Whether you're a New York native or not, you'll likely know that a lot happened in the city overnight. Namely, Zohran Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, was elected the new mayor of NYC. As a result, there's also been plenty of fresh interest in his wife, Syrian-born, NYC-based illustrator, animator and ceramicist Rama Duwaji.
But the 28-year-old is so much more than quintessentially Brooklyn chic and NYC’s first Gen Z First Lady. For the uninitiated, here's exactly why you'll want to get acquainted with the achingly cool People’s Princess-to-be.
View this post on Instagram
She's an artist by trade
Duwaji's website describes her as an illustrator and animator based in Brooklyn, NYC. She works mostly in the digital space, though she also dabbles in handmade ceramics.
Within the realm of portraiture and movement, she focuses on sisterhood in all of its nuances and shared experiences of womanhood. Duwaji’s work is deeply personal and political, thematically grounded in storytelling that spans diasporas. Duwaji's work doesn't distance itself from activism; the artist reaffirmed this, stating that "art is inherently political in how it's made, funded, and shared".
In an April interview with YUNG, Duwaji described just how deeply personal and passionate her art is.
"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," she told the outlet. "I make my work for people who care about the things I care about."
Duwaji's clientele is already brimming with brands like The Tate Modern, VICE, Spotify, The Washington Post, BBC and Apple Music. We can only assume this is about to increase exponentially.
View this post on Instagram
She's married to the mayor-elect of NYC, but wants to be known in her own right
Her husband, Zohran Mamdani, will be the mayor of the colossus that is New York City come January 1st, 2026. The social democrat has rooted his campaign in affordability – free buses, rent freezes, and free childcare.
Though he tackled real issues in his campaign, Mamdani also chose to keep things lighthearted at times – in one TikTok video, he even declared himself a "short king" (he measures in at 5'11, for those wondering).
View this post on Instagram
Although Mamdani has now completed what turned out to be an intense period of campaigning, he chose to keep his wife out of the spotlight. “Rama isn’t just my wife; she’s an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms,” Mamdani wrote in a post on Instagram. Instead, Rama turned her online presence to her work and situated it as an expression of her values throughout the campaign.
The couple met on Hinge (you read that right) and are the one exception that the app can produce more than existential dread. They recently tied the knot at City Hall, alongside a humble crowd of a close friend and a photographer. Chic minimalism at its peak.
