I’m the UK’s ‘hottest’ train engineer – trolls say I should be more feminine but I love my job
THE UK’s “hottest” train engineer claims trolls say she should be more feminine – but she loves her job.
Afrose Ameen, 23, works for Transport for London and recently helped construct the new Bond Street station on the Elizabeth Line.
Surrounded by men at work everyday, Afrose, from Lewisham, south London, said she was the only woman who worked on the line, which opened in memory of the late Queen.
One internship she attended even had to build her a women’s toilet and had no gloves to fit her hand when she first joined.
Despite enjoying her job, she is now looking at swapping her work boots for heels as she hangs up her overalls and competes to win Miss England.
The aspiring model now hopes by entering her first beauty pageant she can inspire other women to get into male-dominated industries.
The Tube worker, who is studying renewable energy engineering, said: “I’ve actually never done a pageant or modelling before.
“My friends and family suggested it, I wasn’t too sure. I don’t really love being photographed.
“Over the last year my opinion changed. I thought why not do it before I get old.
“I did get thrown into the deep end a bit, but everyone is lovely. There’s nice to know there’s more into it then who’s the prettiest.
“Miss England is the only one that I’ve been interested in. A lot of the others are more looks based.
“I definitely want to try and inspire women to get into different jobs.”
Whilst Afrose was working on the Elizabeth Line she got to meet the monarch when it opened last year.
She said: “It was quite cool as all these people on the team had been working on it for seven years.
“It was commission engineering, electrical engineering. There was a lot to do with project management.
“More women should get into it. I am glad I have been given this opportunity.
“A lot of people are worried it might portray them as less feminine, but a job is a job.
“When I was working there I was often the only woman. It was mainly a lot of builders and engineers.
“I was often the only woman in 120 people.”
Afrose now wants to join either the Navy or the Royal Marines as an engineer when Miss England finishes.
She has recently reached the semi finals and will compete to win in Blackpool in October.
She added: “I’m confident in the pageant because there’s so many layers to it, I’m aiming to enter all the rounds.
“The benefits have been amazing. It’s been a huge experience and a step out of my comfort zone.”