Rama Sawaf Duwaji, born in 1997, is an American animator, illustrator, and ceramist whose work has been shown internationally. She became the First Lady of New York City in January 2026 upon her husband Zohran Mamdani's inauguration as mayor. Duwaji's artistic background includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts, where her graduate thesis explored the communal act of making and sharing food. Her illustrations often delve into Arab culture, social justice issues in the Middle East, and women's rights, with her work appearing in publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post. She has also created art addressing conflicts in Gaza and Sudan. Duwaji's personal life includes her marriage to Zohran Mamdani, and her role as First Lady has brought public attention to past social media activity from her teenage years, which she later described as "harmful" and expressed shame over.

Rama Sawaf Duwaji's artistic career spans animation, illustration, and ceramics, with her work displayed in both the United States and Europe. Her illustrations frequently engage with Arab culture, focusing on themes of social justice, particularly concerning women's rights in the Middle East, alongside depictions of everyday life in the region. Duwaji has expressed a desire for her art to connect with specific individuals, stating, "Now I just want it to move someone – the people who need it." Her creative output has been recognized in major publications such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, and she has collaborated with prominent entities like Spotify and Apple. More recently, Duwaji has produced significant works addressing the conflict in Gaza and the war in Sudan, demonstrating a commitment to using her art for social commentary and advocacy.

Born in Houston, Texas, in 1997 to Syrian immigrant parents from Damascus, Rama Sawaf Duwaji spent her childhood moving between New Jersey and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Her parents, a software developer and a pediatrician involved in humanitarian work, encouraged practicality in her career choices, though they supported her early passion for art. Duwaji pursued her artistic education at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She later moved to New York City to study illustration at the School of Visual Arts, completing a Master of Fine Arts in 2024. Her graduate studies culminated in a thesis centered on the social and communal aspects of food preparation and sharing. Following her master's degree, she was selected for a prestigious artist residency in the Catskill Mountains.

In January 2026, Rama Sawaf Duwaji assumed the role of First Lady of New York City following her husband Zohran Mamdani's election as mayor. This position marked her as the first member of Gen Z and the first Muslim to hold the title. Her public profile led to scrutiny of past social media activity from her teenage years. Reports surfaced regarding her "liking" of pro-Palestinian posts and her involvement in illustrating a work by a writer whose statements were considered controversial. Further reports highlighted older social media posts from 2013-2017 that expressed support for Palestinian political figures and contained strong anti-Israel sentiments, as well as derogatory language. Duwaji later acknowledged using "harmful" language as a teenager, expressing shame for the impact of her words.

“I used to want my work to move everyone. Now I just want it to move someone – the people who need it.”

“harmful”

“shame”