Meet Rama Duwaji, the woman behind New York's mayor-in-waiting Zohran Mamdani
Duwaji, a 27-year-old Syrian American illustrator and animator, stood beside her husband as he addressed a crowd of supporters in Queens, marking her first public appearance since he launched his campaign. Until then, she had existed mostly in glimpses — a photo on Instagram, a mention in a speech, a comment under a wedding post ('Omg she's real,' she quipped). There wedding post had followed weeks of online speculation and criticism, including questions on social media about why she hadn't been seen on the campaign trail.
But behind the scenes, Duwaji had already built a formidable presence of her own — not in politics, but in art and activism, as Mamdani addressed it directly in the caption: 'Rama isn't just my wife; she's an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms.'
Known for her evocative, politically charged illustrations that explore themes of Arab identity, sisterhood, and Palestinian resistance, Duwaji's work has appeared in The New Yorker, BBC, The Washington Post, and the Tate Modern. Her animations, many of which critique Israel's war in Gaza and call out US complicity, have made her a prominent voice among a new generation of diasporic artists using social media to challenge power.
While Mamdani's mayoral run has captivated New York, Duwaji's emergence has sparked growing interest in the woman behind the would-be mayor — a rising cultural force in her own right with nearly 1,00,000 Instagram followers and a visual style as bold as her politics.
A post shared by RAMA DUWAJI (@ramaduwaji)
A native of Texas and ethnically Syrian, Duwaji holds a master's degree in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Many of her illustrations focus on Middle Eastern life and include strong pro-Palestinian messages. She often uses her Instagram to share politically charged art that challenges Israeli state violence and critiques US complicity. One animation, shared by Mamdani himself, accused New York-based charities of financing war crimes in Gaza.
In an interview, Duwaji once quoted Nina Simone: 'An artist's duty… is to reflect the times.' That ethos runs through her entire body of work — from digital illustrations to her ceramics, including hand-etched blue-and-white plates covered with intricate drawings and statements on injustice.
The couple married earlier this year at a civil ceremony at the New York City Clerk's Office. They also held a private Muslim wedding ceremony, known as a nikkah, in Dubai, where Duwaji's family lives. In an April podcast interview with The Bulwark, Mamdani called their relationship a 'Hinge success story,' and added: 'There's still hope in those dating apps.'
Now, as Mamdani stands on the brink of becoming New York City's first socialist mayor in nearly a century, Duwaji — an artist, activist, and partner, 'Couldn't possibly be prouder.'
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