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At the age of 23, Amanda Gorman has accomplished more than some artists achieve in a lifetime. In 2017, Gorman was appointed the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate by Urban Word – a program that supports Youth Poets Laureate in more than 60 cities, regions and states nationally. Only a few years later, Gorman became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history with her performance of “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 presidential inauguration. Amanda’s activism and poetry have been featured on the Today Show, PBS Kids, and CBS This Morning, and in the New York Times, Vogue, and Essence. 

The daughter of an English teacher, Gorman grew up acutely aware of literature’s liberatory potential and the necessity of diverse representation.

“I'm always trying to be aware of the type of writers that are being taught in the classroom and where the gaps are,” she told TeenVogue on the significance of having her poetry taught in classrooms. “The idea that classrooms are ready to teach about young, black female poets is really exciting to me, particularly because it means there’s so many other authors that we can be looking at as well.”

With a global platform, Gorman remains a committed advocate for the environment, racial equality, and gender justice. Often called “the voice of a generation,” Gorman believes in the power of young activists to take collective action for the future.

“One of the things that Gen Z has that makes it so special is not only being young and ‘scrappy’ but also that we have this sensation of having to be the saviors of ourselves and the saviors of tomorrow,” Gorman describes.

After turning down $17 million in promotional opportunities, Gorman announced a partnership with Esteé Lauder late last year. As their first Global Changemaker, she worked with the company to distribute $3 million of grants to organizations promoting literacy among young girls and women – Girls Write Now, and The American Library Association were among the recipients.

“I’m never just lending my body or my face,” Gorman said of how she approaches any new collaboration. “They are getting my spirit, my breath, and my brain.” 

For Gorman, who also wants to be president one day, the world is her oyster.