Srinagar, June 26 -- Duwaji, 27, is a Syrian American animator and illustrator whose evocative, politically charged work has graced the pages and platforms of major global outlets includingThe New Yorker,The Washington Post, BBC, Apple, Spotify, and the Tate Modern. On Election Night, she stood quietly beside Mamdani as he delivered his victory speech, her presence a rare but poignant moment in a campaign where she has largely remained out of the spotlight.

She later posted just four words on Instagram:"couldn't possibly be prouder,"alongside a black-and-white photo booth strip with Mamdani and a voting selfie. For her nearly 92,000 followers, the post was quintessential Duwaji - intimate, artistic, and deeply personal.

Born in Texas an...