This makes Amanda Gorman the first poet presented on Vogue’s cover.
What We Know:
- Gorman emphasized her excitement on Wednesday when Vogue broke the news on Twitter. She said she was “honored” in her response. Not only is the 23-year-old the cover girl, but she is also the subject of the profile “The Rise and Rise of Amanda Gorman.” In the issue, she shares lessons from her inauguration appearance, a modeling contract with IMG, and her thoughts on certain Democratic figures.
- Gorman also recalls her family history. She specifically mentions how it helped her get to where she is today. She says her mother, a middle-school English teacher in Watts, taught her the importance of maintaining a wholesome image. Gorman notes her family has a united vision of literary and social success. Her family believes that one is successful if one inspires as many readers as possible.
“It took so much labor, not only on behalf of me, but also of my family and of my village, to get here,” Gorman told Doreen St. Felix.
- Additionally, Gorman voices her emotions before presenting at the inauguration of President Joe Biden. The Biden Inaugural Committee told her they wanted her to perform at the event in late December. At first, she felt flattered. She automatically began research on past poets like Maya Angelou and Elizabeth Alexander. Afterward, she became concerned. She worried about the coronavirus pandemic and the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrections. However, she felt the words of another poet would have been as inspiring.
- St. Felix allows Gorman to recount how advisors motivated her before her reading. Oprah Winfrey told her she needed to look to Maya Angelou as an example. Joan Wicks, Gorman’s mother, told St. Felix she encouraged Gorman to perform. Wicks says she sees her daughter as a writer whose duty is to serve democracy.
- Gorman read her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the Jan. 20 presidential event. After this, Gorman finalized a contract with IMG Models, which had been in the works before her social debut. The partnership has presented her with more opportunities. These include having Penguin Random House as a publisher and being on the cover of TIME. However, she is wary about being categorized as a model. Since starting her career, she has rejected $17 million in offers. She proclaims she needs to be conscious of taking commissions that speak to her. Gorman affirms a campaign “isn’t my body. It’s my voice.”
Besides being an up-and-coming model, Gorman has completed many literary and academic accomplishments. In 2014, she became the first Los Angeles poet laureate. She also won the title of first national youth poet laureate in 2017. In 2020, she graduated from Harvard University with cum laude honors and a Bachelor’s degree in sociology. Gorman’s future is preparing her for a legacy of inspiration for others.
