There is a phrase that ‘behind every successful man there is a woman’, Zohran Mamdani prove this with his win in NYC Mayoral election. Zohran mamdani made history as the first Indian-American Muslim mayor and the youngest in a century, but behind his political rise stands a quiet creative force, his wife, Rama Duwaji, a Syrian artist who has managed to stay away from the spotlight while shaping her own career.
Their story is a modern blend of cultures, art, and activism. And like many millennial love stories, it all started on a dating app.
Who Is Syrian-American Artist Rama Duwaji?
Rama Duwaji is a talented illustrator and animator of Syrian descent, currently based in Brooklyn, New York. Born in Damascus, she spent part of her childhood in Dubai before moving to the United States for her higher education.
She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in communication design and later earned a Master of Fine Arts in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
Her artwork focuses on themes of sisterhood, identity, and community. On her website, Duwaji describes her work as an exploration of “drawn portraiture and movement” that reflects “the nuances of sisterhood and communal experiences.”
A Creative Force in the Art World and Unique Body of Art
Rama Duwaji’s art has reached audiences around the world. Her works have been featured in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, VICE, Apple, Spotify, and the Tate Modern.
Her illustrations often depict the experiences of Middle Eastern women and showcase emotions through minimalist designs and expressive faces. Her Instagram feed — followed by more than 200,000 users — is a vibrant collection of self-portraits, political art, and glimpses of her daily life.
Her creativity doesn’t just stay on the canvas. During Zohran Mamdani’s campaign, she reportedly helped design parts of his visual identity, choosing bold colors like yellow, orange, and pink that made his campaign instantly recognizable.
How Rama Duwaji and Zohran Mamdani Met?
The story of Rama and Zohran is refreshingly relatable. The couple met on the dating app Hinge, and their connection quickly grew stronger.
In March 2025, they married in a civil ceremony at the New York City clerk’s office. Speaking to Interview Magazine, Mamdani said, “Well, I recently got married in a civil ceremony at the clerk’s office, and I absolutely loved that building. The outside is just so beautiful and reminiscent of a different New York City, and the inside is in many ways public goods personified. All of these New Yorkers getting married at the same time at different ages and at different times in their lives, it’s very beautiful.”
Before the civil wedding, the couple reportedly held a Muslim nikah ceremony in Dubai in 2024, where Rama’s family lives.
No TV Apperence, No Social Media Post for Mamdani
Despite her husband’s growing political fame, Rama Duwaji prefers to stay out of the spotlight. She occasionally shares glimpses of her work and life on social media but maintains a low public profile.
Earlier this year, political critics accused Mamdani of “hiding his wife,” but he responded strongly on Instagram, “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. Rama isn’t just my wife, she’s an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms.”
After Mamdani’s victory in the mayoral primary, Rama celebrated with a heartfelt post, writing, “couldn’t possibly be prouder.”
First Lady of NYC: Rama Duwaji
With New York City’s mayoral election have completed, the city is watching closely, and now when Zohran Mamdani wins, Rama Duwaji become the First Lady of New York City, bringing an artistic, cross-cultural, and modern flair to City Hall.
Her journey, from Damascus to Dubai to New York, reflects not just global talent but also a story of love, identity, and creativity that continues to inspire many across borders.
