Oprah Gail Winfrey is an American television personality, actress, and entrepreneur who was born on January 29, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She faced many barriers and challenges throughout her childhood, including poverty, abuse, and discrimination.
She started her career in radio and television in 1970. In 1980, she launched her talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. The show quickly became a cultural phenomenon and she won 18 Daytime Emmy Awards.
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Oprah Winfrey Biography
Real Name | Orpah Gail Winfrey |
Gender | Female |
Nickname | Lady O |
Birthday | January 29, 1954 |
Age | 69 (As of now, 2023) |
Religion | Christianity |
Hometown | Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA |
Nationality | American |
Education | Graduation |
Profession | American television personality, actress & entrepreneur |
Debut | Film The Color Purple (1985) |
Net Worth | $3.5 billion (As of 2023) |
Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
Father Name | Vernon Winfrey |
Mother Name | Vernita Lee |
Siblings | Patricia Lofton & Patricia Lee Lloyd |
Spouse | Stedman Graham |
Marital Status | In a Relationship |
Hobbies | Reading & Photography |
Early Life
She was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA. Her parents, Vernita Lee and Vernon Winfrey were not married. Oprah’s early life was spent in poverty and instability. She lived with her grandmother for the first six years of her life because her mother moved to Milwaukee to earn.
Later on, Oprah traveled to live with her mother. She faced difficulties and was the victim of physical and sexual abuse. In 1971, she moved to Nashville to study and enrolled at Tennessee State University, where she studied communication. In college, she started working at a local radio station and eventually became the first African American female anchor.
Family
She was born into a poor family in which her mother “Vernita Lee” was a working woman and her father “Vernon Winfrey” did many jobs to support his family although her parents weren’t married. She has a half-sister, Patricia Lofton.
Boyfriend & Husband
She has been in a long-term relationship with Stedman Graham since 1986. He is a businessman and author.
Education
She attended several different schools in Mississippi and Wisconsin. She studied communication at Tennessee State University. Although she did not complete her degree at Tennessee State, later, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the university in recognition of her achievements in media and philanthropy.
- Nicolet High School
- East Literature Magnet School
- Tennessee State University
Career
She started her career as a news anchor and reporter at a local television station in Nashville, where she gained experience. In 1976, she traveled to Baltimore to work as a co-anchor at WJZ-TV and she became the first African American female co-anchor in the city.
In 1983, she again traveled to Chicago to host a morning talk show, which was later renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show. The show quickly gained popularity and became a cultural phenomenon. She also has an acting career and appeared in several films and television shows. She has received many awards for her performances, including an Academy Award nomination for her role in The Color Purple (1985).
Awards & Nominations
- Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in “The Color Purple”.
- 18 Daytime Emmy Awards (won between 1987 and 2011)
- 2 Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” (nominated in 1998 and 1999)
- 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations, winning Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” (nominated in 2014 and 2019)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient in 2013
- 4 Golden Globe Awards nominations, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2018.
Challenges
She has faced many barriers and challenges since her childhood, including poverty, abuse, and discrimination.
Philanthropic Work
- She has donated over $400 million to many charities and causes.
- She has started the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.
- She has been a longtime supporter of women’s rights and has worked to empower women.
- She has been a vocal advocate for education, supporting organizations that promote literacy and access to education.
- She has supported health-related causes including cancer research, HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment, and mental health.
- She has also supported environmental causes including efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainability.
Social Media
She has 22 million followers on Instagram.
Youtube
She has 5.62 subscribers on Youtube.
She has 20 million followers on Facebook.
She has 42.9 million followers on Twitter.
Social Media Handles
Net Worth
As of 2023, her net worth is $3.5 Billion.
Nickname
Her nickname is Lady O.
Favorites
Favorite Movie | Beasts of the Southern Wild & The Color Purple |
Favorite Hobbies | Reading, Photography & Spending time with her Dogs |
Favorite Sports | Racquetball, Golf & Tennis |
Favorite Food | Popcorn & Pot Pie |
Favorite Color | Green |
Physical Appearance
Height | 5 feet & 6 Inches |
Weight | 77 kg |
Body | Average |
Chest | 41 |
Weist | 32 |
Hips | 40 |
Shoe Size | 11 (US) |
Dress Size | 14 (US) |
Tattoo | None |
Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Hair Color | Dark Brown |
Skin Complexion | Black |
Amazing Facts About Oprah
- She was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi, United States.
- She is 5 feet 6 inches tall.
- She is a famous talk show host, she hosted “The Oprah Winfrey Show” for 25 years, from 1986 to 2011.
- She has been in a long-term relationship with Stedman Graham since 1986.
- She is the first black self-made billionaire female, with a net worth of over $3.5 billion.
- She is known for her philanthropy work including education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment.
- She was the first African-American female news anchor in Nashville and Baltimore.
- She is the first African-American billionaire woman.
- She has won 18 Daytime Emmy Awards.
- In 2013, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.
- She has donated more than $400 million to charities.
- She is a public speaker, giving inspiring speeches at events like the Golden Globes and the commencement ceremony at Harvard University.
- She has launched her television network, OWN.
- Olivia Olson and Angelina Jolie are also among the list of most influential personalities on the internet.
