And the poem she wrote for ELLE UK in 2018
Amanda Gorman is the name on everyone’s lips this morning, hours after she stunned the world reading a poem during President Joe Biden’s swearing-in on Inauguration Day 2021.
Taking to the stage in front of the US Capitol on the cold January morning, the first ever US youth poet laureate read aloud her poem ‘The Hill We Climb’ to guests including Vice President Kamala Harris, Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez and millions of people across the world via live broadcasts.
Dressed in Prada – her red satin embellished headband and yellow double-breasted coat quickly made her a sartorial icon – the 23-year-old called the US public ‘diverse and beautiful’ in her inspiring poem, which we can’t stop reading today.
Following her history-defining speech, the wordsmith became a bestselling author on Amazon and reacted to the news on Twitter.
‘I AM ON THE FLOOR MY BOOKS ARE #1 & #2 ON AMAZON AFTER 1 DAY! [sic]’ the poet laureate wrote on social media after reading aloud her poem on Inauguration Day.
Her forthcoming poetry collection, titled The Hill We Climb, is available to pre-order on September 21, 2021, via Viking Books. Her other forthcoming title, Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem, is also now a best-seller on Amazon.
Three years prior, Gorman wrote exclusively for ELLE UK for our September 2018 Sustainability issue, addressing the women of the world.
Read the poem here and try not to weep:
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