Like Me, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Enjoys an $8 Press-On Manicure With a Nice Glass of Wine

Ever since Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stepped into the public eye, I had a feeling she was destined for great things. Now that she's the youngest woman ever to serve in Congress, I have no doubt. And while I'm sure the vast majority of said great things will relate mostly to legislation, of course, she has already achieved notoriety for her inspirational and relatable beauty game, first by wearing symbolic red lipstick for her swearing-in, and now, with an affordable on-the-road manicure.

Sunday was a rough day for anyone trying to get to a snow-covered Washington D.C., Ocasio-Cortez included. After attempting to fly there from New York's LaGuardia Airport — and getting stuck there through hours of delays and cancelations — she ultimately decided to return to Capitol Hill by Amtrak after midnight. But before she hopped on the train, she grabbed herself an $8 Impress Press-On Manicure.

"Today was so nuts I am having a glass of wine and giving myself a press-on manicure (THEY ARE NOT CORNY ANYMORE!) on the Amtrak at almost 1am," Ocasio-Cortez wrote over a video she shared on her Instagram Stories. "YOLO.” In the video, you can see that her "glass" of wine is actually a plastic cup of wine, and she already has her selected nails ready to go in a pile on her tray. (I have had that exact situation in front of me on a non-moving coffee table, which reminds me — I need to buy real wine glasses.)

After applying the nails, Ocasio-Cortez shows them off in another video, going on to write, “Listen y’all, because I’m about to put you on. I wish someone told me about these sooner. LOOK AT HOW GOOD THESE ARE! They’re not even done yet! This is halfway through. The trick is to wait a bit, then file them down to your natural/desired shape.”

The style appears to be Impress's So, So Stellar nail set, which features matte, pale pink nails with silvery holographic accent nails; however, Ocasio-Cortez seems to have left those in the box, opting for a more subtle manicure. According to the brand's site, in addition to 36 short, squared-off nails in various sizes, the set comes with a prep pad, mini file, and wood stick.

“I usually go with plain nails, but when I want a little pick me up or if an event is coming I’ll grab these at the drug store. They last for a week," she wrote. And while the Impress nails are self-adhesive, Ocasio-Cortez unsurprisingly comes prepared, telling followers, “Pro tip: carry a little nail glue in your purse and keep the spares. If one breaks or falls off, you can fix it on the spot."

Fun fact: A few years ago, I too, attempted to give myself a manicure on an Amtrak train from New York City to Washington D.C., except I used actual nail polish. Needless to say, in addition to my innately mediocre nail-painting skills, the bumpy ride all but guaranteed that it would come out a damn mess. (And it did.) I wish I’d thought of AOC’s brilliant idea, but then, brilliant ideas are why she’s a rising star in Congress and I’m not.

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Now check out 100 years of manicures:

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