On Thursday, two prominent reality TV personalities made their way to Capitol Hill to champion a pair of issues that have garnered uncommon bipartisan support in Congress.
Angie Katsanevas, known for her role on “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” and her creation of the renowned hair salon chain Lunatic Fringe, became the first cast member from the franchise in over 15 years to be invited to testify before Congress.
During her testimony, she referenced her memorable line from the show, “you do French Fries, I do franchise,” which became widely popular and ultimately led to her appearance on Capitol Hill.
Impressing lawmakers not just with her stylish hair but also her extensive business experience, Katsanevas emphasized the empowering potential of the franchise business model. She highlighted how she and her husband, Shawn Trujillo, have significantly influenced their employees and the broader community.
Katsanevas shared her experiences of witnessing team members grow, noting, “We have seen loyalty within our teams, and those with the capability to become salon owners were given the blueprint to succeed, allowing them to remain part of our family and thrive within the company.”
Speaking for the International Franchise Association at a House Small Business Committee hearing, Katsanevas advocated for the bipartisan American Franchise Act. The bill, which currently has the backing of 70 House members, including 58 Republicans and 12 Democrats, is a testament to its cross-party appeal.
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. ‘
