Campaign Funds Flow to Celebrity Beauty Services

Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez’s campaign reported spending over two thousand dollars on professional makeup and hair services during the fall election cycle. The payments were made to “The Only Agency, ” a boutique firm that works with high‑profile clients such as Bad Bunny and Bella Hadid. The Federal Election Commission filings list three separate charges: $670, $693. 08 and $665 for “campaign event makeup” and “hair and makeup” services, totaling more than $2, 000. The agency’s standard rates begin at six hundred dollars for either makeup or hair alone. In contrast, typical political candidates usually budget only a few hundred dollars for such services—often $100 to $200 in total. This expenditure marks the first time Ocasio‑Cortez’s campaign has documented spending on professional styling. One noted event where the services were used was a voter‑turnout rally for Mayor Mansy in Queens on October 26, attended by Senator Bernie Sanders. The makeup artist posted photos of Ocasio‑Cortez with a subtle smokey eye and red lip, praising her performance. Other appearances around that period included an awards banquet in Indiana and a victory party in Brooklyn, but it is unclear whether the agency was engaged for those occasions.Critics argue that such lavish spending contradicts Ocasio‑Cortez’s public stance on taxing the wealthy. They suggest that the high‑priced makeovers serve more as political theater than a practical necessity for campaigning. The contrast is stark when compared to the modest fees paid by most candidates for similar services. This is not the first time Ocasio‑Cortez has faced scrutiny over beauty expenses. In 2021, she was found to have accepted expensive hair and makeup services during the Met Gala, ultimately paying out of her own pocket after an ethics complaint. The incident drew attention to the broader issue of how campaign funds are used for personal image management. Ocasio‑Cortez has previously shared makeup tutorials on social media, using her platform to critique gender expectations around appearance. She has also appeared in a Vogue feature that highlighted the perceived triviality of beauty interests for women in politics. Despite these public statements, her campaign’s recent spending record raises questions about the consistency between her rhetoric and actions. Both The Only Agency and Ocasio‑Cortez’s campaign declined to comment on the recent financial disclosures.