Why Amanda Gorman Turned Down Millions In Endorsements

Amanda Gorman, the poet who made waves at the Presidential Inauguration, turned down a heavy sum of money of an estimated $17 million in endorsement deals for a good reason.

It's no surprise Gorman has been in high demand ever since she read her poem "The Hill We Climb" at Biden's Inauguration and brands want to cash in on that. She's appeared at the Super Bowl, on talk shows and even magazine covers, including the May issue of Vogue.

The poet is being cautious when it comes to booking endorsement deals. These deals need to align with her values and beliefs.

In a candid interview with Vogue, for which she was photographed by Annie Leibovitz, Gorman explained that she turns down brands before hearing how much they'll pay her.

"I didn't really look at details," she explained, "because if you see something and it says a million dollars, you're going to rationalize why that makes sense."

She added, "I have to be conscious of taking commissions that speak to me." Even when discussing her stint at the Super Bowl, she said that it wasn't for the money but how the appearance meant so much to those watching.

"I did it because of what I thought it would mean for poetry in the country, to have poetry performed, for the first time in history, at the Super Bowl," she said to Vogue, noting that the NFL didn't pay her all that much.

Guardian reported that Gorman also has very mixed feelings about her new fashion influencer title. The Harvard graduate wants to be known for her voice and not her body.

However, the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate does take some brand deals. She previously worked with Nike and is signed to IMG models.

Gorman has a new book titled "The Hill We Climb and Other Poems" coming out on September 21, 2021. It is available for pre-order now.