Meet Rama Duwaji, Zohran Mamdani’s Accomplished Artist Wife Who Would Potentially Be NYC’s First Lady

At 27 years old, Syrian-American artist Rama Duwaji finds herself thrust into the political spotlight as the wife of Zohran Mamdani, the presumptive Democratic nominee for New York City mayor. Yet long before her husband’s stunning primary victory, Duwaji had established herself as a compelling voice in contemporary illustration and animation.

Duwaji is a Syrian illustrator and animator based in Brooklyn whose work has graced the pages of some of the world’s most prestigious publications. According to her professional portfolio website, through drawn portraiture and movement, she examines the nuances of sisterhood and communal experiences, working with clients including The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, Apple, Spotify, VICE and the Tate Modern.

Her artistic focus centers on themes that resonate deeply with her identity and experience. As reported by SheThePeople in June 2025, Duwaji’s illustrations tackle powerful themes like mental health, displacement, identity, and social justice from the lens of Arab and Muslim women. This perspective has made her work particularly relevant in contemporary discussions around representation and community healing.

Duwaji’s artistic expertise is grounded in formal training at two respected institutions. According to WealthySpy’s June 2025 report, Rama graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design from Virginia Commonwealth University before joining the School of Visual Arts in New York, where she earned a Master of Arts degree in Illustration. This educational journey took her from Virginia to New York City, where she would eventually build both her career and personal life.

Duwaji is a Syrian illustrator and animator based in Brooklyn whose work has graced the pages of some of the world’s most prestigious publications.

A Modern Love Story

The couple’s relationship began in the digital age’s most conventional way: through a dating app. As Mamdani shared on The Bulwark podcast, theirs was “a Hinge success story,” proving there was “still hope in those dating apps.”

Their wedding reflected both their backgrounds and circumstances. The couple married this winter in a civil ceremony at the New York City Clerk’s Office, but also celebrated with “an engagement party and a Muslim wedding ceremony known as a nikkah in Dubai, where Ms. Duwaji’s family lives,” according to The New York Times.

Social Media Presence and Advocacy

Duwaji’s art explores themes of sisterhood and engages with imagery of women of color in healing spaces as a way to shift narratives. On Instagram, where she maintains a following of more than 70,000 people, Duwaji showcases work that often “portrays Middle Eastern life and champions social justice issues.” Like her husband, she has been vocal in her criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza.

During much of Mamdani’s mayoral campaign, Duwaji maintained a relatively low public profile, leading some critics to question her absence from the campaign trail. This prompted Mamdani to share their wedding photos on Instagram in May, with the caption: “Rama isn’t just my wife; she’s an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms,” The New York Times reported.

Duwaji’s response to the scrutiny showed her characteristic wit. “Omg she’s real,” she joked in a comment on the post.

Election Night and Beyond

On primary election night, Duwaji stood beside her husband as he declared victory at a Long Island City bar. Earlier that day, she had shared a carousel of images on Instagram, including photos from their relationship and a picture of Mamdani as a child, captioned simply: “Couldn’t possibly be prouder.”

As New York prepares for the general election, Duwaji represents a new generation of political spouses—accomplished professionals in their own right who bring their own platforms and perspectives to public life. Her artistic work, which centers marginalized voices and explores themes of identity and healing, suggests that if she becomes New York’s First Lady, she will bring a unique voice to the role.

Whether discussing mental health, social justice, or the complexities of identity in contemporary America, Duwaji has already proven herself as an artist unafraid to tackle difficult subjects. Now, she may have the opportunity to bring that same fearless creativity to one of the most visible platforms in American politics.