As Democratic mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani clinched a stunning primary victory, it was his wife who unexpectedly stole the spotlight. Her joyful post-election tribute went viral, casting her as the new cultural darling of New York’s progressive wave.
Rama Duwaji, the wife of the Democratic mayoral primary winner, posted the update after it became clear Mamdani had won the polls, defeating seasoned politician Andrew Cuomo in a surprise landslide.
In her caption, she wrote she “couldn’t possibly be prouder” of her husband. The post included a strip of photobooth pictures showing the couple smiling and embracing, a personal moment that quickly went viral.
Supporters filled the comment section with praise. “First Lady 👑,” read one comment. “Princess Diana of NYC inshallah 🙌,” said another.
Duwaji quickly became a crowd favorite online. “I totally understand if she doesn’t want to do this but I think the movement desperately needs Rama Duwaji to be the new and improved Jackie Kennedy,” one person tweeted.
“Conservatives pretending that Rama Duwaji isn’t distractingly gorgeous has the same energy as when they said Hunter Schafer didn’t look like Princess Zelda. They live in a make believe world,” added another.
The admiration didn’t stop there. “Oh my..such a beauty,” commented a fan. “She’s stunning,” echoed another. “I’m calling it—we’re gonna see a wave of women in NYC this summer going to their stylists to ask for a “Rama Duwaji bob,” [sic]” one commenter predicted, casting Duwaji as a budding trendsetter.
“Anna Wintour probably calling Rama Duwaji tonight about a feature with Annie Leibovitz. She has a great face, [sic]” commented another fan.
Mamdani’s campaign built a broad coalition of support across racial, economic, and religious lines. His platform calls for free public transit, higher taxes on the wealthy, and major investments in affordable housing. The result is seen as a major shift toward younger, progressive leadership in New York City.
The couple’s personal story has also drawn attention. They met on the dating app Hinge and married earlier this year. Their civil ceremony took place in New York City after an engagement celebration in Dubai, where Duwaji’s family lives.
Speaking of the wedding, Mamdani and Duwaji opted for a simple service. The mayoral candidate once shared that they were married in his favorite building in the city — the clerk’s office.
“The outside is just so beautiful and reminiscent of a different New York City, and the inside is in many ways public goods personified,” Mamdani said about the building. “All of these New Yorkers getting married at the same time at different ages and at different times in their lives, it’s very beautiful,” he added.
The politician first hinted at their engagement in 2024 with a post of Duwaji captioned, “Light of my life. 💍” In the photo, she is seen leaning towards a table with her chin resting on her fist. In the photo, she is seen wearing a gold band.
Duwaji is a Syrian illustrator and animator based in Brooklyn. In addition to digital work, she hand-builds ceramics, combining her love for illustration and poetry into handmade, illustrated plates. She also hosts ceramic workshops in the city.
As Mamdani looks ahead to the general election, Duwaji’s growing public profile adds a personal and creative dimension to a campaign already driven by grassroots energy.