Her friends have branded her the ‘modern day Princess Di’
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When Zohran Mamdani made his historic win as New York City mayor this month, there was one person he was quick to pay tribute to: his wife, Rama Duwaji.
It’s been a tense run up to the election, with self-described democratic socialist Zohran running against Democrat Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Silwa to be mayor of New York City. The race only garnered more attention after US President Donald Trump endorsed Cuomo in the mayor-race, saying ‘[Cuomo] is capable of it, Mamdani is not!’
But as Zohran Mamdani came out victorious – reportedly receiving over 50% of votes – he made sure to pay a sweet tribute to his wife during his speech. ‘To my incredible wife, Rama, hayati,’ he said, using the Arabic word for ‘my life.’ ‘There is no one I would rather have by my side in this moment, and in every moment.’
After tying the knot earlier this year, Rama has remained a quiet presence during Zohran’s campaign. Avoiding the spotlight, she skipped rallies and media appearances, rarely posted about the political race on social media, and reportedly declined all interview requests.
It was a move that garnered interest in her, as well as criticism. Amid the murmurs and whispers, the now-mayor made clear his stance on his wife’s involvement. Explaining she is far more than just his wife, Zohran explained, ‘She’s an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms.’
So, who is New York City’s newest (and youngest) First Lady? Here’s everything to know about Rama Duwaji.
Who is Rama Duwaji?
Rama is a Syrian-American artist, who is known for her politically charged artwork. Much of her work is in black and white, drawing on everything from immigration issues, ICE, identity, and resistance.
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Although Rama has largely steered clear of the cameras throughout her husband’s campaign, her friends have gushed about her role in the Mamdani administration. Speaking to the New York Times last month, her friend Hasnain Bhatti declared, ‘She’s our modern day Princess Diana.’
How old is Rama Duwaji?
Born 30 June, 1997, Rama is currently 28 years old. For our star sign fans, this also makes her an intuitive and empathetic cancer.
At 28 years old, Rama is officially New York City’s youngest First Lady. It’s a historic moment for 33-year-old Zohran, too. Five years older than his wife, he is now New York’s youngest mayor in more than a century.
Where is Rama Duwaji from?
Born in Houston, Texas, Rama grew up in the Persian Gulf after her family moved to Dubai when she was nine. Described as being Syrian-American, her parents are of Syrian descent.
Graduating from Qatar’s Virginia Commonwealth University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Rama then moved to New York City in 2021 to pursue a career in art. It’s thought she now lives in Brooklyn, although she will no doubt be preparing to move into Gracie Mansion (the official Manhattan residence of the Mayor of New York City) sometime soon.
What does Rama Duwaji do for work?
Last year, Rama graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York with a master of Fine Arts in illustration as a visual essay. While she tends to use the digital medium for her art, Rama also enjoys creating handmade ceramics.
Since graduating, Rama has forged her own career outside of her husband’s political aspirations. Her illustrations have been included in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and Vogue. She’s also worked with well-known brands and clients including Apple, Spotify, and the Tate Modern.
Alongside creating art, she also teaches it! Rama used to host workshops, where she taught both illustration and animation.
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How did Rama and Zohran Mamdani meet?
Rama and Zohran first met in 2021, the same year she moved to New York. Rama met Zohran – who was a lesser-known state assemblyman at the time – through the dating app Hinge. She joked during an interview last June, ‘So there is still hope in those dating apps.’
While Rama has preferred to stay out of the spotlight when it comes to her husband’s political career, it’s been reported that she played a behind-the-scenes role in Zohran’s campaign. It’s thought his now-familiar ‘Team Mamdani’ branding was done by Rama.
When did Rama and Zohran get married?
The couple announced their engagement last year, after three years of dating. Sharing the news on social media, Zohran wrote of his now-wife, ‘Light of my life.’ The pair quietly got engaged in Dubai, where her family still lives.
The couple married in February 2025, with a simple civil ceremony at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau. The pair then went to Uganda, where Zohran was born, for another ceremony in the July.
What religion is Rama Duwaji?
With Zohran becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor, there’s been plenty of intrigue into Rama’s religion. While Rama hasn’t directly opened up about religious beliefs, we do know her husband Zohran is a practising Shia Muslim.
What has Rama said on politics?
Alongside being pretty political in her art, Rama has made it clear that she aligns with her husband’s left-wing beliefs. In April, she shared a post titled ‘Art in times of crisis,’ where she discussed her belief that ‘Art is inherently political in how it’s made, funded, and shared.’
She also appears to share in Zohran’s sympathy for Palestine in the midst of the Israel-Palestine war in Gaza. In May, she created an animation of a young Palestinian girl holding a large empty pot, emblazoned with the words ‘Not a hunger crisis.’ It then transitioned into several people holding similarly empty pots, with the text then reading, ‘It is deliberate starvation.’ Captioning the graphic, Rama wrote, ‘As I was making this, Israel has been bombing Gaza nonstop with consecutive airstrikes. Keep your eyes on Gaza and support.’
She’s also touched on immigration issues, particularly criticising ICE. Expressing support for activist Mahmoud Khalil following his arrest in March, Rama wrote, ‘On Saturday night, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-Algerian activist, was snatched by ICE from his Columbia-owned apartment in NYC without notice. This is an attack on freedom of speech, and sets a scary f*cking precedent for anyone who speaks up for what’s right. Resist.’
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Opening up during an interview with YUNG magazine, Rama said, ‘I believe everyone has a responsibility to speak out against injustice. Even creating art as a refuge from the horrors we see is political to me. It’s a reaction to the world around us.’
What has Zohran Mamdani said about his wife, Rama?
While Rama was often found quietly at her husband’s side throughout his election campaign, she was subjected to plenty of criticism online. Sharing photos of their wedding day, Zohran wrote in May, ‘If you take a look at Twitter today, or any day for that matter, you know how vicious politics can be. I usually brush it off, whether it’s death threats or calls for me to be deported. But it’s different when it’s about those you love.’
‘Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama, at the City Clerk’s office. Now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race – which should be about you – about her.’
He continued, ‘Rama isn’t just my wife, she’s an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms. You can critique my views, but not my family.’
Responding to the speculation that Zohran was ‘hiding’ his wife, Rama joked in a comment under the post, ‘Omg she’s real.’
Charlotte Roberts is a writer at Grazia UK, specialising in SEO. She spends her days covering everything celebrity, culture, and entertainment – from film review roundups to cast explainers.
