Top 15 Interesting Facts about Amanda Gorman

Top 15 Interesting Facts about Amanda Gorman

Originally published by Shelmith Njeru in November 2022. Edited by Charity K in January 2024.

Amanda Gorman is an outstanding poet and author born on March 7, 1998. Raised by a single mother, she grew up with her brother and twin sister in a simple neighborhood in Los Angeles, USA.

Amanda and her siblings weren’t allowed to watch much T.V. when they were young. She took up reading and began writing poetry at eight years old. By the age of 9, she had grown interested in social justice and told her mother she wanted to run for office when she came of age.

Growing up, Gorman noticed she was different from her peers. She had a problem with her pronunciation and often avoided in-person interactions. As she continued to take an interest in poetry, she worked on her speech disability, overcoming it through therapy and music.

Gorman’s well-written literature and captivating nature of deliverance have sore her to high places. She broke into fame after the performance of her poem, The Hill We Climb, during the 2021 inauguration of President Joe Biden. She became the youngest poet to make a presentation at a presidential inauguration.

Amanda has rubbed shoulders with The Obamas, Hillary Clinton, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Al Gore, Cynthia Erivo, and other prominent and influential people worldwide. In late November, she was featured in Meghan Markle’s podcast, the Archetypes, to give her view on the power of women as makers of change.

Gorman is the recipient of the College Women of the Year Award by Glamour Magazine, Poets & Writers Barnes & Noble Writers for Writer Award, and the Webby Awards. She is the founder of a nonprofit organization named One Pen One Page.

Find out about the other African American poets here.

1. Gorman And Her Twin Sister Are Both Activists

In 2018, Amanda and Gabrielle took part as the leading team of the Women’s March; a movement aimed to generate change through the political oneness of diverse women. The two also created a short film, ‘Rise Up As One,’ addressing the social issues in California. The film was directed by Amanda and featured an original composition by Gabriella.  

Gabriella’s poem was inspired by the state of division in her hometown, Los Angeles. In the poem, she addressed issues of religion, race, and gender.

As an activist, Gabriella’s objective is to bring light to duality by embracing differences while accepting similarities.

2. Gorman’s Speech Impairment Cultivated Her Love For Reading

Open Book In Library. Photo By lil_foot_ – Pixabay

Amanda had suffered from speech impairment from birth. She was also born with sound hypersensitivity and an auditory processing disorder, a disability that affects how the brain processes aural messages.

As much as one may see these as barriers to a fulfilling life, Amanda saw them as her strength. She credited her interest in reading and writing to her speech and auditory disability.

At 14, Amanda stood in front of a writing workshop for the first time. She was skeptical about her audience’s comprehension because of her speech impairment. After her performance, she realized that poetry was not appreciated because of the author’s pronunciation. It was appreciated because of the author’s voice and narration style.

3. Amanda Has Not Always Been As Confident As She Is

In an interview with The Cut Magazine, Gorman shared her not-so-easy journey with her self-confidence. She said as a teenager, more often than not, she felt as if she did not fit into the societal standards of beauty, and having a speech impairment made it worse.

Amanda attributes her confidence to her mother, who taught her to cultivate self-love through practicing daily affirmations. She shared that by doing so, she understood that confidence is not given to you by anyone other than oneself.

4. She Wrote Her First Book When She Was Sixteen  

At about 16 years old, Amanda began writing her first novel. She worked on her book, The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough, for two years, which was released in 2015. She accredited her ability to trust her penning to the WriteGirl foundation in Los Angeles.  

Amanda served as a youth delegate for the United Nations (U.N) when she began writing the book. She names Malala Yousafzai as one of her mentors, having been inspired by her speech at the U.N. in 2013.

Learn more astonishing facts about Malala Yousafzai here.

5. Gorman Is A Member Of The Oldest Academic Honor Society In The United States

Amanda is an alumnus of New Road School Preparatory, graduating in 2016. She received a scholarship to study sociology at Harvard College in Massachusetts. Before her graduation, she went to Spain to study with the support of the Institute for International Education of Students.

Amanda did exceptionally well in her undergraduate. In 2020, she graduated cum laude from Havard College. By her graduation, Amanda was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, America’s oldest Academic Honor Society.   

6. Jill Biden Recommended Her To Present In The Newly President-Elect’s Inauguration

Dr. Jill Biden, Wife to Joe Biden. Photo by Ralph Alswang, Office of the Vice President of the United States – Wikimedia Commons

By 2021, Amanda had made a name for herself. She had been given the title of National Youth Laureate, had opened her foundation, and had presented her poems on several occasions.

Her passion drew Jill Biden, and she recommended her as one of the people who were to speak on the momentous occasion. This would be the sixth time a poet had taken the stage during a presidential inauguration, the last being Richard Blanco in 2013.

7. Amanda Influenced The Popularity Of The Red Headband After Her Inauguration Speech

Amanda Gorman steps to the podium to recite her inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb,” during the 59th Presidential Inauguration ceremony. Photo By
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – Wikimedia Commons

When Gorman was honored to grace the 2021 inauguration, it was not only her poem that drew the attention of many but also her outfit, particularly her headband. Hair held up and dressed in a bright yellow coat; she stood in front of thousands of U.S. citizens to read her composed poem.

Right after her speech, there was a 560% increase in ‘red headband’ searches. A fashion search engineer named Lyst attributed the spike to Amanda, given that she had worn it as a hair accessory.

The ‘red headband’ was not the only thing about Gorman that created a buzz on the internet, her two books, The Hill We Climb, and Changes Sings: A Children’s Anthem became Amazon’s bestseller moments after her presentation.

8. She Holds The Record Of Four ‘First Ever’ Titles

As young as she is, the vibrant Amanda has accomplished several recognizable titles in the history of America. She became the first poet to ever perform in the Super Bowl, an annual event of the National Football League.

In 2017, Gorman was the first American to be crowned the National Youth Poet Laureate. Her poise nature of delivery and passion for social justice earned her the title created by the Urban Word New York City in 2016.

That same year, she opened the literary season for the Library of Congress, becoming the first youth to do so. In addition to that, the 2017 Book of the Month segment in X.O. Institute featured Amanda as its first author.

9. She Foresaw Becoming The 2021 Inaugural Poet Four Years Prior

Aside from Amanda’s hard work, some people believe she manifested her way into success. In 2017, she ambitiously approached several publishing houses hoping they would buy her book Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem. At the time, she believed she was the future Inaugural Poet; in 2021, her vision came to pass.  

Similarly, she and her twin sister Gabriella expressed their interest in wanting to work with the White House during the 2018 Women’s March. Three years later, she stood in front of 200,000 American citizens to present her speech at Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration.

10. Amanda wrote Nike’s Black History Month Manifesto

Nike Footwear. Photo By Pexels – Pixabay

In 2020, Amanda and fellow L.A. activist Alrick Augustine worked on the Nike Manifesto for Black History Month. The two were part of six other youth leaders whom the brand featured with a personalized message on what impact they wanted to create in their respective communities.

Black History Month, which takes place in five different countries, is observed annually in February. It is an opportunity to educate Americans on the contributions of African Americans to their society.

11. Amanda was the First Youth Poet Model

In 2017, she was noted as the first national youth poet laureate in the United States. The title caught the attention of several magazine agencies. She later signed with IMG Model in 2021, it is a company that is known for representing fashion models as well as celebrities. Amanda did brand endorsements and collaborations with Dior, Vogue magazine, and Estee Lauder. In the same year, she was a brand ambassador for Dior. Amanda was able to appear in campaigns and attend fashion events.

Her unique style and powerful presence made her a fashion influencer and introduced her to the fashion world. Her contract with the agency helped her reach a different audience and share her message of social justice and empowerment. Since 2021, Amanda has attended a number of fashion shows and events including the Met Gala and the CFDA Fashion Awards. Through these opportunities, Amanda has been able to showcase her elegance and photogenic qualities.

12. Writing is not Her only Interest

Shawn Miller, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Amanda has expressed her strong desire to become a teacher in the future. She believed that education can empower young minds through language and literature. She is a climate activist who has partnered with organizations such as the National Geographic Society in order to raise awareness and advocate for sustainable solutions. Her poem “The Hill We Climb” references the need to address climate change as a pressing challenge for future generations. 

Amanda is known for appreciating various art forms including music, theater, and visual arts. She has shared that her expressions have begun to influence her own creativity and writing style. She is very open to exploring artistic avenues and even collaborating with artists from other disciplines. Amanda is also known for using her platform to raise awareness and support initiatives that are related to education, literacy, youth empowerment, and social justice issues.

13. Amanda uses Fashion as a Form of Activism

During the 2021 presidential inauguration, Amanda wore a gold ring that featured a caged bird which is a symbol for the Maya Angelou poem “Caged Bird” This was noted as a powerful gesture that paid homage to a literary icon and symbolized the ongoing struggle for Black liberation. In 2022, she wore a vibrant yellow sunflower coat at the Super Bowl halftime Show. The color yellow resonated with Ukraine’s national flower which expressed solidarity.

Amanda is known for choosing clothing by Black and BIPOC designers in order to amplify their voices and highlight the importance of inclusivity in the Fashion industry. During her partnership with Dior, Amanda used their platform to promote meaningful messages. However, it should be noted that her approach is always subtle and not always political.

14. She is a fan of Hamilton (Musical)

Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Amanda often opens up about her love for the musical Hamilton (2015). When she was in college, she found Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s innovative approach to storytelling deeply inspiring. Through his work, she was able to explore new literary forms as well as engage with history. She loved Hamilton’s diverse cast and the story’s focus on the underdog. The musical provided her with a sense of connection to American history.

15. Amanda is an Avid Bookworm

Aside from writing, Amanda is a passionate reader who is known for appreciating various genres. Her reading habits have been able to fuel her imagination which helps her with her powerful writing. She has always shared that her literary heroes include Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Toni Morrison. Their work has shaped Amanda’s understanding of language, social justice, and identity. Through social media, she normally shares book recommendations with others.

However occupied she may be, the One Pen One Page founder always creates time to enjoy her favorite YouTube show, Cinema Therapy. Those who follow her on her social platforms get a glimpse of her life as a young, ordinary girl and a driver of change in her society.

Amanda hopes she will get to write and read her poem during the 2028 Olympic Games set to take place in Los Angeles. She also looks forward to bidding for the presidency in the 2037 general elections.

Read about other famous black people who changed the world here.