Ocasio-Cortez’s Campaign Spending on Makeup Raises Eyebrows
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), known for her “Tax the Rich” slogan, has spent over $2,000 on makeup artists for her campaign, despite previously showcasing her own makeup skills in an Instagram tutorial.
This revelation came from a review of federal election records by an exclusive report. The documents showed that her campaign utilized “campaign event makeup services” from The Only Agency, a stylist firm with a clientele that includes rapper Bad Bunny and supermodel Bella Hadid.
On November 5, her campaign reported spending $670 on makeup from The Only Agency, followed by an additional $693.08, and another $665 just days later for combined hair and makeup services. According to the Federal Election Commission, this luxury agency charges starting rates of $600 for hair and makeup.
One notable appearance where she used these services was at a rally for mayoral candidate Mamdani in Queens last October, which was also attended by Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont).
A makeup artist from The Only Agency, Jocelyn Biga, shared on Instagram her pride in enhancing AOC’s look at a recent event, where she received enthusiastic applause discussing historical social issues in New York City.
However, it’s worth noting that the newspaper found most candidates generally spend about $100 to $200 for similar services. For context, a reputable New York salon lists event hair services at around $100 and professional makeup at approximately $150.
Commenting on this, Kiersten Pels from the RNC pointed out the contradiction between Ocasio-Cortez’s message on wealth and her spending habits, suggesting that her stance on class struggle may be more theatrical than genuine.
This isn’t Ocasio-Cortez’s first brush with controversy over lavish events. She previously made headlines after being found to have violated gift rules when she accepted expensive hair and makeup for her Met Gala appearance in 2021, where she donned a “Tax the Rich” dress. In that instance, she was accused of accepting over $3,700 in rental apparel and other gifts.
Interestingly, her campaign did not provide any comment regarding this latest spending issue. In a 2019 Instagram clip, she criticized the societal expectations placed on women regarding grooming, mentioning that women often require significantly more time than men to prepare for public appearances.
In a prior Vogue “beauty secrets” tutorial, she expressed how challenging it can be for young women to be taken seriously in Congress while grappling with the perception that interest in makeup and fashion is trivial.
