Rama Duwaji, the first lady of New York City, decided to make her public debut in The Cut rather than condé Nast rivals Vogue or The New York Times.
The artist, who is married to Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, wore a structured black jacket from the French brand Jacquemus for the special cover of the magazine, which features her own artwork.
In the midst of a nonpartisan shift for wives in American political marriages, the 28-year-old has stated her desire to be viewed first as herself, free from the accoutrements of traditional political nuptials.
Among other political allies, first lady Melania Trump and second lady Usha Vance have adopted Duwaji’s creative strategy of avoiding the majority of public events and restricting media appearances. Duwaji only took part in the work for The Cut.
Rama Duwaji maintains his art-world style at Zohran Mamdani’s swearing-in.
“I never really imagined or had a really idealized view of what marriage would entail. She told the magazine, “Even the word wife feels very intense.” “I just feel like a forever girlfriend.”
Duwaji became the most well-known “forever girlfriend” in America just one week after the piece was published.
Wearing a simple black coat, a knee-length black dress or skirt, black ankle boots, and a pair of striking gold earrings, she carried two Qurans as Mamdani took his oath of office on New Year’s Day after midnight.
‘I did romanticize America in my head’: A childhood crossing oceans
Duwaji was born in Houston, and his family then relocated to New York and then to a cul-de-sac in suburban New Jersey. “I grew up hearing all about what my parents experienced,” she said regarding her family’s 9/11 experience to The Cut. “My mother wears a hijab. My dad’s beard needed to be shaved.
Although her family relocated to Dubai in 2007, she never lost sight of New York. “I did romanticize America in my head because I had loved it when I was younger,” Duwaji stated. “I never fully felt like Dubai was home.”
More than Zohran Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji depicts her own existence.
She transferred to the main campus of Virginia Commonwealth University from its location in Qatar.
By her senior year, Duwaji had drawn commissions and clients, and Vice Arabia, Spotify Arabia, and the BBC took notice. After graduating from VCU in 2019, she lived in Dubai and at a Parisian artist residency. In March 2021, she finally returned to New York.
In the same year, Duwaji used the dating app Hinge to meet the state assemblyman.
Duwaji told The Cut, “I was sort of having a hot-girl summer,” a reference to the term made popular by rapper Megan Thee Stallion. “I didn’t necessarily expect it to happen so soon, but it was a very lovely surprise that it worked.”
Zohran Mamdani says Duwaji ‘isn’t just my wife’
In October 2024, Mamdani began his campaign to become the leader of the biggest city in the country. He went from being a longshot candidate to the Democratic nominee. “We talked through how we’d work through it as a team,” Duwaji explained. “It felt like he really valued my opinion and support.”
In response to internet rumors that Mamdani was hiding or protecting his wife, the candidate shared the couple’s wedding pictures on social media on May 12. “Rama isn’t just my wife, she’s an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms,” Mamdani stated. “You can critique my views, but not my family.”
On election day, Mamdani and Duwaji were photographed holding hands by TV crews as they made their way to their Queens polling spot. in love.
The 34-year-old democratic socialist gave his victory address to a boisterous audience of Brooklyn fans that evening, with Duwaji by his side. On November 6, two days later, she shared a black-and-white skyline illustration on Instagram along with the caption, “I LOVE U NYC.” Duwaji wrote, “So proud to be a part of this city,” as the post’s caption.
Since then, Mamdani has drawn national attention, receiving praise from President Donald Trump and reluctance from his own party. Duwaji has as well. Then came the midnight swearing-in and the article from The Cut.
Later on Thursday, Mamdani and Duwaji showed up hand in hand, just as they had on Election Day, for a customary inauguration ceremony outside City Hall on January 1. Duwaji smiled while sporting a brown coat with a three-tier design.
Mamdani remarked, “And thank you to my wife Rama for being my best friend and always showing me the beauty in everyday things,” in his remarks.
Like usual, she stood at his side.
as an individual. Rather than merely “Zohran Mamdani’s wife.”
