New York's future first lady: What you need to know about Zohran Mamdani's wife

Zohran Mamdani concluded his historic campaign and was announced as the new mayor of the country's largest city. He was joined on stage by his wife, Rama Duvaji. The publication explains what you need to know about New York's future first lady. ABC7NY.

During his speech, Mamdani thanked his wife, saying, "There is no one else I would rather have by my side, at this moment and at all times."

On January 1, 2026, Rama Duwaji will become First Lady of New York City when her husband is officially inaugurated. He will be the city's first Muslim mayor, the first mayor of South Asian descent, and the first mayor born in Africa.

Who is Rama Duvaji, the future First Lady of New York?

Rama Duwaji is a 28-year-old artist of Syrian descent. Her work primarily exists digitally, and her work has been published in publications such as The New Yorker and The Washington Post.

In an interview with YUNG magazine She explained that her art is born from genuine passion: "Today, I create works inspired by my own experiences, by what is near and dear to me. The community that forms around my projects (online and offline) emerges naturally. I make art for those who share my feelings and views."

Rama was born in Texas to Syrian parents and moved to Dubai with her parents at the age of nine.

On the subject: Zohran Mamdani has become the new mayor of New York City.

She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, then spent some time working on her projects in Lebanon and France before moving to New York in 2021. In 2024, Rama received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York.

During the election campaign, Ram's wife actively supported him. On the day of the primaries, June 24, she posted a series of photos with Mamdani on Instagram, captioning them: "Couldn't be prouder."

When Rama Duvaji and Zohran Mamdani got married

In October 2024, Mamdani posted a photo of Rama on Instagram with a ring on his finger and captioned it: "Light of my life."

And in the spring of 2025, he announced that they had already been married for three months.

"Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama, at City Hall in New York City," he wrote alongside a series of wedding photos.

Later, on the FYPod podcast with Tim Miller & Cameron Kasky, Mamdani revealed that he met her on a dating app: "I met my wife on Hinge—so dating apps still have a chance."

What Zohran Mamdani said about his wife

In his May post, Mamdani addressed the attacks on Rama, emphasizing that his family should not become the target of political attacks: "Now right-wing trolls are trying to turn this campaign, which should be about you, into a conversation about her. Rama is not just my wife," Mamdani emphasized. "She is a talented artist who should be known for her own merits. Criticize my beliefs, but leave my family alone."