Manju Bangalore

Manju Bangalore is a physicist, astronaut-in-training, and founder of Operation Period, a grassroots, Gen Z-led nonprofit fighting for menstrual freedom. Since founding Operation Period in 2015, Bangalore has led efforts to distribute more than 300,000 menstrual products, launch the Youth Institute for Menstrual Freedom, and train the next generation of menstrual justice leaders nationwide. Her work centers the voices too often excluded from mainstream conversations, while redefining what dignity and equity look like through systems-level change.

With a B.S. in physics and mathematics from the University of Oregon and an M.S. in astronautical engineering from the University of Southern California , Bangalore’s advocacy is deeply rooted in scientific expertise. She has worked at NASA’s Marshall and Johnson Space Centers on propulsion systems and spacecraft interfaces and served in the Obama White House on science policy. She is currently training for a groundbreaking spaceflight studying menstruation in microgravity, work that positions her to become one of the first people to study periods in space as a research astronaut.

In addition to her nonprofit and research work, Bangalore is an actor and model, appearing in national commercials, TV shows such as General Hospital and Animal Kingdom, and Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl” music video. She was featured as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model in 2022, using the platform to raise awareness about menstrual freedom and bodily autonomy. She is also the author of the children’s book You Can Be All The Things You Want To Be, which she has shared with thousands of students nationwide.

As Miss Oregon USA 2023, Bangalore competed at Miss USA, using her reign to amplify her advocacy and inspire young people, especially girls of color, to embrace every part of who they are. She has headlined events and spoken at venues such as Microsoft, SpaceX, and Mensa.