Khaberni - When Zehran Mumdani, the winner of the New York mayoral elections, mentioned his wife Rama, the crowd cheered as a reminder of her important role in her husband’s campaign.
According to the American "New York Times", the word "my life" was what Zehran Mumdani said in Arabic to describe his wife in his victory speech after winning the position of mayor of New York.
And he said, "To my wonderful wife.. Rama.. my life.. no one is better than you to be by my side at this moment, and at every moment," before she joined him on stage amid warm applause.
In the period leading up to election day, Rama Douji, an animator, kept away from traditional political limelight, not involving in talks about elections and politics, except for a selfie she posted on her Instagram account on election morning with a "I Voted" sticker.
Away from her husband’s noisy campaign, Douji (28 years old) was busy during the past few months with her work, recently publishing her drawings in a "Vogue" article highlighting garment workers in New York City.
In an article in "New York" magazine, she published her drawings of the items Palestinians took from their homes when they fled Gaza throughout the summer and fall seasons, and she also attended art and fashion events, and managed ceramic workshops around the city.
In May last year, Mumdani wrote on Instagram saying, "Rama is not just my wife; she is a wonderful artist who deserves to be recognized for her character," according to what was mentioned by the American "New York Times."
At that time, the newspaper quoted Husnain Bhati, (32 years old) a photographer and friend of hers describing Rama as "the modern-day Princess Diana."
Rama, of Syrian origin, was born in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Arts, then moved to New York City in 2021 to pursue her professional career in the arts.
In the same year, she met Mumdani when he was an unknown member of the state council through the dating app "Hinge".
Many of Rama's close friends described her husband's sudden rise as "exciting but exhausting and very far from what she imagined for her life when she moved to the city."
In 2024, Rama earned a Master's degree from New York's School of Visual Arts in Fine Arts in Illustration as an Editorial, and a few months later, Mumdani posted her smiling picture on Instagram, announcing their engagement.
In February last year, Zehran and Rama got married at the Manhattan marriage office, and in July, they held a wedding in Uganda, Mumdani's birthplace.
Rama Douji’s black and white designs reflect her concerns about humanitarian crises in Gaza, Sudan, and Lebanon, depicting scenes from the depths of life in the Middle East and constantly publishing her drawings on Instagram, where she has gained a special fan base.
While some of her followers, numbering 224 thousand, were drawn to her artworks, others were attracted to her style, including her wardrobe featuring attractive classic pieces, and stacked gold jewelry.
