Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has risen to become one of the most polarizing figures in modern American politics. While she has gained recognition and admiration, especially among younger voters, for her bold policies, Ocasio-Cortez has also faced criticism from conservatives and moderate Democrats.
And she has previously opened up about how Star Trek: Voyager, the popular sci-fi series, played a significant role in shaping her perspective on leadership, influencing her approach to modern American politics.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez how Star Trek’s Kathryn Janeway inspired her journey to leadership
The polarizing political figure Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continues to be a hot topic of discussion, especially as a potential rising leader for Democrats.
And Kate Mulgrew’s Star Trek character has played a significant role in shaping her vision of leadership, as she revealed during a special appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.
Reflecting on former Vice President Kamala Harris’ official acceptance of the Democratic presidential nomination, she recalled how the sci-fi franchise introduced her to the idea of a female leader long before she saw it in reality.
“When I was at nine years old, I watched a lot of Star Trek with my dad. And we used to watch this series, it was Star Trek: Voyager” she recalled. “And the reason I bring this up is because this was the first ship with a female captain… Captain Janeway.”
She emphasized how impactful that representation was for her as a child, saying,
And I remember this was something that was very important growing up. And my dad felt it very important for me to watch this because he wanted me to see an example of a woman in leadership. And when I was a kid, the only example of that was in science fiction.
“And today represents a day where it has become our reality. It’s not science fiction anymore,” she continued, highlighting the cultural impact of the representation of strong and capable women like Captain Kathryn Janeway in media.
Kate Mulgrew celebrated Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s admiration for Captain Janeway
Starring as Captain Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager, Kate Mulgrew created Star Trek history as the first female captain in a leading role, serving as an inspiration for millions of young girls, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
And Ocasio-Cortez’s admiration for the series and iconic character did not go unnoticed, as the 69-year-old actress responded with appreciation while taking “great pride” in her legacy as Janeway.
“Thank you @AOC for the shout-out last night,” she said while sharing a clip from the show on X (Twitter). “I take great pride in my legacy as Janeway, especially inspiring the next generation of leaders,” she continued.
Thank you @AOC for the shout-out last night on @StephenAtHome @colbertlateshow. I take great pride in my legacy as Janeway, especially inspiring the next generation of leaders.
I wholeheartedly endorse @KamalaHarris & @Tim_Walz – time for another #BlueWave2024 🌊 #KamalaHarris https://t.co/Memo0XlPVJ
— Kate Mulgrew (@TheKateMulgrew) August 23, 2024
The actress also reflected on her first meeting with Ocasio-Cortez when she surprised her at a campaign event after her election to Congress in 2018.
“I am so impressed with everything she has accomplished since taking office,” Mulgrew tweeted, further sharing her admiration for Ocasio-Cortez.
Star Trek: Voyager is available to watch on Paramount+.
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