Artist and animator Rama Duwaji first came into the spotlight through an unexpected channel: a dating app. The Syrian-American illustrator met New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani on the app Hinge, a meeting that blossomed into a relationship by April 2022. They became engaged in late 2024 and were married in early 2025 in a civil ceremony at New York City Hall. 

Born in Houston to Syrian parents and spending part of her youth in Dubai, Duwaji relocated to New York in 2021. She holds a BFA in Communication Design from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in NYC. 

Her art is defined by themes of identity, community and social justice — particularly Middle-Eastern narratives and female experience. She has created work for major publications and brands including The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, Apple, Spotify and the Tate Modern. 

While Mamdani’s political rise drew headlines, Duwaji remained largely out of the campaign spotlight—until her husband’s primary win in 2025. At that moment, she posted simply: “couldn’t possibly be prouder.” 

Their story blends modern-day digital romance with deep multicultural ties. Their union exemplifies how personal histories, creative careers and public roles can converge — offering a contemporary blueprint for partnership where both individuals bring distinct identities yet share mutual support.

In a political climate where representation and identity matter, Duwaji’s profile as an independent creative professional challenges the traditional role of a candidate’s spouse. As New York moves forward under a potentially new leadership duo, their story says something about the evolving nature of personal and public partnerships in the 21st century.