Since her compelling, impassioned reading of her original poem, “The Hill We Climb,” during President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, the attention of the world has been on 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, who was named the United States’ first Youth Poet Laureate in 2017. Unsurprisingly, her book sales have gone through the roof in the past few days.
“I AM ON THE FLOOR MY BOOKS ARE #1 & #2 ON AMAZON AFTER 1 DAY! Thank you so much to everyone for supporting me and my words,” Gorman wrote on Twitter the evening of the inauguration. “As Yeats put it: ‘For words alone are certain good: Sing, then.'”
The post has been liked more than 600,000 times so far.
I AM ON THE FLOOR MY BOOKS ARE #1 & #2 ON AMAZON AFTER 1 DAY! Thank you so much to everyone for supporting me and my words. As Yeats put it: "For words alone are certain good: Sing, then"
— Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) January 20, 2021
In another bit of exciting news, Gorman has also signed with IMG Models, as the agency revealed on Jan. 26. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the agency will focus on brand endorsements and editorial opportunities for the poet, who graduated from Harvard in 2020.
NOW REPRESENTING: #AmandaGorman! pic.twitter.com/RjIgulKzLr
— IMG Models (@IMGmodels) January 26, 2021
People revealed that fellow IMG client Gigi Hadid congratulated Gorman on joining the family, sharing the news on her Instagram Story with a caption that was written in all-caps and loaded with exclamation points.
Rounding out a busy week, the young poet also appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Tuesday, looking as stylish as ever in a Chanel tweed jacket and a yellow headband.
What a blast to be on @TheEllenShow yesterday! Thanks for having me and happy bday Ellen! ðð pic.twitter.com/WjWanYdock
— Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) January 27, 2021
Yellow is Gorman’s favorite color — as revealed by Gayle King during CBS News’ live broadcast of the inauguration. For the big event, Gorman chose a bright yellow, double-breasted Prada coat over a white collared shirt and black leather pencil skirt and black leather pumps. Her accessories included a red satin headband and jewelry gifted to her by none other than Oprah Winfrey.
“Maya [Angelou] did Bill Clinton’s address. She reached out to Amanda because [Winfrey] bought Maya her coat that she wore that day,” King explained. “She said, ‘I’d like to get a coat for you to carry on that tradition.'”
“[Gorman] said, ‘I’ve already picked out my coat. It’s yellow. It’s my favorite color.'” So instead of a coat, Winfrey gave Gorman earrings and “a ring that’s shaped like a caged bird” as a tribute to Angelou’s iconic poem, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” She wrote about the ring and its significance on Twitter.
Thank you! I would be nowhere without the women whose footsteps I dance in. While reciting my poem, I wore a ring with a caged bird—a gift from @Oprah for the occasion , to symbolize Maya Angelou, a previous inaugural poet. Here’s to the women who have climbed my hills before. https://t.co/5Tegd20sko
— Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) January 20, 2021
In the heartfelt tweet, Gorman thanked Winfrey, writing that she “would be nowhere without the women whose footsteps I dance in.” She ended her tweet, “Here’s to the women who have climbed my hills before.”
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