Ocasio-Cortez Inadvertently Becomes Star of NYC Drag Show

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has expressed her love for drag in the past, but on Friday she further embraced the art form by attending the Bartschland Follies, a popular drag and burlesque show at the McKittrick Hotel in New York City. The show, produced by nightlife promoter Susanne Bartsch, features drag queens, drag kings, burlesque dancers, and other LGBTQ entertainers.

Drag Queen Joey Arias posted this video on his Instagram, captioning it "Alexandria O.Cortez and myself at BARTSCHLAND FOLLIES! I was gagging ! She's Amaxing ! The place went wild ! Chanting her name.!"

The New York Democrat eventually took to the stage and told the crowd, "You are beautiful. You are accepted."

Drag King Murray Hill also expressed jubilation at Ocasio-Cortez's presence.

"None of us in the cast were feeling too patriotic this July 4th weekend, but her presence alone gave us all a much needed dose of hope," Hill told NBC news. "She reignited the fire that's burning in all of us. She stayed and watched the entire show starring New York's finest misfits, nightlife creatures, rabble-rousers, queer icons."