Zohran Mamdani emerged as the victor in the recent New York City Mayoral election, securing over a million votes. At 34 years old, he is not only the city’s youngest mayor but also its first Muslim and South Asian mayor. Mamdani is scheduled to assume office in January, with his wife, Rama Duwaji, poised to become the city’s inaugural Gen Z First Lady.
Rama, aged 28, hails from Houston but was raised in Dubai with Syrian-American roots. Following Mamdani’s win, she joined him on stage at Brooklyn’s Paramount Theatre in a stylish black lace dress, drawing comparisons to the iconic Hollywood star Audrey Hepburn.
The couple’s love story began on the dating app Hinge in 2021, leading to their engagement in October 2024 and a Nikkah ceremony in Dubai in December of the same year. They later had a civil ceremony at Lower Manhattan’s City Hall in February.
Mamdani, the offspring of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, comes from a distinguished background. Rama, on the other hand, was raised in Dubai from a young age and showcases her Arab heritage through her black and white illustrations on Instagram.
The duo is expected to relocate to Gracie Mansion next year, the official residence of the mayor, a historical property dating back to 1799 in Manhattan. Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, has pledged policies such as free bus services, rent freezes, reduced police presence, and increased taxes for the affluent and large corporations. In a recent address to his supporters in Brooklyn, he proudly declared his identity and principles, refusing to apologize for them.
In a direct message to former President Trump, Mamdani urged him to pay attention, asserting that the city could lead the way in resisting Trump’s influence. His impassioned speech was met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd, celebrating his groundbreaking victory.