diminish stereotypes surrounding what engineers do - and look like, which subsequently saw me scouted for Miss England - the rest is history."

Jessica became the first redhead winner of the prestigious beauty pageant last October and is now one of the favorites to win Miss World.

She added: “Every contestant at Miss World has a beauty with a purpose project which she aims to use her platform to promote.

“Mine is called The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) project - I’m passionate about educating the next generation about the different types of engineering, the different industries STEM subjects can lead to and the skills engineering can equip candidates with.

“In the future I’d love to be able to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers through presenting educational TV documentaries.

“Aside from this I’m super interested starting a career concerning all things new technology - and would jump at the chance to go to space if offered the opportunity."

Jessica will be guest of honor at the ASCEND Space Conference being held in Las Vegas on October 23-25.

After delivering her speech entitled, “Engaging the Public through the International Space Station” she will fly to Orlando, Florida, to promote space exploration.

She will work alongside Boeing’s social media team on the space coast to create content aimed to market how STEM subjects are involved in the aerospace industry.

While she’s there she will tour the Kennedy Space Center and watch the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch.

Jessica will compete in the 71st Miss World in Mumbai, India, on Dec. 9.