Today on My Poetic Side we take a look at the youth poet Amanda Gorman, who is dominating the news a week after the Presidential inauguration.

Amanda Gorman – A Week On!

It has been just a week since the youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman wowed the world when she delivered “The Hill We Climb” at the inauguration of President Joe Biden.  And in the past week, Gorman has found herself continually in the news.

On the 20^{th of} January, immediately after the inauguration, she received a prestigious job offer. David Wilson the Morgan State University President tweeted “Ms Gorman, I need you as our Poet-in-Residence at the National Treasure, @MorganStateU. Outstanding!!!!! Consider this a job offer!” The University is a historically Black seat of learning.  He later confirmed that whilst the offer had been somewhat spur of the moment it was completely genuine, and he would be watching his emails in the hope of a response. It is not yet known if the poet has accepted the job offer.

Just a day later, 21^st January, Gorman herself took to Twitter to share the news that two of her books had shot to the top of the bestsellers list on Amazon. She thanked her many followers, new and old, for their support of her and her poetry and quoted the poet W.B Yeats “For words alone are certain good: Sing, then.”

There were numerous television and radio interviews and then when it seemed like the attention of a nation might have turned to something else, Ms Gorman has once again hit the headlines.

On 26^th January it was announced that Amanda Gorman had been invited to perform a poem during the pregame show of this year’s Super Bowl.

The NFL announced that there would be a recitation of a poem which will be aired nationally on CBS and that would also be shown in-stadium. The poem is to be a new one written especially for the occasion. The poem will be written as a tribute to three “heroes” who have been chosen by the NFL. They are a nurse, a teacher and a Marine Corps veteran. The NFL said that these three had been chosen because they were symbolic of the group they represent and the support that has been given throughout the pandemic.

The 55^th Super Bowl, the Super Bowl LV, will take place in Tampa, Florida on 7^th February. It will see the Kansas City Chiefs play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Now Gorman has signed a modelling contract with IMG Models, the modelling agency that represents Bella Hadid and Gigi.

The poet has been something of a fashion sensation since the inauguration there has been a significant surge of internet searches by people looking for “yellow coats” (an increase of 1.328%) and the red satin headband that she wore, made by Prada has sold out.

Amanda Gorman said that she loved her style which she feels reflects her upbringing, she has a fondness for loud dresses embroidered with flowers which she is sure are a nod to her upbringing in Los Angeles as an Afro-flower-child.