Things just keep getting better for inaugural poet and National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman. After her star-making appearance at President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20th where she recited the poem “The Hill We Climb,” Gorman became one of the most talked-about people on the internet. And now, not only has she landed a high-profile modeling contract with IMG Models she’s also going to be reciting a new poem on Sunday, Feb. 7 at the 2021 Super Bowl — historically one of the most-watched television events each year with viewership that typically exceeds 100 million.
According to CNN, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that Gorman will appear along with three heroic individuals who, the NFL said, have “served as leaders in their respective communities during the global pandemic.” The honorees include educator Trimaine Davis, nurse manager Suzie Dorner and Marine Corps veteran James Martin, all of whom have all been named honorary captains of this year’s season-ending game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Washington Post has reported that Gorman already pre-recorded her history-making appearance earlier this week. It will be the first time a poet has been a featured performer during the Super Bowl and will air prior to the introduction of the captains and the coinflip at the start of the game. Gorman has said her poem was written to help honor the “tremendous impact” all of the frontline workers have had on our lives during 2020.
In addition to her Super Bowl appearance, Gorman is also now joining the ranks of supermodels Kate Moss, Gigi Hadid and Gisele Bündchen; celebrities Selena Gomez and Priyanka Chopra; and other notables like playwright Jeremy O. Harris and the tennis star Naomi Osaka with representation through IMG Models. A lover of fashion, the 22-year-old had previously told Teen Vogue in a 2019 interview that she wanted to “transform trash into treasure, and change the fashion world as we know it.” (In an odd coincidence, the other breakout newcomer from the inauguration — Kamala Harris’ stepdaughter Ella Emhoff — has also signed a contract with IMG Models.)
As Fair360, formerly DiversityInc previously reported, Gorman is also soon to become a best-selling author with a trio of yet-to-be-released books — a special edition of her inaugural poem, her debut poetry collection and a picture book for children — all currently at the top of Amazon’s bestsellers list.
And Gorman’s fame is only expected to rise through the rest of 2021. Women’s Wear Daily has already dubbed her “a new kind of style icon.” Following her inauguration appearance, former First Lady Michelle Obama posted in Instagram “With her strong and poignant words, @amandascgorman reminds us of the power we each hold in upholding our democracy. Keep shining, Amanda! I can’t wait to see what you do next. #BlackGirlMagic.”
Laura Gorman Thomas, who taught Gorman during her sophomore year at Harvard agreed. In an interview with The Harvard Crimson’s Audrey M. Apollon and Meimei Xu, she said: “Harvard is a better place because she was here and because she was thoughtful about the program and her place in the community.” She then added that Gorman, who she is not related to, makes a lasting impression the minute you meet her.
“There was something about the way that she carried herself,” Thomas told Apollon and Xu. “The first thing she said to me, once we introduced ourselves and she was sitting across me, she said, ‘I will be president in 2036.’ And I have no doubt she will be.”
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