Pop Cult: Mamdani is my mayor, too

“The name is Mamdani — M-A-M-D-A-N-I.”

I know this is a pop culture column, but a little political awareness never hurt anyone. Now that I’m a member of the Hot Girls for Zohran community, I believe I hold some accountability to recruit more members. I promise, this is not a cult.

I became a self-proclaimed New Yorker after Zohran Mamdani’s win and so should you. Politics was down so bad that we all decided to be collectively aware of a mayoral election hundreds of miles away. In complete and shameless honesty, I forget about Brenda sometimes. Sorry girl, my bad. 

But if you thought that no one can outshine Mamdani, as I had initially — much to my embarrassment, let me introduce you to New York’s first lady, legendary artist Rama Duwaji. 

There is a reason why the iconography and font on Mamdani’s campaign branding seemed so distinctive but also weirdly familiar. The bold yellow, orange, and blue campaign art and bodega-inspired posters involved none other than Duwaji’s input and finalization. Truly, Mamdani might have been the face, but this was Duwaji’s campaign. If he was the model, she was the director.

But art is not the only way Duwaji can make a statement. In her first public appearance after Mamdani’s mayoral win, she opted for a stunning laser-etched black denim top by Zeid Hijazi, a Palestinian Jordanian designer that fuses ancient folklore with Arab futurism. She’s on some queen shit, if you ask me. 

It’s no surprise the pair make a power couple. The Big Apple is in good hands. 

Speaking of power couples, what do Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau talk about? His son’s rap career? Or worse — is a future collaboration in the works? Does Trudeau know Perry’s career stalled three albums ago? Actually, I’m not sure if Perry knows that either. Strange, strange world. Netflix, I have a movie pitch!

Speaking of strange things, stranger things happened on the Stranger Things set, and no, I’m not talking about Noah Schnapp. Right before filming Season 5 of the small-town horror mystery, Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown accused co-star David Harbour of bullying and harassment. This came shortly after Harbour’s ex-wife Lilly Allen’s latest album referencing his extramarital affair. Uno reverse, Hopper, Uno reverse. 

Erika Kirk and J.D. Vance — a.k.a. “the Christian nationalist white dream,” as some TikTok users might put it. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some political tea but I can do without this one. Frankly, nothing surprises me anymore, but even Trudeau and Perry are more bearable compared to whatever’s going on in the right-wing circles

Usha, girl, I don’t know how to defend you out of this one. I know that no one will ever replace your husband, but maybe actually, someone could (ask Erika, she probably knows someone who doesn’t want to convert you).

British Vogue says it’s embarrassing to have a boyfriend now. Some have even gone as far to say that having a boyfriend feels Republican or lame. I understand why anyone’s aura would significantly go down from associating with a man, but let’s be hopeful, guys — men like Mamdani exist. Imagine going on Hinge and matching with a man who actually goes on to become the mayor.