Rama Duwaji's Soft Inauguration Glam Proves That Cakey Is Out For 2026

Rama Duwaji delivered some impeccable styling and glam at the inauguration ceremony of her husband, Zohran Mamdani, as the mayor of New York City on January 1, 2026. Duwaji stepped out with a soft, subtly smoked-out underline and soft brown shadow that coordinated nicely with her brown coat. She kept things simple with a natural lip and a subtle wash of blush, and styled her bixie into soft waves. 

Duwaji is a fresh face in America's political landscape. And while makeup is obviously not major news when it comes to Mamdani's chapter as mayor, Duwaji's soft glam is ushering in an era of its own. Gone are the days of heavy makeup with cakey foundation, a makeup mistake that only makes a person look older. Gone are heavily artificial lashes and excessive smoky eyes. Instead, Duwaji offers up subtle glamour, one that's appropriate for a daytime event, but simultaneously speaks to the importance of the moment. People on X raved about Duwaji's inauguration makeup, praising her for a distinct, effortless style. Duwaji, who is an animator, illustrator, and ceramic artist, put her creative eye on display with this look's monochromatic styling and soft sophistication. But best of all, Duwaji showed us how a softer approach to makeup carries just as much impact, but less cakey weight. Instead, she looked luminous and radiant. 

Rama Duwaji and her husband, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, are both pushing back against the MAGA wave that rocked America during Donald Trump's second presidential inauguration in January 2025. Politically, Mamdani and Duwaji differ notably from Trump and his inner circle, and Duwaji is showcasing that difference even through makeup. 

The MAGA aesthetic has dominated the right with a very distinct style of beauty. The Mar-A-Lago face, a key feature of the MAGA world, is a plastic surgery trend that has spread like wildfire across the Republican Party, with figures like Kimberly Guilfoyle and Kristi Noem serving as faces of this controversial celebrity trend. The distinct cosmetic aesthetic features overly full, glossy lips along with Botoxed skin, spray tans, and heavy, cakey makeup, regardless of whether it's day or night. The trend, at its core, is removed from reality in that no one is pretending the Mar-A-Lago face is natural. Conversely, Duwaji's style at Mamdani's mayoral inauguration in New York City showed that there's a new political style that's emerging. It's glamorous and festive, but it's a much softer glam that embraces natural beauty and individual style.