Rama Duwaji is a Syrian-American artist and illustrator born June 30, 1997, in Houston, Texas, to Syrian parents from Damascus. She spent much of her childhood in Dubai, studied at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Doha and Richmond, earned an MFA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York, and has built a career as an animator, illustrator, and designer whose work has appeared in outlets such as The New Yorker and The Washington Post. She is married to Zohran Mamdani, a New York political figure who won the mayoral race, making Duwaji the incoming First Lady of New York City as of early 2026. Her background includes Syrian heritage, time in the Gulf region during formative years, and a focus on themes like sisterhood, identity, and communal healing in her art.
Notes on context:
- Multiple sources highlight her Syrian descent and Dubai upbringing, which influence her artistic voice.
- Her marriage to Zohran Mamdani and the significance of her role as a young first lady are covered in reporting around late 2025.
- There are varying profiles that emphasize her as a Brooklyn-based illustrator with a transnational background.
If you’d like, I can pull more details on specific aspects (early life, artistic themes, or her public appearances) or verify the most up-to-date status regarding her role in New York City’s civic life.
