On Thursday, two prominent reality TV personalities made their way to Capitol Hill, championing issues that are gaining rare bipartisan support in Congress.

Angie Katsanevas, star of “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” and the visionary behind the renowned Lunatic Fringe salon brand, became the first member of the franchise in over 15 years to be invited to testify before Congress.

In her testimony, Katsanevas referenced her memorable on-screen remark, “you do French Fries, I do franchise,” which became a viral sensation and ultimately brought her to Capitol Hill.

Impressing lawmakers with both her stylish appearance and extensive business expertise, she highlighted the empowering aspects of the franchise business model. She emphasized the significant influence she and her husband, Shawn Trujillo, have had on their employees and the broader community.

Katsanevas shared her experiences of witnessing growth within their teams, noting their ability to nurture talent. “We’ve seen individuals who’ve been loyal to us develop the skills needed to become salon owners. We provided the blueprint they needed to thrive within our family and continue growing with the company,” she explained.

Testifying on behalf of the International Franchise Association before the House Small Business Committee, Katsanevas urged passage of the bipartisan American Franchise Act. The bill is currently sponsored by 70 House members, a list that includes 58 Republicans and 12 Democrats.

The bill seeks to codify the joint employer standard to provide clarity to both franchisors and franchisees, preventing the persistent whiplash on business owners of the past decade. 

Outside of the Capitol, Paris Hilton joined a bipartisan group of congressional leaders to advocate for the passage of the DEFIANCE Act that would combat nonconsensual deepfake pornography.

Angie Katsanevas, Owner and Founder of Lunatic Fringe hair salon, and Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star, testifies in a House Small Business hearing titled Local Ownership, National Brands: How Franchising is a Pathway to Entrepreneurship on Thursday, January 22 2026

Paris Hilton attends a news conference promoting the passage of the DEFIANCE Act at the Capitol, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Washington

During the House Small Business hearing, Democrat Gil Cisneros of California admitted that although he has watched other shows in the Bravo TV universe, including Below Deck and the Real Housewives of Orange County, he had ‘unfortunately … not had time to see’ The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City franchise.

Fellow Committee member Hillary Scholten, a Michigan Democrat, showed off her knowledge of the Salt Lake City Housewives series when she noted that the ‘franchise system, especially the rules around them, can be incredibly confusing, more confusing even than Lisa Barlow trying to explain how she knows Ben Affleck, referring to another recent moment in the show.

At a Thursday press conference, Hilton noted that ‘too many women are afraid to exist online, or sometimes, to exist at all… This isn’t just about technology, it’s about power.’

Hilton previously lobbied on Capitol Hill for the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, which passed in 2024 and was praised Thursday by lawmakers of both parties for her legislative engagement.

New York Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X that ‘people don’t recognize enough how effective Paris Hilton is in her advocacy,’ adding that outside of her public support, ‘she also brings a fierce behind-the-scenes operation with her.’

Mike Lawler, a New York Republican Congressman, thanked Hilton for using her ‘voice to stand up for victims’, adding that he looks ‘forward to continuing this important work together. ‘