Via Instagram @dirtymartininyc

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez takes the mic at an NYC drag show

‘You are special! You are beautiful!’

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez keeps getting cooler and cooler. Since she was sworn in as the youngest ever congresswoman in US history back in January, AOC has given impassioned speeches on climate change, pushed for more drug research, and even got the meme-treatment. Now, the New York politician can add ‘drag performer’ to her list of achievements (kind of).

Taking a well-earned break from, you know, attempting to save the world, last Friday (July 5), the 29-year-old headed to The McKittrick Hotel in NYC for weekly ‘cabaret extravaganza’ Bartschland Follies. 

At the end of the show, performer Joey Arias summoned AOC onto the stage, where she gushed to the cheering crowd: “You are special! You are beautiful! You are accepted! Let’s give a big round of applause to our artists.”

In a video posted to Instagram, Arias wrote: “Alexandria O.Cortez and myself at BARTSCHLAND FOLLIES! I was gagging ! She’s amaxing (sic) ! The place went wild ! Chanting her name.!”

The congresswoman also stuck around to pose for photos with fans after the show.

A vocal RuPaul’s Drag Race fan, AOC has previously said it would be a dream of hers to be a guest on the series, as well as paying tribute to queen Nina West after she was eliminated from season 11 earlier this year.

What an icon. Watch the video below.

Read Next
FeatureWhat’s behind 2025’s MDMA comeback?

Lorde has been vocal about the drug’s transformative effect on her, while wastewater analysis estimates that MDMA use has risen by 54 per cent in a year in the UK

Read Now

FeatureMeet the activists trying to reach Gaza by sea

The Global Sumud Flotilla will be the largest effort yet to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza, and Greta Thunberg is back for round two. We spoke to one of the organisers to find out why this voyage is necessary

Read Now

NewsHow to join the weekly global strike for Palestine

Starting today, and continuing every Thursday thereafter, the Humanti Project is calling on individuals, groups and organisations to take part in a global economic strike for Gaza

Read Now

FeatureHow can we cope with this much rejection?

With dating apps, social media and scarce jobs multiplying the chances of being turned down, rejection has become a defining feature of young adulthood

Read Now