Rama Dowaj at New York Fashion Week

Rama Dowaj, the first lady of New York City, was seen enjoying a drink in the front row at New York Fashion Week this past weekend.

Accompanying her was her husband, the socialist mayor Zoram Mamdani. During her appearance at Diotima’s fashion show on Sunday, she briefly posed for the paparazzi, showing a faint smile as she took in the runway from her seat.

For the occasion, Dowaj wore a cream and brown checked coat layered over a tan trench coat, paired with knee-high boots. She mingled with notable attendees like Puerto Rican model Joan Smalls, Vogue stylist Gabriela Karefa-Johnson, and former Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce.

The fashion label she supported is led by queer Jamaican designer Rachel Scott. Interestingly, Dowaj, who became the youngest first lady in the city’s history following her husband’s electoral win, has mostly kept a low profile. Her husband, often in the limelight, hadn’t been frequently photographed at public events since taking office.

Her appearance at New York Fashion Week marks a rare moment for the couple in public, hinting at a shift in her engagement with city life.

Recently, Dowaj’s Instagram following surged to 2 million, yet in a prior interview with The Cut, she expressed mixed feelings about the attention. She mentioned that although her life has changed significantly, she sees herself primarily as a supportive partner rather than a political figure.

“At the end of the day, I’m not a politician. I’m here to be Z’s support system and use that role as an artist in the best way I can,” she stated in the interview. “There are so many artists in the city trying to make it… I think it’s a priority to use this position to highlight them and give them a platform.”