Who Is Rama Duwaji? Meet New York City’s First Gen Z First Lady

Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old socialist Democrat recently elected mayor of New York City, promises to transform the city and be “Trump’s worst nightmare.” His election also brings another sign of change: New York City is getting its first Gen Z First Lady.

Rama Duwaji, Zohran Mamdani’s wife, is a Syrian-American 28-year-old illustrator and animator whose powerful work often deals with themes that span Arab culture, sisterhood, and social justice. Her work has been published by the likes of The New York Times, The Washington Post, the BBC, and the Tate Modern.

“To my incredible wife, Rama, hayati,” Mamdani said, using the Arabic word for “my life,” during his acceptance speech. “There is no one I would rather have by my side in this moment, and in every moment.”

So who is Rama Duwaji? Here’s what we know about New York City’s first Gen Z First Lady…

Rama Duwaji is a Brooklyn-based Syrian-American who grew up in Dubai

Rama Duwaji was born on June 30, 1997 in Houston, Texas to Syrian Muslim parents who hailed from Damascus.

She briefly attended the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar after her family relocated to Dubai, before transferring to the school’s Richmond, Virginia campus to finish her BFA in Communication Design. She moved to New York City in 2021 to pursue her artistic career.