Amanda Gorman read a poem during the 59th presidential inauguration in Washington on January 20. AP
Amanda Gorman read a poem during the 59th presidential inauguration in Washington on January 20. AP
Amanda Gorman read a poem during the 59th presidential inauguration in Washington on January 20. AP
Amanda Gorman read a poem during the 59th presidential inauguration in Washington on January 20. AP

What's next for Amanda Gorman? The young inaugural poet's career is truly taking off


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

Oprah Winfrey, Jill Biden, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Michelle and Barack Obama: the list of Amanda Gorman's fans reads like a who's who of America's elite.

Thankfully, since she recited her powerful poem at US President Joe Biden's inauguration, following in the footsteps of other inaugural poets such as Maya Angelou, she has fully harnessed this star power and quickly propelled her career to new heights.

Most recently, she signed a deal with IMG Models, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The agency, which represents the likes of Gigi and Bella Hadid, and Chrissy Teigen, will reportedly focus on building the poet's profile through brand endorsements and editorial opportunities.

Gorman read her original poem The Hill We Climb to much acclaim in Washington on Wednesday. Since then, she's appeared on Good Morning America and on CNN, and is set to feature on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday.

Her yet-to-be-published books – The Hill We Climb and Other Poems and the children's picture book Change Sings: A Children's Anthem – have shot to the top of Amazon's bestseller charts. These will hit shelves in September.

Meanwhile, over the past week, her social media following has exploded. She's gone from having 7,000 Twitter followers to 1.4 million, while on Instagram she has 3.1 million and counting.

Poet Amanda Gorman takes a photo with former president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. Reuters
Poet Amanda Gorman takes a photo with former president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. Reuters

She's even become something of a fashion guru after she famously donned an eye-catching yellow coat and bright-red headband by Prada, along with an Of Rare Origin ring in the shape of a caged bird, and a pair of gold hoop earrings by Greek designer Nikos Koulis, both of which were gifted to her by Winfrey.

WWD has referred to her as a "new kind of style icon", while the headband has sold out and searches for "yellow coats" surged by 1,328 per cent overnight, according to global fashion search platform Lyst.

However, while social media, modelling and chat show appearances may be keeping her busy at the moment, it's issues such as oppression, feminism, race and marginalisation that truly keep Gorman occupied. And, now, she's never been in a better position to champion those causes and perhaps even make effective changes.

All eyes are most certainly on her.

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