November 5, 2025 | 08:35 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Zohran Mamdani was elected Mayor of New York City in the early hours of Wednesday, November 5, 2025, local time. His victory quickly drew public attention not only to his political journey and family background but also to his spouse, Rama Duwaji.
Unlike many political partners, Duwaji took a quiet approach during Mamdani’s campaign. She did not appear in campaign ads or media interviews, nor did she take on the traditional public role often associated with a mayoral candidate’s spouse.
Yet with Mamdani’s win, Duwaji made history as the first Gen Z figure to become the spouse of a New York City mayor.
Here are five things to know about Rama Duwaji:
1. Syrian Heritage
Rama Duwaji is a Syrian-American artist whose life, like her husband’s, bridges multiple cultures. Born to Syrian parents in Houston, Texas, she spent her childhood between the United States and the Gulf region.
According to Grazia, cited by The Hindustan Times, her family moved from Texas to Dubai when she was nine years old. CNN also reported that she spent much of her early life in the United Arab Emirates before returning to the United States for her studies.
2. Accomplished Illustration Artist
Duwaji began studying design at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar before transferring to the University of Richmond to complete her degree. She later earned a master’s degree in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Now 28, Duwaji’s artwork has appeared in major international publications including The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, Vogue, and Tate Modern, according to Grazia. Much of her work explores themes of Middle Eastern womanhood and identity.
3. Behind the Scenes of Mamdani’s Campaign
While she largely avoided the campaign spotlight, Duwaji played a creative role in shaping Mamdani’s campaign identity. She helped finalize the visual branding, including the logo and typography.
The campaign’s poster design became instantly recognizable across New York, blending iconic city colors: orange-yellow from the MetroCard, blue from the Mets, and flashes of red reminiscent of fire hydrants. The chosen font evoked the nostalgia of old grocery store signage familiar to New Yorkers.
4. A Simple Civil Wedding
The couple’s relationship began in 2021, when they met through the dating app Hinge. At the time, Mamdani had just been elected to the New York State Assembly.
Their first date was at Qahwah House, a Yemeni coffee shop in Brooklyn, followed by another in Astoria, Queens, Mamdani’s political district.
They got engaged in October 2024 and were married in February 2025 in a modest civil ceremony at the city clerk’s office in Lower Manhattan.
Rumors later circulated that they held a lavish wedding in Dubai, but Mamdani debunked them by sharing photos from the ceremony at City Hall.
“Rama isn’t just my wife, she’s an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms,” he wrote in a social media post.
5. Vocal Advocate for Palestinian Rights
Though Duwaji stayed out of campaign politics and rarely speaks to the press, her social media presence and artwork reflect a strong commitment to humanitarian and political causes, particularly the Palestinian struggle.
“With so many people being pushed out and silenced by fear, all I can do is use my voice to speak out about what’s happening in the US and Palestine and Syria as much as I can,” she told Yung magazine, as cited by CNN.
Duwaji’s artistry, cultural background, and thoughtful approach have made her a notable figure, reflecting the diversity and creative energy often associated with New York City, where she now shares the public spotlight with her husband, Zohran Mamdani.
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