Oprah Gail Winfrey was born to a single teenage mother in Mississippi. She was raised in poverty and experienced much hardship in her youth. Oprah started her career as a news anchor and in 1986 saw the launch of the Oprah Winfrey Show for which she is best known today.
Oprah is the richest African American woman of the 20th century. She has co-authored five books, has two successful magazines which feature front page pics of her on every issue, has appeared in numerous movies with her debut being “The Color Purple”, owns HARPO productions and assisted in founding the women’s television network “Oxygen”. This figure of hope and inspiration has also started a girl’s school in South Africa which she is actively involved in. She lives with her long time partner Stedman Graham.
Oprah Winfrey is still the highest paid television personality but has recently been knocked from the top spot of “Most influential woman” by Angelina Jolie. She is actively involved in a variety of charitable causes and often features in the news because of them. Recently she has established involvement with Chicago animal rescue PAWS in addition to the influential role that she has with PETA.