Rama Sawaf Duwaji (born June 30, 1997) is an American animator, illustrator, and ceramic artist. Throughout her career, her artwork has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker and The Washington Post, as well as on platforms like BBC, Apple, and Tate Modern. Duwaji is married to politician Zohran Mamdani, who won the mayoral election in New York City in 2025. She will take on the position of First Lady of New York City starting January 1, 2026.
Early life and education of Rama Duwaji
Rama Sawaf Duwaji was born on June 30, 1997, in Houston, Texas, to parents of Syrian Muslim descent from Damascus. Her father works as a software developer, while her mother is a physician. When she was nine, the family relocated to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where she spent her childhood in various Arab nations of the Persian Gulf.
Duwaji has mentioned that drawing provided her comfort, often getting her into trouble for sketching in her school textbooks and notebooks. Her parents supported her artistic passion but guided her to consider practical career options. After completing high school, Duwaji pursued communication arts at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts. She started her freshman year at the satellite campus in Doha, Qatar, then transferred to the main campus in Richmond, Virginia, and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts cum laude in 2019.
Following her graduation, Duwaji returned to Dubai and engaged in several artist residencies, including those in Beirut, Lebanon, and Paris, France, before moving to New York City in 2021 to study illustration as a visual essay at the School of Visual Arts. She obtained her Master of Fine Arts in 2024, with a graduate thesis centered on the communal act of preparing and sharing food. After receiving her master’s degree, Duwaji was among 24 artists chosen for a residency in the Catskill Mountains, New York, out of over 500 applicants.
Artistry of Rama Duwaji
Duwaji’s illustrations frequently delve into Arab culture and emphasize social justice issues in the Middle East, especially women’s rights, while also portraying everyday life scenes in those regions. She draws inspiration from her personal experiences and the causes she is passionate about. Her work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, as well as various British media outlets like the BBC and Tate Modern, and she has partnered with Spotify and Apple.
Since 2023, Duwaji has created various pieces addressing the Gaza genocide and the Israel–Hezbollah conflict, along with artwork supporting victims of the Sudanese Civil War.
Personal life of Rama Duwaji
Duwaji first encountered Zohran Mamdani, a member of the New York State Assembly and the son of academic Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair, through the dating app Hinge in 2021. The couple became engaged in October 2024, held a private nikah ceremony two months later, and were married in February 2025 in a civil ceremony at New York City Hall; they also held a ceremony in Uganda, Mamdani’s homeland, in July 2025. The couple currently lives in Mamdani’s legislative district of Astoria, Queens, located near Steinway Street.
Following Mamdani’s success in the 2025 mayoral election, Duwaji is expected to assume the role of First Lady of New York City in January 2026.
Net worth of Rama Duwaji
The estimated net worth of Rama Duwaji is about $10 million.