There’s only one Oprah Winfrey.
Put simply, she’s one of a kind.
Orpah Gail Winfrey (no, that isn’t a typo) was born on January 29, 1954.
But people weren’t sure how to pronounce it, so her name became Oprah.
Even though Winfrey was surrounded by love as a young child, they didn’t have much else.
Her grandmother workedas a maidand told Winfrey that she would also grow up to be a maid too.
But even as a young child, Winfrey knew she was meant for much greater things.
When Winfrey returned to live with her mother, life took a dark turn.
She was still living in poverty, but now she couldn’t even feel safe in her own home.
Starting at age 9, Winfrey wassexually abused by family membersand eventually became pregnant at age 14.
It was at that time that she first considered suicide.
“I hit rock-bottom,” Winfrey toldThe Hollywood Reporter.
“I became pregnant and hid the pregnancy.
I’d intended to kill myself actually.
I thought there’s no way other than killing myself.
I was just planning on how to do it.
During her pregnancy, her mother actually decided to kick her out of the house.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available.
Visit theRape, Abuse & Incest National connection websiteor contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Fortunately, Oprah Winfrey’s father provided a safe and loving home for her.
She could now move forward and leave her painful past behind her.
Winfrey did turn it around and left her painful past behind her.
Oprah Winfrey started trusting herself and her own instincts and followed her passions to the public eye.
“I haven’t planned one thing ever.
Once she got the taste of the limelight, there was no turning back.
Winfrey went on to become the first African American female news anchor in Nashville.
She didn’t waste any time either.
She actually left Tennessee State University to take the job at the ripe old age of 19.
“I think I lied and said, ‘Sure I can,'” she admitted.
From her very first television appearance, Winfrey knew she had found her life’s work.
“It just felt like breathing,” she said.
“It felt like this is where I’m supposed to be.”
She went all in with her television career and quickly gained the attention of news executives around the country.
She began her time in Baltimore as the co-anchor of WJZ’s 6 p.m. weekday newscast alongside Jerry Turner.
Unfortunately, as she told theBaltimore Sun, Turner didn’t make it easy for her.
“First of all, he wanted to be alone from the beginning.
What little college or university?’
So I would have to say my memories of Jerry Turner are not fond ones.”
Going from news to talk show turned out to be exactly what she needed.
The two originally met back in 1976, while working together at Baltimore news station WJZ.
Since they were both young Black women trying to make it as journalists, the duo bonded quickly.
I mean, she’s always coming in and asking, ‘Whatcha doin’?”
Naturally, they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Winfrey was going up against morning talk show legend Phil Donahue and quicklysurpassed his viewer numbers, shocking everyone.
Her ratings were so impressive that in 1985 theshow was renamed"The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
This was a clear turning point in her career.
Winfrey revealed just how much she wanted a part in this movie.
“I always wanted to be an actress.
“And have never allowed myself to want anything as much again.”
She went on to act ina few more filmsafter that, but kept her focus on her morning show.
Crucially, Winfrey refused to take her company public.
The “Color Purple” star has been happily dedicated to partner Stedman Graham for several decades.
The guy with the girlfriend had come to the friend’s home alone, and so had I.
She said, “I proceeded with caution, even with a friendship.”
They started dating and simply never stopped.
Winfrey’s public, decades-long weight loss story has inspired millions.
But her journey wasn’t always linear, and it certainly wasn’t always a success.
In 2023, the TV star opened up about being ridiculed for her size.
Winfrey shared, “I realized I didn’t actually want a marriage.
I wanted to beasked.
My life with the show was my priority, and we both knew it.”
An endorsement from her sent unknown authors into serious fame.
“It’s been a wonderful enhancement to publishing fiction.”
Winfrey’s book club literally changed author Janet Fitch’s life.
After seeing its success, Hollywood producers turned the book into a movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
However, the book club was not always a feel-good event.
“I feel duped,” Winfrey told Frey.
“But more importantly, I feel that you betrayed millions of readers.”
Never ever venture to con Oprah Winfrey.
She choseto walk away from it.
However, her TV success didn’t immediately carry over to the connection.
“I, in the beginning, made a lot of mistakes.
I made the wrong choices.
That would be the answer, because I needed to be there,” Winfrey toldThe Hollywood Reporter.
But Winfrey didn’t let the humble beginning get her down.
She looked at the problem, determined to find a solution.
“So now I know that … She goes all in, even when the odds are against her.
So it’s not surprising that she has amassed such a fortune.
Her favorite estate is the 64-acre mansion and gardens in California.
She purposely looked for a home that had the feel of a southern plantation.
“You need a better name,” he told her.
Winfrey heard him loud and clear.
“So I go, ‘Yeah!
It’s like a dream.’
And he’s like, ‘Yeah!
It’s a promise!
It’s the Promised Land!’
So I feel that every day.”
“It’s a great house for her and two or three friends.”
And when beach time gets old, Winfrey can stay at her$14 million Telluride ski home.
Not a bad way to spend life.
In March 2015, Winfrey closed up shop in Chicago and consolidated her business in Los Angeles.
Have you ever watched one of the episodes of “Oprah’s Favorite Things”?
These episodes featuredwomen literally shriekingand crying with delight as Winfrey gave away the latest gifts and even cars.
In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded Winfrey with thePresidential Medal of Freedomfor her charitable work.
She embraces aging as a gift
Oprah Winfrey has evolved in the public eye.
Winfrey even admitted, “I feel the greater work is yet to come.”
While appearing on"Jimmy Kimmel Live!
With her trim figure and glowing complexion, fans couldn’t help noticing that she looked younger than ever.
“I have never done that before.
Ever,” she toldWhat Women Wear.
“So, that’s how good the products are.”
In 2023, Winfrey revealed that she also keeps fit by hiking regularly.
