As celebrations continue across the five boroughs following Zohran Mamdani’s historic victory in the 2025 mayoral race, attention is also turning to the woman who stood quietly — yet unmistakably — beside him on election night.
The 34-year-old mayor-elect, who defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in a decisive win, wasn’t the only one making history this week. New York City is now welcoming a new First Lady — one whose creativity, independence, and vision have already captivated the public.
A Modern Love Story
Before the flashing cameras and the packed rallies, their story began in a surprisingly ordinary place — a dating app.
According to friends close to the couple, the mayor-elect first met his now-wife on Hinge back in 2021. What started as a digital connection quickly became something more tangible. Within a few years, their bond had grown into a partnership that would eventually take center stage at City Hall.
The pair made headlines earlier this year when they quietly tied the knot in a small, viral City Hall ceremony in February — a moment that reflected both their humility and their shared belief in living authentically.
The Woman Beside the Mayor
At just 28 years old, New York’s new First Lady is already an accomplished creative force. A Syrian-American illustrator and animator, she holds a Master of Fine Arts in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan — an alma mater known for producing some of the industry’s most influential visual artists.
Her portfolio, rich in political and cultural expression, has been featured by The New Yorker, The Washington Post, the BBC, Apple, Spotify, VICE, and even London’s Tate Modern.
Her work often carries a message — bold, emotional, and deeply human — with many pieces exploring issues of displacement, identity, and justice.
And for her more than 265,000 Instagram followers, those illustrations aren’t just art. They’re a reflection of lived experience — a voice for the marginalized, a statement of solidarity, and a quiet act of resistance.
A Name That Stands on Its Own
While social media erupted with enthusiasm over Mamdani’s victory, some users quickly turned their attention to his wife — particularly over her decision to keep her own surname after marriage.
Online critics questioned the move, while many others praised her independence.
“Mrs. Mamdani lookin’ BADDDD AS HELL,” one fan wrote on X, prompting a correction from another user: “It’s Ms. Duwaji, not Mrs. Mamdani. Woke is back — we’re not assuming women took their husbands’ last names anymore!”
Others pointed out the irony of those complaining about a woman making her own choice.
“Every time someone says we don’t need feminism anymore, remember it’s 2025 and people are losing their minds because Zohran Mamdani’s wife didn’t take his last name,” one user quipped.
Far from controversy, the moment underscored what many supporters see as a perfect reflection of the new First Couple: progressive, modern, and unapologetically themselves.
A Power Couple for a New Era
When Mamdani took the stage for his victory speech on Tuesday night, he made sure to thank the woman who’s been by his side through it all.
“To my incredible wife, Rama, hayati,” he said, using the Arabic word for “my life.”
“There is no one I would rather have by my side in this moment, and in every moment.”
The crowd roared as he spoke — not just for a mayor-elect, but for a couple whose story feels like a reflection of the city itself: diverse, idealistic, and grounded in the belief that love and progress can coexist.
A Historic Moment for the City
Zohran Mamdani’s victory marks a turning point for New York — the city’s first Muslim, first South Asian, and youngest mayor in more than a century. And by his side, Rama Duwaji is poised to bring her own distinct voice to the city’s cultural landscape.
Together, they represent a generation that blends activism with art, idealism with pragmatism, and tradition with bold reinvention.
As the city prepares for a new chapter, New Yorkers aren’t just watching their mayor — they’re also watching the woman who has already proven she’ll walk beside him, not behind him.
And if the reaction online is any indication, the new First Lady has already earned a devoted following of her own.
James Jenkins is a celebrated Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose work has reshaped the way readers think about social justice and human rights in America. Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, James grew up in a community that instilled in him both resilience and a strong sense of responsibility toward others. After studying political science and creative writing at Howard University, he worked as a journalist covering civil rights issues before dedicating himself fully to fiction. His novels are known for their sharp, empathetic portraits of marginalized communities and for weaving personal stories with broader political realities. Jenkins’s breakout novel, Shadows of Freedom, won national acclaim for its unflinching look at systemic inequality, while his more recent works explore themes of identity, resilience, and the fight for dignity in the face of oppression. Beyond his novels, James is an active public speaker, lecturing at universities and participating in nonprofit initiatives that support literacy and community empowerment. He believes that storytelling is a way to preserve history and inspire change. When not writing, James enjoys jazz music, mentoring young writers, and traveling with his family to explore cultures and stories around the world.
