Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has brought hope and optimism to many people during a time when politics is – to put it politely – a total shitshow. 

The youngest woman ever elected to Congress, she has become a cultural sensation inspiring a new generation of politically engaged young people as she fights for universal healthcare, for the environment, for abolishing ICE, stands up for LGBTQ+ rights, and speaks out against systemic racism and the patriarchal standards that dictate our society. 

To celebrate AOC’s birthday yesterday (Oct 13), young girls on TikTok have been paying tribute to their hero by doing their make-up to the soundtrack of the congresswoman responding to an attack from Republican representative Ted Yoho. In a speech on the House floor, Ocasio-Cortez detailed the verbal abuse she received from Rep. Yoho who called her, among other things, “disgusting,” “dangerous,” and a “fucking bitch.” 

“I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter, and that they did not raise me to accept abuse from men,” she ends the empowering speech which has been mashed up with Kendrick Lamar's "Humble" and provides the backing track for TikTok users as they apply their make-up, oftentimes donning the signature red lip that has become a trademark for Ocasio-Cortez.

These tutorial tributes are a fitting honour for the congresswoman who has never apologised for her love of make-up and has in the past defended women against those who dismiss an interest in beauty as “frivolous.”

“I used to think that I would be taken less seriously,” she said in a recent Vogue tutorial about why she used to shy away from glitter eyeshadow. “As the youngest woman in Congress, and as a woman of colour, it’s so hard to be taken seriously… I would think (glitter or shimmery eyeshadow) isn’t going to help me out.  People already try to diminish me and diminish my voice as young and frivolous and unintelligent.” 

But, she says, she ended up being totally wrong and it helps her feel better. Beauty and self-care, she argues, is radical.

Here are some of the best AOC tribute make-up tutorials on TikTok.