Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign reportedly spent more than $2,000 on professional makeup and styling services provided by a celebrity talent agency, according to campaign finance records. The spending has drawn attention from critics and media outlets, partly because the New York Democrat has previously spoken publicly about often doing her own makeup.
A review of filings submitted to the Federal Election Commission showed that the payments were made to The Only Agency, a styling and talent agency with offices in New York and Los Angeles. The agency represents a number of professional makeup artists, hairstylists, and creative stylists who frequently work with well-known public figures and celebrities.
According to records examined by the New York Post, Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign made several separate payments to the agency. The expenses were listed in campaign filings as services related to campaign events and public appearances.
Campaign finance documents show that the campaign paid the agency $670 on Nov. 5 for what was described as “campaign event makeup services.” Five days later, additional payments were recorded: one for $693.08 and another for $665. Both of those transactions were labeled as payments for “campaign event hair and makeup services.”
The Only Agency is known for representing stylists who work with high-profile entertainment and fashion clients. Among the agency’s notable celebrity clients are rapper Bad Bunny and supermodel Bella Hadid. The company offers professional hair, makeup, and creative styling services that are commonly used for media appearances, concerts, fashion shoots, and major public events.
According to the agency’s published pricing information, its starting rates begin around $600 for hair services and about $600 for makeup services. In addition to its operations in New York and Los Angeles, the agency also maintains offices in London and Nashville.
One of the public appearances where Ocasio-Cortez reportedly used the agency’s services was a political rally held in Queens in October. The event was a get-out-the-vote rally supporting mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The rally, titled “New York Is Not for Sale,” took place at Forest Hills Stadium.
Makeup artist Jocelyn Biga later shared a message about the experience on Instagram. “An honor to glam AOC for the ‘New York is Not for Sale’ rally at Forest Hills Stadium,” Biga wrote in her post. She added that it was “an unforgettable moment watching her light up the stage with conviction, courage, and heart.”
Photos accompanying the post showed Ocasio-Cortez wearing a smoky eye makeup look paired with her signature red lipstick. The stylist described the look as a carefully crafted hair and makeup style prepared specifically for the public rally appearance.
The New York Post reported that it could not determine exactly which other campaign appearances involved services from the agency, since campaign finance records did not provide detailed descriptions beyond listing the payments as event services.
For comparison, the newspaper also reviewed campaign spending disclosures from other political candidates. According to those records, many candidates typically spend between $100 and $200 on hair and makeup services for campaign events.
As an additional example, the newspaper cited a salon located in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens that charges about $100 for event hairstyling and around $150 for professional makeup. The comparison was used to illustrate typical prices for similar services in the area.
Officials from the Republican National Committee criticized the spending, arguing that it conflicts with Ocasio-Cortez’s frequent political messaging about wealth inequality.
“AOC’s favorite slogan is ‘tax the rich,’ but her campaign spending shows she’d rather live like the 1%,” said RNC press secretary Kiersten Pels. Pels added that the spending was “the latest reminder that her class-warfare message is little more than political theater propped up by high-priced makeovers.”
Ocasio-Cortez has faced scrutiny in the past regarding fashion and public appearance issues. In 2023, the House Ethics Committee reviewed her attendance at the Met Gala held in 2021.
At that event, she wore a white dress featuring the phrase “Tax the Rich,” which attracted widespread media attention and sparked political debate.
The House Ethics Committee later determined that she had violated House gift rules related to the event. According to the committee, she improperly accepted roughly $3,700 in rented apparel and related items connected to her attendance.
Ocasio-Cortez has also previously spoken about the expectations placed on women regarding appearance in public life. In a 2019 video posted on Instagram, she discussed how beauty standards can affect women working in politics and other public roles.
“Women are expected to put 30 minutes to an hour into their appearance every day to look just as presentable as a man who puts in 10 minutes,” she said, arguing that women often face different expectations when it comes to professional presentation.
In a separate beauty tutorial published by Vogue several years earlier, Ocasio-Cortez discussed the challenge of balancing appearance and credibility as a young woman in politics. The video included a demonstration of how she applies her well-known red lipstick style.
“There’s this really false idea that if you care about makeup or if your interests are in beauty and fashion, that that’s somehow frivolous,” Ocasio-Cortez said. She added that younger women involved in politics are often judged more harshly based on their appearance than their male counterparts.
