AOC defends Harry Styles for wearing a dress on Vogue cover: ‘It looks bomb’

Congresswoman said the photoshoot gave her ‘James Dean vibes’

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the latest public figure to defend Harry Styles for wearing a dress on the cover of US Vogue.

Earlier this month, the “Watermelon Sugar” singer made history by becoming the first solo man on the magazine’s cover. Styles wore a blue Gucci dress for the occasion but his outfit drew widespread criticism from social media users who said the singer was “attacking masculinity”.

US conservative commentator Candace Owens kickstarted the debate on Twitter, accusing Styles of endangering “manly men” for deciding to pose in a dress for the photoshoot.

“There is no society that can survive without strong men. The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminisation of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence,” she wrote. “It is an outright attack. Bring back manly men.”

Now, Ms Ocasio-Cortez has joined the discussion and given Styles’ look her stamp of approval.

During a Q&A with her followers on Instagram, one person asked: “What do you think about Harry Styles wearing a dress on the cover of Vogue?”

In response, the congresswoman described the photoshoot as “bomb” and said the former One Direction star reminded her of James Dean.

“It looks wonderful. The masculine and feminine elements are balanced beautifully – the hair and jacket styling give me James Dean vibes too,” she wrote.

“Some people are mad at it (because) some folks are very sensitive to examining and exploring gender roles in society. Perhaps for some people it provokes some anger or insecurity around masculinity/femininity/etc. If it does, then maybe that’s part of the point.”

The 31-year-old continued by urging anyone uncomfortable with the cover to “sit” with their reaction and “examine, explore, engage and grow with it”.

(Instagram: @aoc)

She then asked: “What’s the point of creating things if they don’t make people think? Or feel or reflect? Especially as an artist or creative?  

“Who wants to see the same thing all the time? And never explore their assumptions? Anyways it looks bomb so…”

Ms Ocasio-Cortez  is among a host of famous faces who have spoken out in defence of the Styles’ Vogue cover, including Elijah Wood, Olivia Wiilde and Zach Braff.

Commenting on Ms Owens’ original thread, Lord of the Rings actor Wood, said: “I think you've missed the definition of what a man is. masculinity alone does not make a man. In fact it’s got nothing to do with it”.

The singer’s mother, Anne Twist, also made an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine show, during which she admitted she may have played a part in the singer’s decision to wear a dress and took the opportunity to defend him against the trolls.

“I think maybe I had something to do with it,” Ms Twist said.

“I was always a big fan of doing fancy dress with them when they were smaller, which [Harry’s sister] Gemma always hated but Harry always embraced.”

She continued: “But who doesn’t love playing dress-up?”