When she delivered her poem during the presidential inauguration on Wednesday, Amanda Gorman mesmerized the audience with her eloquent words and dazzling earrings, which were gifted by Oprah Winfrey.
The Los Angeles poet talked about her elegant jewelry in an interview with Vogue, describing the bling as part of a touching gift, which included the coat and gloves that Maya Angelou wore when she recited her inaugural poem in 1993.
"Oprah actually got in contact with me, and we’ve been in touch for a while now. Every single time I get a text from her I fall on the floor," the 22-year-old told Vogue. "She was like, 'I’m so excited that you’re doing the poem.' And she’s been really supportive because she knew how nervous I was about going."
Winfrey purchased Angelou's coat and gloves as part of her effort to continue the tradition of Black poets reading at the inauguration.
"Oprah also bought me some jewelry which you will get to see when I’m performing," Gorman said in the interview before her big moment. "One thing I can say is that I’m pretty sure I’ll be wearing a ring that has a caged bird, to symbolize I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
As for Gorman's yellow coat, it was a tribute to First Lady Jill Biden, who recommended the young woman as the poet for the inauguration. The Californian chose the color after the first lady recently complimented Gorman's yellow outfit.
"She said 'I saw this video of you and you were wearing yellow and I loved it,'" the country’s first National Youth Poet Laureate said. "I’m glad we can talk about the fashion, because it has so much meaning to me, and it’s my way to lean into the history that came before me and all the people supporting me."
The 22-year-old, who just became the youngest inaugural poet in memory, was encouraged to emphasize unity and hope in her poem. But she also wanted to highlight the harsh reality of the current political climate, as well as the trials and tribulations of Black history.
"We've braved the belly of the beast. We've learned that quiet isn't always peace and the norms and notions of what just is, isn’t always just-ice," she said in her poem. "And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it. Somehow we do it. Somehow we've weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished."
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will "spearhead a new chapter in America, which we so desperately need — one of dignity, and integrity, and hope and unity," Gorman said.
"There's a lot that needs to get done and a lot that needs to be fixed," she added. "And I think that they're the people to do it."