Zohran Mamdani emerged victorious in the recent New York City mayoral election by securing over a million votes. At 34 years old, Mamdani is not only the city’s youngest mayor but also the first Muslim and South Asian to hold the position.
Scheduled to assume office in January, Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, an accomplished illustrator, is poised to become the city’s inaugural Gen Z First Lady at the age of 28. Raised in Dubai from a young age, she joined Mamdani on stage at Brooklyn’s Paramount Theatre following his victory, exuding sophistication in a black lace dress while drawing comparisons to the iconic Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn for her elegant hairstyle.
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 held their civil ceremony at Lower Manhattan’s City Hall in February.
Mamdani, the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, and his wife, who showcases her Arab heritage and artistic talent on Instagram, are anticipated to relocate to Gracie Mansion next year, the historical official residence of the mayor.
Known for his Democratic Socialist stance, Mamdani advocates for policies such as free public transportation, rent freezes, reduced police presence, and increased taxes on the affluent and large corporations. In a passionate address to his supporters in Brooklyn, Mamdani proudly declared, “I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this.”
Directing a message to former President Trump, Mamdani urged, “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up! If any city can show a nation how to stop Donald Trump, it is the city that gave rise to him.” His bold speech elicited enthusiastic cheers from the jubilant crowd celebrating his historic triumph.