Oprah Winfrey Biography

“Don't worry about becoming successful but work toward being significant and the success will naturally follow.” - Oprah Winfrey. These are words that Oprah Winfrey herself lived by and that her life story will reflect. She has been dubbed the “Queen of All Media” and one of the most powerful women in the world( Biography.com Editors). Winfrey is most known for hosting her own nationally syndicated talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, which ran from September 8, 1986 to May 25, 2011. In that time she was nominated for 47 Daytime Emmy Awards and she was deemed by many to be the best talk-show host of all time (Biography.com Editors). During her time as a talk-show host she is thought to have popularized the idea of a “tabloid” talk-show. The
She was born to an unmarried teenage mother, Vernita Lee. She spent the early days living with her grandmother in extreme poverty (Biography.com Editors). In one interview Winfrey says that her and her grandmother were so poor that she “wore dresses made out of potato sacks.” In an interview with Academy of Achievement when asked if she any vision of what she wanted to be as a child Winfrey replied, ”I remember absolutely physically feeling it at around four years old. I remember standing on the back porch and my grandmother was boiling clothes…” “My life won't be like this. My life won't be like this, it will be better." And it wasn't from a place of arrogance, it was just a place of knowing that things could be different for me somehow”(Academy of Achievement). Winfrey’s tough childhood helped her shape her career aspirations. In the same interview Winfrey said that she signs her own checks. Winfrey is known as one the biggest philanthropist in the world, she founded a school Johannesburg, South Africa,was known for giving large donation to people in need on her show and has founded a number of charities (Rice) . It is said her humble upbringing is what has influenced to do all of that. These are just a few examples of economics influences in Winfrey’s
She has truly changed the world of television and mainstream media. Not only that but Oprah is truly an inspiration to us all, she has broken so many barriers in her life. She was the first African American billionaire, she has been solely responsible for the launch off many different companies due to her influence in all of pop culture, she has changed the way news has been delivered in our homes most importantly she is a beacon of light in this world. Oprah is a true example of not matter how low you maybe in regards to social rank, economic standings, or socioeconomically you can indeed rise up and be one of the most important people in history. Oprah’s legacy and impact will never be forgotten and she will always have a lasting impact on our country. All of these amazing things were thanks to her humble upbringing, people who inspired her and the environment that surrounded her all along the