Earlier this week, Zohran Mamdani made history by winning the New York City mayoral race. The event also introduced many to his wife, artist Rama Duwaji. (Sharp-eyed Vogue readers might already know her from our Fashion Month feature, which spotlighted nine leading garment workers.)

At the election night party, the future first lady of New York wore a top by Palestinian-Jordanian designer Zeid Hijazi and a skirt from Ulla Johnson. But it was her distinctive haircut that set social media buzzing.

Duwaji’s rich brown hair is cut in a style that blends a bob and a pixie—dubbed a “bixie” when it gained popularity earlier this year—and features very short bangs. For the big evening, the Syrian American’s hair was styled by Xavier Velasquez, with makeup by artist Aya Tariq, who used KJH, a favorite brand of Dua Lipa.

“Rama trimmed her own bangs on Election Day morning,” Velasquez shared, describing the look as a slightly grown-out pixie with its own unique shape. “I was there to enhance it a bit without losing her authentic, artistic vibe as a Queens resident who air-dries her hair. At 28, I didn’t want her to look like a typical politician’s wife.” He mentioned drawing inspiration from Audrey Hepburn, Taylor Russell, and Kelsey Asbille from Yellowstone.

The hairstyle was a hit. “The new It-girl haircut has arrived,” declared content creator Sydney Robinson in a TikTok video that garnered nearly half a million views and over 500 comments, comparing it to the iconic Rachel cut. Another TikTok user, Elmira Vaidya, expressed her desire for the same cut but worried she’d end up looking more like Claire from Fleabag than Rama—though commenters quickly reassured her otherwise.

“We haven’t had any clients ask for the cut yet,” said Manhattan salon owner Jenna Perry, “but it’s definitely on its way. I love her eyeliner too. She’s set to become a beauty icon.”

For Velasquez, a 13-year New York City resident and voter, this experience was a personal and professional highlight. “The energy was incredible,” he remarked. “I’m excited to see what’s next.”

Bloomberg/Getty Images

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Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a helpful and clear FAQ about the trendy Rama haircut for the fall season

FAQs The Rama Haircut

Beginner Questions

1 What exactly is the Rama haircut
The Rama is a modern shoulderlength haircut characterized by its strong blunt baseline and soft faceframing layers Its a chic lowmaintenance style that combines the structure of a bob with the movement of longer hair

2 Who is the Rama haircut best for
Its a versatile cut that works well for most face shapes and hair types from straight to wavy Stylists often recommend it for those wanting a stylish manageable update that adds volume and shape

3 What are the main benefits of getting a Rama cut
Its key benefits are its effortless coolgirl vibe its ability to make hair look thicker and healthier due to the blunt ends and its versatilityit can be worn sleek and straight or with tousled textured waves

4 How is the Rama different from a lob
While similar in length a classic lob is often more uniform The Rama is defined by its distinct heavier baseline that is then softened with strategic disconnected layers around the face giving it a more dynamic and modern edge

Common Problems Styling

5 Will the Rama haircut work with fine or thin hair
Absolutely The blunt cut at the bottom creates the illusion of density and fullness making it an excellent choice for fine hair Your stylist can adjust the layering to avoid overthinning

6 I have thick curly hair Can I pull off a Rama
Yes but the result will be different On curly hair the Rama will create a beautiful rounded shape with lots of volume Its crucial to see a stylist experienced with curly cuts to adapt the layers to your curl pattern

7 Whats the biggest mistake people make when asking for a Rama
The biggest mistake is not communicating the desired softness of the layers Without this you might end up with a harsh onelength bob Bring photos to show your stylist the balance you want between blunt and textured

8 How do I style a Rama haircut at home
Its designed to be easy For a quick style