(NewsNation) — Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, will make history as the city’s first Gen Z first lady. Though the 28-year-old has largely stayed out of the spotlight, she has played a key role behind the scenes.
According to CNN, Duwaji helped shape her husband’s campaign branding, finalizing the distinctive yellow, orange and blue color palette as well as the bold iconography and font that became hallmarks of his campaign. She’s also credited with elevating Mamdani’s digital strategy and social media presence, serving as a major source of private support throughout his political rise, according to the outlet.
Despite skipping debates and major public appearances ahead of Election Day, Duwaji celebrated her husband throughout his campaign.
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On June 24, after former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo conceded the Democratic mayoral primary, Duwaji stood beside Mamdani as he delivered his victory speech and joined him onstage.
That same day, Duwaji shared a photobooth strip of her and Mamdani on Instagram with the caption, “Couldn’t possibly be prouder.”
The pair also cast their ballots together. Though Duwaji has not yet spoken publicly about Mamdani’s 2025 general election victory, she joined him onstage as he was declared the winner.
Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayoral candidate, and his wife Rama Duwaji arrive to cast their ballots at a polling station inside Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School in the Queens borough of New York, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. New Yorkers heading to the ballot box to select a new mayor face stark choices: a youthful socialist, a seasoned ex-governor or a red-beret-wearing radio host. Photographer: Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Who is Rama Duwaji?
Born in Texas, Duwaji holds a master’s degree in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York, a campaign spokesperson told The New York Times.
According to her L’AiR Arts biography, she earned her BFA in communication design from Virginia Commonwealth University.
In a June 2022 conversation with Yung Mea, Duwaji shared that she spent the pandemic living with her family in Dubai but had long hoped to relocate to New York, a dream she fulfilled around 2021.
Now based in Brooklyn, Duwaji works as an illustrator and animator, with a portfolio that includes collaborations with The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, Apple, Spotify, VICE and the Tate Modern. Outside of digital art, she also creates handmade ceramics, per her portfolio website.
What are Rama Duwaji’s views on political issues?
Duwaji’s artwork often reflects her political and humanitarian concerns. Her social media features black-and-white illustrations depicting Middle Eastern women, the Palestinian flag and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The imagery aligns with her husband’s outspoken criticism of the Israeli government and its handling of the war following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks.
Duwaji’s art has also addressed other global issues: At the onset of the Sudanese civil war in April 2023, she created an illustration of a Sudanese woman with the caption “Eyes on Sudan,” sharing information about the conflict’s toll on civilians and how to support refugees.
In an April conversation with Yung Mea, Duwaji explained, “These days, I focus on making art about my experiences and the things I care about, and the community that forms from conversations about my work — both online and in person — happens organically. I make my work for people who care about the things I care about.”
How did Rama Duwaji and Zohran Mamandi meet?
During a June 17 appearance on “The Bulwark” podcast, Mamdani revealed that he met Duwaji on the dating app Hinge, joking that there “is still hope in those dating apps.”
While the couple hasn’t shared exactly when they met, Mamdani posted a photo taken by Duwaji in April 2022.
The couple appeared to get engaged in October 2024, when Mamdani posted an Instagram photo of Duwaji with a ring emoji and the hashtag #hardlaunch.
The two tied the knot in a civil ceremony at the City Clerk’s Office in early 2025, Mamdani told Interview Magazine, followed by a larger celebration after, his campaign team told The New York Post.
