When Zohran Mamdani was declared New York City’s next mayor on Tuesday night, history was made — twice.
Mamdani became the city’s first Muslim mayor and its youngest leader in more than a century. Standing beside him, beaming at the crowd, was his wife, 28-year-old artist Rama Duwaji, quietly marking her own milestone: the city’s first Gen Z First Lady.
A Love Story That Started on Hinge
Mamdani and Duwaji’s relationship reads like a modern indie romance. The pair first connected on Hinge in 2021, shortly after Mamdani’s election to the State Assembly. Rama, a Syrian-American illustrator based in Brooklyn, wasn’t politically engaged at the time, but their connection was immediate.
Their first date was coffee at Qahwah House, a cozy Yemeni café, followed by a stroll through McCarren Park. On the second date, Mamdani gave her a personal tour of Astoria, the neighborhood that would later play a key role in his mayoral journey.
By October 2024, they were engaged. Rama shared her joy on Instagram: “Couldn’t possibly be prouder,” alongside photos of the couple and a childhood snapshot of Mamdani. Just days later, Mamdani announced his mayoral campaign. Their nikah and engagement party took place in December on a rooftop in Dubai overlooking the Burj Khalifa. The event, described by the designer as “a floral installation against Dubai’s dusky skyline,” was both intimate and cinematic.
In February 2025, they formalized their marriage at a civil ceremony in Lower Manhattan’s City Clerk’s Office. A now-iconic black-and-white photo captured the couple riding the subway at Union Square — Rama in a white dress and black boots, bouquet in hand, surrounded by unsuspecting commuters sharing the train with New York’s future first couple.
Mamdani later defended his wife from political attacks, posting on Instagram: “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.”
Who Is Rama Duwaji?
Born in Houston, Rama moved to Dubai at age nine before returning to the U.S. to study at Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned her MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Her artwork, featured in The Cut, Vogue, The New Yorker, and the BBC, explores identity, womanhood, and displacement. With more than 250,000 Instagram followers, Rama often highlights Middle Eastern women and the Palestinian cause. “I believe everyone has a responsibility to speak out against injustice, and art has the power to do that,” she said in an interview.
Beyond illustration, she creates hand-painted ceramics — blue-and-white plates adorned with her signature imagery. While avoiding the traditional “First Lady in waiting” spotlight, Rama influenced Mamdani’s mayoral campaign,
designing the branding seen citywide, blending Metrocard yellow, Mets blue, and firehouse red. “She’s been a huge influence on how we present our message,” a staffer noted. “Even if she’s not on stage, she’s everywhere.”
Redefining the Role of First Lady
With the move to Gracie Mansion, Rama Duwaji will take on a historic role as the first Gen Z First Lady of New York.
Social media has celebrated the milestone: “First-ever Gen Z First Lady of New York!” read one enthusiastic post, while others called her a “refreshing figure representing a new generation of creativity and consciousness in politics.”
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Whether she works publicly or behind the scenes, Rama is already reshaping the expectations of political partnership — proving that influence doesn’t always come from the spotlight but from thoughtful, creative engagement.
Conclusion
Together, Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji represent a new kind of leadership: one that blends political vision, personal passion, and cultural awareness. Their story is more than a power couple narrative; it’s a reminder that love, creativity, and civic engagement can coexist, making history quietly, thoughtfully, and impactfully — far beyond the walls of City Hall.