Rama Douaji: The Syrian-American Artist Redefining New York’s First Lady Role
From Damascus roots to City Hall—how Generation Z artist Rama Douaji became the creative force behind Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s historic victory.
After the announcement of Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani’s victory as Mayor of New York City, public attention quickly turned to his wife, Rama Douaji, who captivated audiences and sparked curiosity about her identity—especially after details emerged about her Arab and Syrian roots.
Following her husband’s historic win, the 28-year-old artist will make history herself as the first member of Generation Z to serve as New York City’s First Lady.
Rama Douaji, a Syrian-American visual artist, gained wide attention when she appeared alongside Mamdani during his victory speech. In his remarks, Mamdani made a heartfelt reference to his wife, saying:“And to my wonderful wife, Rama… there is no one I would rather have by my side at this moment and every moment.”
The crowd erupted in cheers, reflecting her important role in his campaign.
Widespread Reaction
According to CNN, Douaji’s background and story ignited strong engagement across social media. Users highlighted her Syrian heritage, her education in Qatar, and her upbringing in Dubai before returning to the United States.
Born in Houston, Texas, Douaji lived there until age 9, when her family moved to Dubai. She later studied briefly at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Qatar, then transferred to the VCU campus in Richmond, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Communication Arts in 2019. She completed her MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay at the School of Visual Arts in New York in 2024.
Douaji met Mamdani in 2021 through the dating app Hinge, unaware at first that he was a New York State Assembly member. They got engaged in October 2024 and celebrated in Dubai that December, before marrying in February 2025 at the Manhattan City Clerk’s Office, taking photos on the iconic green couches with City Hall as their backdrop.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1997 in Houston to a Syrian family from Damascus, Rama spent nearly a decade in Dubai before returning to the United States. After completing her degree in 2019, she moved to New York in 2021 to pursue her artistic career—the same year she met Mamdani.
Artistic Journey
Rama Douaji is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans illustration, pottery, and graphic design. Her art explores humanitarian, social, and political themes, often using black-and-white drawings of Middle Eastern women to highlight issues such as hunger in Gaza and the Palestinian struggle, echoing her husband’s criticism of Israeli government policies and the Gaza war following October 7, 2023.
Her portfolio includes collaborations with The New Yorker, The Washington Post, the BBC, Apple, Spotify, Vice Media, and Tate Modern Museum. She has conducted illustration and animation workshops since 2021.
Although she works mainly with digital media, she often turns to handcrafted pottery and analog illustration, blending traditional craft with modern design.
According to her official website, Douaji’s art centers on portraiture and motion to explore Arab identity, sisterhood, collective experience, and political resistance. Many pieces include pro-Palestine messages, depicting Israeli violence, ethnic cleansing, and U.S. complicity.
Her animated works have also criticized New York charities accused of financing Israeli war crimes, and her art appeared in the 2022 documentary Who Killed My Grandfather?, about the 1974 assassination of a Yemeni politician.
New York’s First Lady
Though she prefers to stay out of the spotlight, Douaji played a key role in designing the visual identity of Mamdani’s mayoral campaign—including its color palette (yellow, orange, blue) and branding elements.
She was instrumental in boosting Mamdani’s digital presence, offering creative direction on social-media strategy and campaign aesthetics. While avoiding the traditional campaign circuit, she advised behind the scenes and joined Mamdani on stage during his victory speech, as well as during media appearances such as The Daily Show.
Douaji was also present at Mamdani’s final rally in Queens’ Forest Hills Stadium, attended by over 10,000 supporters and headlined by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders.
