What to know about Zohran Mamdani's wife Rama Duwaji, New York City's next first lady
After Zohran Mamdani successfully completed his historic bid for mayor of the country's largest city on Tuesday night, he was joined onstage by his wife Rama Duwaji.
In his speech, Mamdani thanked Duwaji, saying, "There is no one I would rather have by my side in this moment and in every moment."
On Jan. 1, 2026, Duwaji will become the first lady of New York City, after her husband is sworn in as the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor, as well as the city's first mayor born in Africa.
Read on for everything to know about New York City's next first lady.
Who is New York City's next first lady, Rama Duwaji?
Duwaji is a 28-year-old Syrian artist. According to her website, her work can be seen mostly in digital spaces and has appeared in publications including The New Yorker and The Washington Post.
In an April interview with YUNG, Duwaji described her art as being borne from passion.
"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 is ethnically Syrian and was born in Texas, moving to Dubai around the age of 9, according to The New York Times.
Duwaji is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. She has spent time in artist residencies in Lebanon and France, moving to New York City in 2021. She earned her Master of Fine Arts from New York's School of Visual Arts in 2024.
Duwaji was publicly supportive of her husband during his campaign for mayor.
On New York City's mayoral primary day, June 24, Duwaji posted an Instagram photo of a series of photobooth snapshots with Mamdani, alongside the caption, "couldn't possibly be prouder."
When did Rama Duwaji and Zohran Mamdani marry?
In October 2024, Mamdani shared a photo of his now-wife on Instagram, wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring.
"Light of my life. 💍 #nasa #hardlaunch," he wrote in the caption.
In a subsequent May 2025 Instagram post, Mamdani shared that he and his wife had wed three months prior.
"Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama, at the City Clerk's office," he wrote in the post's caption, sharing several wedding photos of the couple, including a few snapshots of them in the New York City subway.
In an interview on The Bulwark's "FYPod with Tim Miller & Cameron Kasky," Mamdani shared that he and his wife met on an dating app.
"I met my wife on Hinge, so there is still hope in those dating apps," he said.
What has Zohran Mamdani said about his wife Rama Duwaji?
In his May Instagram post, Mamdani opened up about his wife, addressing what he described as political attacks against her.
"Now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race -- which should be about you --about her," he wrote.
He continued, "Rama isn't just my wife, she's an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms. You can critique my views, but not my family."
ABC News' Ivan Pereira contributed to this report
