Martino Cartier, a celebrity hairstylist and reality television personality, is running as a Republican candidate for Gloucester County commissioner in New Jersey. Cartier, 51, owns a salon in Washington Township and is known for his flamboyant style and his "wigs and wishes" foundation, which supports women undergoing cancer treatment.
Cartier gained national attention in 2008 when he appeared on the Bravo reality show "Tabatha's Salon Takeover." During his time on the show, he openly discussed his extravagant lifestyle, which included luxury vehicles and frequent parties for his staff, but also revealed significant personal debt. At the time, he stated he was $300,000 in debt and had taken out a second mortgage on his home to keep his salon operational.
His personal history includes name changes, from his birth name Baby Boy Ayad to Martin Clinton Maguire Jr., and eventually to Martino Ayad Cartier in 1999. In addition to his salon work, Cartier has cultivated a significant social media presence, with over 25,000 Instagram followers. He collaborated with singer Katy Perry on a video aimed at raising awareness for cancer patients, which garnered 95,000 views and was described by Cartier as a "prophetic outcry against this horrible disease."
Cartier has been critical of county administrator Stephen Sweeney on social media, stating that his priority if elected would be to remove Sweeney from his position. Sweeney, in turn, has accused Cartier of a past insurance fraud conviction. Cartier has addressed the accusation, stating that he was pressured into pleading guilty to theft by deception related to a car incident, claiming he repaid the money and the charge was administratively dismissed.
Prior to his current campaign, Cartier had received recognition from local Democrats. He was honored in a parade and presented with a community service award by Democratic Congressman Donald Norcross in 2021. He also indicated a past collaborative relationship with his current opponent, Joann Gattinelli, which he states ended when he announced his candidacy. Cartier has used his social media platforms to encourage early voting, urging his followers to "fight for" change.