Meet Rama Duwaji, Illustrator Married To NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani

With Zohran Mamdani becoming New York City's next mayor, he won’t just make history as the city’s first Muslim, first Indian-American, and first millennial mayor. His wife, Rama Duwaji, would also make history as New York City’s first Arab-American and Muslim First Lady.

But Duwaji's legacy goes far more than just a potential political spouse. A Syrian-American artist and animator based in New York City, she has carved a distinct identity that uniquely blends activism, artistry, and advocacy. Throughout Mamdani’s rise in NYC politics, Duwaji has stayed largely out of the spotlight, but her work off-campaigns is speaking volumes.

Meet Rama Duwaji: Potential First Lady Of NYC

Rama Duwaji was born to Syrian immigrants and raised in Texas. She pursued her BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in NYC.

Duwaji's illustrations tackle powerful themes like mental health, displacement, identity, and social justice from the lens of Arab and Muslim women.

Duwaji’s illustrations have appeared in major outlets like The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and the BBC, and through collaborations with Apple and Spotify.

Rama Duwaji is helping to rewrite the script for what it means to be a political partner in the 21st century. With her unique blend of creative activism and cultural integrity, she’s already making waves in civic and cultural spaces alike.

Her illustrations emerged as digital emblems of solidarity during the crises in Gaza and Sudan. Her drawings were widely shared for their emotional resonance. As Duwaji once put it, “Even quiet drawings can be radical.”

Zohran Mamdani & Rama Duwaji Met On Dating App

Duwaji's personal life gained public interest in 2025 when she married New York Assembly member Zohran Mamdani, a progressive leader and Democratic Socialist with growing influence in city politics.

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A post shared by RAMA DUWAJI (@ramaduwaji)

Duwaji and Mamdani met in 2022 on the dating platform Hinge, bonding over shared values. The couple first had a wedding ceremony in Dubai at the end of 2024.

Their wedding in 2025 was an ode to their down-to-earth encounter: a modest civil ceremony at City Hall, followed by a subway ride and flowers picked from a local shop.

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A post shared by Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@zohrankmamdani)

On election day, Duwaji took to Instagram with a four-word post, “couldn’t possibly be prouder,” a statement that said everything without needing to say more.

Mamdani has credited Duwaji for shaping his thinking and grounding his activism. As he positions himself for a potential mayoral run, attention has turned to Duwaji’s public presence.

While she is clear about maintaining her artistic independence, there’s no denying her growing influence.