At Zohran Mamdani's swearing in, Rama Duwaji remains art-world chic
- - At Zohran Mamdani's swearing in, Rama Duwaji remains art-world chic
Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY January 1, 2026 at 8:42 PM
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As New York City's first lady, Rama Duwaji channels art-world chic.
The Syrian-American illustrator held two Qurans as Zohran Mamdani took the oath of office as New York City mayor after midnight on New Year's Day, in a minimalist black coat, a knee-length black dress or skirt and black ankle boots, with a pair of gold, sculptural statement earrings.
Duwaji, 28, has continued to subvert expectations in her clothing choices as the incoming first lady, favoring understated, modern looks with creative-class sensibility. Online, she's seen in similarly modernist looks, and as the 34-year-old democratic socialist made his victory speech in November, Duwaji was by his side wearing a dark denim square-neck top by Palestinian-Jordanian designer Zeid Hijazi and a Ulla Johnson black skirt, also with statement dangling earrings by New York City jewelry designer Eddie Borgo.
Duwaji obtained a master's degree in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker, The Washington Post as well as Apple and Spotify.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/O3oGqMm.yTpVUajgzJsKog--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/377378dc84ac77840e46f217b29b901c class=caas-img data-headline="Get to know Rama Duwaji, Zohran Mamdani's wife and NYC's youngest first lady" data-caption="
Duwaji obtained a master's degree in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker, The Washington Post as well as Apple and Spotify.
">Duwaji obtained a master's degree in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker, The Washington Post as well as Apple and Spotify.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/O3oGqMm.yTpVUajgzJsKog--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/377378dc84ac77840e46f217b29b901c class=caas-img>Duwaji, 28, was born in Houston to Syrian parents, spending part of her childhood in Dubai.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/403WaiRAhYC83AphIj8tkg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05ODM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3af69e63c9550fb78ef4252406602fc4 class=caas-img data-headline="Get to know Rama Duwaji, Zohran Mamdani's wife and NYC's youngest first lady" data-caption="
Duwaji, 28, was born in Houston to Syrian parents, spending part of her childhood in Dubai.
">Duwaji, 28, was born in Houston to Syrian parents, spending part of her childhood in Dubai.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/403WaiRAhYC83AphIj8tkg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05ODM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3af69e63c9550fb78ef4252406602fc4 class=caas-img>
1 / 6Get to know Rama Duwaji, Zohran Mamdani's wife and NYC's youngest first lady
Duwaji obtained a master's degree in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker, The Washington Post as well as Apple and Spotify.
Rama Duwaji, illustrating her own life, is more than Zohran Mamdani's wife
At Mamdani's swearing in, he called taking the office "the honor and a privilege of a lifetime" after signing the paperwork and paying a $9 filing fee to make it official.
Mamdani, who was also surrounded by his parents, Mahmood Mamdani and Mira Nair, was administered the oath by New York Attorney General Letitia James under the Spanish-tiled arches of a landmarked former subway station below City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
Inauguration live updates: Zohran Mamdani takes office as NYC mayor
Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as New York City's 112th mayor by New York Attorney General Letitia James, left, alongside his wife Rama Duwaji, right, in the former City Hall subway station on Jan. 1, 2026, in New York City.
Mamdani will also be sworn in outside City Hall by Sen. Bernie Sanders after an introduction by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Mamdani is the 112th person — but the first Muslim and the first person of South Asian descent — to lead the nation's largest city. By taking his oath on the Quran, he is now the first mayor of New York to do so, according to the New York Times.
Contributing: Victoria E. Freile, Eduardo Cuevas, Dan Morrison and Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zohran Mamdani's wife Rama Duwaji faithful to all-black aesthetic
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