Mayor Zohran Mamdani has surprised New Yorkers by debuting a new look, trading his signature beard for a mustache.
Mamdani's City Hall spokesperson confirmed that the change was made to honor "Movember," the global charity event aimed at raising awareness for men’s health issues. The mayor's new facial hair was evident on Sunday as he participated in the New York City Marathon, cheering on runners and handing out water. He was seen wearing a suit, a baseball cap, and a yellow construction vest.
Previously, Mamdani was seen with his beard on Friday evening while meeting with Gov. Kathy Hochul to greet trick-or-treaters in Queens. His participation in the marathon with the distinct mustache led some observers to speculate it was a disguise. One social media user commented that Mamdani "trades his usual look for a disguise to encourage marathon runners with water and high-fives."
Mamdani also attended an event on Sunday with Gov. Hochul and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Astoria to watch the Buffalo Bills game. His mustache garnered further social media attention, with one user noting he "now looks like a contestant in one of those NYC look-alike contests."
Mamdani, reportedly the city's first bearded mayor since 1913, has a history of supporting the Movember cause. He has previously advocated for men's health issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health awareness. The Movember initiative begins on November 1, encouraging participants to shave clean and grow mustaches throughout the month to draw attention to these causes.