Rama Duwaji's Election Day post on Instagram was only four words long, but said all it needed to say: "couldn't possibly be prouder."
It was accompanied by a photo-booth strip of happy poses with her husband, Zohran Mamdani, and a voting selfie that would presage a momentous night: The 33-year-old state assemblyman would stun the political world - and opponent Andrew Cuomo - with his success in the race for the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor.
While the ultimate outcome has yet to be confirmed by a ranked choice count , many across the country woke up Wednesday eager to learn more both about Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist who's now poised to be the nominee, and also about Duwaji, an animator and illustrator originally from Damascus, Syria, according to her Instagram bio. Mamdani kissed her hand during his victory speech to supporters, thanking "my incredible wife."
In her art career, Duwaji has worked with The New Yorker, The Washington Post, the BBC, Apple, Spotify, VICE and the Tate Modern museum in London, among others, according to one bio page. "Using drawn portraiture and movement, Rama examines the nuances of sisterhood and communal experiences," it says.
Duwaji also enjoys taking a break from her tech-based art to create her own ceramics , particularly illustrated plates in blue and white.