The incoming First Lady of New York City, visual artist Rama Duwaji, has captivated the public with a glamorous and intimate cover feature for The Cut magazine. The 28-year-old's appearance marks her first press interview since her husband, Zohran Mamdani, 34, won the 2025 New York City mayoral election in a political upset last November.
A 'Surreal' New Chapter for an Artist
In the historic profile, Duwaji opened up about her reaction to the title of First Lady, admitting the concept felt 'surreal' at first. "When I first heard it, it felt so formal and like - not that I didn't feel deserving of it, but it felt like, me…?" she told the magazine. She has since grown more comfortable, embracing the idea that there are "different ways to do it."
Photographed in loaned designer attire, Duwaji was keen to frame her future role through her identity as a creative. "At the end of the day, I'm not a politician," she stated. "I'm here to be a support system for Z and to use the role in the best way that I can as an artist."
From Hinge Match to City Hall
The feature also shed light on the couple's modern-day love story, which began on the dating app Hinge in 2021. At the time, Duwaji was 24 and Mamdani was a 29-year-old New York State Assemblymember. She confessed to having little initial knowledge of what his job entailed. "I didn't really know what an assemblymember was," she admitted.
However, his career was no deterrent. "I had indicated to him that I was politically inclined... so it wasn't an ick to me," Duwaji explained. "It was like, Oh, that's his job. Like, I'm an artist; he's an assemblymember."
Mamdani recalled his own immediate impression, revealing he was struck by her beauty. "I actually called one of my closest friends after just seeing her profile, without even having been matched, and said, 'I think this is someone special,'" the Mayor-elect shared.
Public and Fan Acclaim for the Feature
The stylish cover shoot and accompanying interview have been met with widespread praise online. Fans particularly applauded the artistic direction, which reflected Duwaji's own creative work.
Reactions on platforms like Reddit included comments such as:
- "Gorgeous. I love that they styled her as the artist she is!"
- "Looked exactly like her own artwork. This pictorial is flawless."
- "These are history book worthy portraits... literally going to be in my future grandchildren's AP History textbooks."
The profile arrives just weeks before Mamdani's historic inauguration. He is set to become New York City's first Muslim mayor on January 1, after defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. He will be sworn in on New Year's Day and will take up residence in Gracie Mansion, the official mayor's residence.
