Campaign Funds Flow to Celebrity Beauty Services
Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez’s campaign disclosed that it spent more than $2,000 on professional styling during the fall election cycle. The payments were made to The Only Agency, a boutique firm known for working with stars like Bad Bunny and Bella Hadid.
The Numbers
| Date | Service | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Campaign event makeup | $670 |
| 2023 | Hair and makeup | $693.08 |
| 2023 | Campaign event makeup | $665 |
Total: $2,028.08
The agency’s standard rates start at $600 for either makeup or hair alone—far above the typical few‑hundred dollars most candidates budget for such services.
When It Happened
- October 26, 2023 – A voter‑turnout rally in Queens for Mayor Mansy, attended by Senator Bernie Sanders. The makeup artist posted photos of AOC with a subtle smokey eye and red lip, praising her performance.
- Other appearances (an awards banquet in Indiana, a victory party in Brooklyn) were noted, but it is unclear if the agency was involved.
The Debate
Critics argue that lavish spending on styling contradicts AOC’s public stance on taxing the wealthy. They claim these high‑priced makeovers serve more as political theater than a practical necessity, especially when most candidates spend only $100–$200 on similar services.
Past Scrutiny
- 2021 – AOC accepted expensive hair and makeup for the Met Gala, paying out of her own pocket after an ethics complaint.
- She has previously shared makeup tutorials and critiqued gender expectations on social media, yet recent spending raises questions about consistency between rhetoric and action.
Both The Only Agency and AOC’s campaign declined to comment on the disclosures.
