Miss England star could be first beauty queen in space as she has astronaut plans

By Sophie Roberts 09:36, 21 DEC 2022

Miss England star Jessica Gagen has career plans that are out of this world – the aerospace engineering student wants to be the first pageant queen launched into space

Meet Miss England star and aerospace engineering student Jessica Gagen (Image: Joseph Walshe / SWNS)

The freshly-crowned Miss England is really shooting for the stars – as she’s preparing to train as an astronaut.

Jessica Gagen wowed pageant judges by inspiring women to pursue STEM careers.

And since she took the beauty queen crown two months ago, she’s been focusing on her aerospace engineering studies at the University of Liverpool.

The 27-year-old, from Skelmersdale, Lancs., is in her final year of an integrated master’s degree and wants to become an astronaut in the next three years.

But before she swaps out her ball gowns for a spacesuit, she’s gearing up to compete for the Miss World title in spring 2023.

Jessica plans to swap her high heels and glitzy pageant outfits for a spacesuit (Image: Jessica Gagen/Miss England/ SWNS)

Jessica said: "I hope me winning Miss England as well as my aerospace passion will show girls that they can follow their dreams and goals and be whoever they want to be.

"My engineering degree opens up so many doors for me and one day I hope to apply to the European Space Agency to follow my dream."I would love to go to space one day and I'm on the right path.

"After my degree is complete, I would have to complete three years in industry and then I can apply to become and astronaut.

"My dream would be to visit the International Space Station and educate kids from space and make STEM content up there like Tim Peake did.

"Engineering is such a male dominated industry and I want to educate kids about the different engineering roles and show that women can work in STEM too."

Jessica uses her platform as Miss England to encourage women to get into male-dominated industries (Image: Irfan Tahir / WNTV / SWNS)
Engineering has been a natural career path for Jessica – as her dad also works in the industry.

She’s enjoyed maths and science subjects since she was at school, which is why she pursued her degree alongside her modelling career aged 24.

Jessica said: "Both modelling and engineering offer so much variety as careers.

"Both jobs allow me to work on different projects every day and work all around the world.

"The similarities between the two industries are why I chose engineering as my back-up.

"At university, my department has never had a soon-to-be Miss World competitor also studying for a degree in aerospace engineering and they think it's great."

Jessica expertly juggles her modelling work with her science studies (Image: Jessica Gagen/Miss England/ SWNS)

Jessica recently visited the National Space Centre in Leicester after passing it multiple times on the way to the Miss England HQ based in the city.

She added: "I learnt so much at the space centre.

"I am so passionate about my degree but I only know about the mechanical side to space as opposed to the astrological facts.

"I always say that you learn every day and learning is for life.

"I want to inspire the next generation."

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/real-life/miss-england-star-could-first-28784885