Ever since January's Inauguration Day, the world has been waiting to see what Amanda Gorman, National Youth Poet Laureate, would do next. First she appeared on the cover of TIME, then wearing a pearl-studded headband at the Super Bowl. Now she can add yet another achievement to her rapidly expanding portfolio: the cover star of US Vogue.
Styled by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson – the powerhouse who has been one of the publication's key collaborators in recent months, styling the likes of Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Paloma Elsesser and Vice President Kamala Harris in the last year alone – and shot by Annie Leibovitz, the shoot features a roll call of some of the most breathtaking dresses from the spring collections, including Y Project, Studio 189, Dior, Alexander McQueen and Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton.
This afternoon, the magazine posted a video of the poet seeing her cover for the first time over, you guessed it, a video call with her mum. 'You look fantastic!' says her mum, 'That's my daughter.'
Gorman herself says: 'I'm so happy that the cover is the look designed by Virgil Abloh from Louis Vuitton. I felt so amazing wearing it and knowing that it was designed by a Black designer and that I was going to wear that in Vogue. I didn't know what was going to be the cover and I'm so glad that this is what we went with.' Karefa-Johnson also posted: 'Oh, how widely my Sierra Leonean grandfather, my grandmother, and all of my ancestors must be smiling. How chuffed they would be to see a symbol of our heritage celebrated in this way— how astounded they would be by a young black woman so graciously and confidently commanding the world stage as Amanda has — so beautiful and so powerful and so emblematic of a better future. Thank you to @virgilabloh for creating in his collection for Louis Vuitton a moment that speaks to how important cultural heritage is in the work that we do. I feel so grateful to exist in a world populated by creators and thought leaders like him and Amanda.'
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1 of 23SIKA, Maliah Puffer Jacket, £215
2 of 23Pyer Moss, Sister Long-Sleeve Tee, £128
3 of 23Emefa Cole, Tube Ring, £800
4 of 23Kemi Telford, Forest Brushed Cotton Maxi Dress, £205
5 of 23AAKS, Tia Ruffle, £165
6 of 23Brother Vellies, Picnic Shoes, £545
7 of 23TTYA, Plunge Maxi Dress, £20
8 of 23Fe Noel, Nutmeg Swimsuit, £134
9 of 23Mateo New York, 14K Gold Malachite Ear Jackets, £439
10 of 23Vavvoune, USRA Wallet, £153
11 of 23More Than, Nikki Plaid Slides, £72
12 of 23Casley-Hayford, Union Rucksack, £395
13 of 23Daily Paper, Acid Lime Jowa Hoodie, £139
14 of 23Nubian Skin, Bodysuit, £39.50
15 of 23A-Cold-Wall*, Storm Compass-Pocket Hooded Jacket, £335
16 of 23Telfar, Cable-Knit Thumbhole Sweater, £329
17 of 23Kenneth Ize, Handwoven Scarf, £240
18 of 23Thebe Magugu, Boat-Neck Ribbed Wool Sweater, £265
19 of 23Daily Paper, Brown Kazira Blazer, £285
20 of 23Wales Bonner, Saint Ann Crochet-Panel Rib-Knitted Skirt, £450
21 of 23AK Wilde, Adinkra African Print Cushion, £37
22 of 23Martine Rose, Jersey Funnel-Neck T-shirt In White, £135
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