Washington, DC – Rama Dawaji, a Syrian-born artist from Houston, Texas, has risen to prominence in the media following her husband Zahran Mamdani’s victory in the New York mayoral race, officially making her the new “First Lady of New York.” Dawaji, 28, represents Generation Z in public office and boasts a multicultural personal and artistic background that promises a new model for political engagement.
A diverse cultural background and specialized artistic expertise
Rama Dawaji hails from a Syrian family from Damascus and spent her childhood moving between Houston, Dubai, and several Gulf countries before settling in New York. This diverse background shaped her academic and artistic path:
Education: She completed her undergraduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Qatar campus and earned her master’s degree from the Graduate School of Visual Arts in New York.
Art and Message
Rama combines the roles of illustrator and animator. Her artwork focuses on clear social issues, most notably the experiences of Middle Eastern women and the suffering of Palestinians, as she affirms: “I can only use my voice.” Her work has been published in prestigious magazines such as The Cut, Vogue, and The New Yorker.
A quiet encounter and a visual impact behind the scenes
Unlike traditional models, Rama chose a quiet and influential role during her husband’s election campaign, whom she met through the dating app Hinge in 2021:
Marriage: They became officially engaged after a first date in Brooklyn, and married in a civil ceremony in Lower Manhattan in February 2025.
The role in the campaign
Rama preferred to stay away from the spotlight and media interviews, as her direct presence was limited and quiet, and was restricted to key events.
She played a pivotal behind-the-scenes role in shaping the visual identity of Mamdani’s campaign, contributing to the design of the campaign’s visual elements that reinforced her husband’s political messages.
A future look at the role of the “First Lady”
With Zahran Mamdani’s rise, Rama’s public role as First Lady is expected to remain unconventional. She is likely to continue supporting her husband through her artistic platform and independent social activism.
Rama Dwaji’s independent and balanced style represents a new model for first ladies in American politics, combining a private professional and artistic life with quiet marital support, adding a new dimension to the role of political spouses and reflecting the vision of her generation.
