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Meet Rama Duwaji, Wife of Zohran Mamdani – A Quiet Force Behind the Campaign

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Background & Personal Story

Rama Duwaji is an American illustrator, animator and ceramicist of Syrian-American heritage. According to multiple profiles, she was born in the United States (some say Texas) to a Syrian family and spent part of her childhood in Dubai before moving to New York. 

She met Zohran Mamdani via the dating app Hinge in 2021; Mamdani later acknowledged this publicly.The two were engaged in late 2024 and married in early 2025 in a civil ceremony at New York City Hall. 

Despite her husband’s high-visibility campaign for mayor of New York City, Duwaji has chosen largely to remain out of the spotlight. As an artist, her public presence tends to emphasize her creative work rather than the campaign itself. 

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Her Role Behind the Campaign

Although Duwaji hasn’t sought the spotlight, multiple outlets report that she has played a significant role behind the scenes in her husband’s political rise. For example:

• She is said to have contributed to developing the campaign’s branding and visual identity — including logos, typeface choices, and colour schemes used in his materials. (Original article: yellow, orange and blue campaign material)

• She has supported his social media and digital presence, and is described by sources as a “major source of support” for him privately.

• Her decision to stay off the major appearances (debates, large rallies, prominent media spots) is clear: while Mamdani’s profile ballooned, Duwaji remained largely “ghosted” on the trail.

These elements underscore a partnership in which Duwaji engages strategically, but chooses discretion in how publicly visible she becomes.

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Her Artistic Identity and Activism

Duwaji’s professional work is rooted in illustration and animation, with a focus on social justice themes. According to People magazine, her clients include The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, Apple and the Tate Modern. 

Her art often addresses Arab identity, women’s experience, and political conflict — including, for example, pro-Palestinian narratives or commentary on humanitarian crises. A recent profile in Time described how her illustration work dealt with the Gaza war, Sudan’s crisis, and wider questions of communal solidarity. 

In an Instagram post she wrote (in effect) that “Art is inherently political in how it’s made, funded, and shared,” reflecting her awareness of her work’s broader social dimension. 

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Public Visibility & Media Strategy

Despite her meaningful role, Duwaji’s visibility in the media has been selective. With over 160,000 followers on Instagram (at one point), her posted content focuses heavily on her art rather than her husband’s campaign. The original article mentions that she made one Instagram post in June celebrating her husband’s primary win (“Couldn’t possibly be prouder.”) and otherwise opted out of major campaign appearances.

Mamdani himself addressed critics of his wife’s low public profile, posting:

“Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama… Now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race — which should be about you — about her. 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.” 

This sets the tone for their approach: Duwaji supporting but on her own terms; Mamdani defending her autonomy and privacy.

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What It All Suggests

Putting this together:

• Rama Duwaji is not simply the spouse of a rising political figure; she is a creative professional with her own body of work and is credited with impacting the campaign’s aesthetic and digital strategy.

• Her decision to stay mostly behind the scenes appears deliberate — a choice to balance public support and personal privacy.

• Her activism-inflected artwork and identity dovetail with her husband’s progressive campaign platform and suggest a shared alignment in values (though each plays different visible roles).

• As New York’s mayoral race evolves, if Mamdani wins the general election, Duwaji would become the next “First Lady” of the city — but one who may continue to define her role on her own creative and social justice terms.