When Zohran Mamdani was declared the next Mayor of New York City on Tuesday night, the cheers echoed far beyond the walls of City Hall. At just 33, Mamdani made history as the first Muslim mayor and the youngest to lead the city in over a century. But beside him, smiling with quiet pride, stood someone making history of her own — his wife, 28-year-old artist Rama Duwaji.
A Match Made on Hinge
While Mamdani’s political career has captivated headlines, his love story with Rama feels more like a modern-day fairytale. The couple met on Hinge in 2021 — long before the mayoral campaign or the spotlight. At the time, Mamdani was a newly elected New York State Assemblyman, while Rama, a Syrian-American illustrator living in Brooklyn, had little interest in politics.
Their first date was charmingly simple — coffee at Qahwah House, a cozy Yemeni café, followed by a walk through McCarren Park. On their second outing, Mamdani gave her a personal tour of his Astoria district — the same neighborhood that would one day propel him to City Hall.
By October 2024, they were engaged. “Couldn’t possibly be prouder,” Rama wrote on Instagram, sharing a childhood photo of Mamdani alongside engagement pictures.
Just days later, Mamdani announced his campaign for mayor — and Rama was right by his side.
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