Election Day is just around the corner, with New York City poised to welcome a new mayor on November 4. The spotlight is on Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, who gained national attention following his unexpected win against former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the primary held in June.
If the 34-year-old candidate secures victory against Republican Curtis Sliwa and Cuomo, who is running as an independent, the city will also have a new First Lady in Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji. At 28 years old, Duwaji has largely remained out of the public eye during her husband’s campaign, opting for limited interviews and occasionally sharing messages of support for him on her Instagram account. Here’s what we know about her.
Duwaji has an intriguing international background. Although she was born in Houston, Texas, she is of Syrian descent and spent her childhood in Dubai. After returning to the United States for her education, she attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she majored in communication arts. Following her undergraduate studies, Duwaji pursued artist residencies in prominent cities such as Beirut and Paris.
The year 2021 proved to be pivotal for Duwaji, as it marked her move to New York City and her initial meeting with Mamdani, who was then an emerging figure as a New York State Assemblyman.
As a professional artist, Duwaji has contributed illustrations to renowned publications like Vogue and New York Magazine. Recently, she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts, completing her studies in 2024.
A modern love story unfolded when Duwaji and Mamdani met through the dating app Hinge, reflecting a trend seen among many millennial and Gen Z couples. They recently celebrated their marriage, with Mamdani sharing a series of photos from their courthouse wedding in May, revealing they tied the knot just a few months earlier.
As the election approaches, both Mamdani and Duwaji represent a fresh narrative for New York City, symbolizing change and new beginnings amid the city’s evolving political landscape.