Rama Duwaji, New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s wife, carves a path of her own

NEW YORK – As Mr Zohran Mamdani delivered an emphatic speech on the night of Nov 4 to mark his

victory in the race to become mayor of New York City,

he delivered a special shoutout.

“And to my incredible wife, Rama, hayati,” he said, using the Arabic word for “my life”. “There is no one I would rather have by my side in this moment, and in every moment.”

The crowd whooped and hollered loudly at Mr Mamdani’s mention of his wife, Ms Rama Duwaji, a sign of her important role in her husband’s campaign and the growing popular interest in her. As Mr Mamdani finished speaking, Ms Duwaji joined him onstage to another round of applause.

In the lead-up to Election Day, Ms Duwaji, an animator and illustrator, continued to avoid the traditional political spotlight. She has not engaged in election and politics talk, save for a selfie on her Instagram story on the morning of Nov 4 in which she posed with an “I voted” sticker.

Like her 34-year-old husband, Ms Duwaji, 28, has had a busy past few months – except that hers have not involved anything officially resembling a trip on the campaign trail.

Her illustrations were featured in a recent article in Vogue spotlighting the city’s garment workers, and in an article in New York magazine about the objects that Palestinians took from their homes when they fled the Gaza Strip. Throughout the summer and fall, she has also attended art and fashion events and led ceramics workshops around the city.

“Rama isn’t just my wife; she’s an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms,” Mr Mamdani wrote on Instagram in May.

Born in Houston, Ms Duwaji, who is of Syrian descent, moved to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, when she was about nine years old.

She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in communication arts. She moved to New York City in 2021 to pursue a career in art. That same year, she and Mr Mamdani, then a little-known state Assembly member, matched on the dating app Hinge.

In 2024, she graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York with a master of fine arts in illustration as visual essay. A few months later, Mr Mamdani posted a photo of Ms Duwaji smiling on Instagram, sharing the news of their engagement.

In February, they were married at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau, and in July, the couple held a wedding celebration in Uganda, where Mr Mamdani was born.

As the next first lady of New York City, Ms Duwaji will be stepping into what has historically been a loosely defined role.

During Mr Mike Bloomberg’s administration, his long-time domestic partner Diana Taylor became de facto first lady. She held a varied business career, including a stint as superintendent of banks for New York state, and became a sought-after host.

When Mr Bill de Blasio took office in 2017, his wife, Ms Chirlane McCray, took on an influential role in his administration. Aides were known to sometimes seek her buy-in on an idea before going to the mayor.

Her involvement also prompted criticism: She oversaw a portfolio of municipal programs, including a nearly US$1 billion (S$1.3 billion) mental health initiative that was investigated over accusations of mismanagement.

Under Mr Eric Adams, the city has effectively not had a first lady, traditional or otherwise. Mr Adams’ longtime girlfriend, Ms Tracey Collins, was rarely seen with him in public, both before and after he was elected. She stepped down from a highly paid Department of Education role last year amid allegations that the position was a “no-show” job.

Several of Ms Duwaji’s close friends have described Mr Mamdani’s sudden ascent as exciting for her but overwhelming, and very far from what she imagined her life would be like when she moved to the city.

Many of Ms Duwaji’s signature black-and-white designs express concern for humanitarian crises in Gaza, Sudan and Lebanon, and portray intimate scenes of Middle Eastern life. She often posts her illustrations on Instagram, where she has developed a fan base of her own.

Some of her 224,000 followers have been attracted by her artistic endeavors, and others by her style, including a wardrobe featuring eye-catching vintage pieces, stacked gold jewellery, one-shoulder tops, flowy midi skirts and her signature black riding boots.

“She’s our modern day Princess Diana,” said Ms Hasnain Bhatti, 32, a photographer and friend. NYTIMES