Who Is Rama Duwaji, Wife of Newly Elected NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani
As New York City welcomes its newly elected mayor, a fresh and unexpected figure is capturing public attention — not from the podium, but from the quiet edges of the spotlight. Rama Duwaji, a 29-year-old Syrian American artist, has become the subject of fascination following her husband Zohran Mamdani’s historic mayoral victory.
Against all odds, 34-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has rewritten New York’s political story, defeating veteran contenders to become the city’s next leader. But as the cheers from election night echoed across boroughs, another narrative began to bloom — that of his reserved and talented wife, whose artistry and humility are now captivating millions.
Their love story began in 2021, when Duwaji, then a young illustrator, matched with Mamdani on Hinge. What followed was a whirlwind romance that led to their quiet civil wedding at the City Clerk’s office in early 2025. Sharing the news on Instagram, Mamdani wrote, “Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama, at the City Clerk’s office. Now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race — which should be about you — about her. Rama isn’t just my wife, she’s an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms.”
While Mamdani’s rise has been rapid, Duwaji has remained carefully out of the spotlight. Friends describe her as gentle, self-effacing, and deeply thoughtful — qualities that have made her a symbol of authenticity in a city famous for spectacle. Photographer Hasnain Bhatti affectionately called her “our modern day Princess Diana.”
Born in the United States to Syrian parents, Duwaji has often reflected on the tension of her dual identity. “I was born in the States and lived here till I was nine,” she once said in a podcast, adding that before the war in Syria, she sometimes distanced herself from that part of her heritage. Now, her art — spanning illustration, ceramics, and animation — channels that complex history into works centered on sisterhood, resilience, and belonging.