Oprah Winfrey
THE WORLD ACCORDING
Helen Oon pays tribute to “Mother to Millions” soul icon
If you have not heard of Oprah Winfrey, where have you been? The lady whose influence and popularity has been likened to Jesus Christ and Elvis Presley has been a phenomenon for nearly three decades.
Oprah’s dramatic and heart-warming story of rags to riches strikes a chord with the world. Her life journey from her poverty-stricken and traumatic childhood
to mega superstardom is worthy of a movie epic and maybe one day it will be a Hollywood blockbuster. She is the undisputed ‘Queen of Chat Shows’ and her shows spanning over 25 years have one of
the highest ratings in the world and is aired in 150 countries. Her fan base is astronomical.
W
hile veteran chat show hosts such as Jay Leno, Larry King, D avid
Letterman and Jerry Springer et al may be ace in interviewing their guests, what they lack is soul. Oprah Winfrey conducts her show with her soul. She does not patronise nor lampoon her guests as many chat show hosts tend to do to get a cheap laugh. With her honest yet probing approach to interviewing guests, she reaches out to their human psyche and lulls them into such a state of trust with her warmth that they will tell her anything that they would
10 FENGSHUIWORLD | JULY/AUGUST 2011
normally not tell anyone else. Such is her power of rapport with the guests that many of them including celebrities find it therapeutic talking to her. Her famous sofa on the show is like the psychiatrist’s couch. She ries and laughs with them, empathising when they have misfortune and rejoices when they have good news. No subject is taboo in her shows. She tackles every social, political and personal issue and interviews anyone who is newsworthy from US presidents, A-listers to the ordinary person in the street. Forbes has listed her as the most influential woman in the world for four years running albeit toppled by Lady Gaga this year.
Her talents are legion - television and radio broadcaster extraordinaire, accomplished actress including Oscar nomination for her role in Steven Spielberg’s film the Colour Purple, philanthropist, producer, publisher, writer and humanitarian. Whatever products she discusses on her show will attract instant consumer interest. Her Book Club has propelled many an author to best-seller lists. She was attributed to helping Barack Obama into the White House with her campaign and support during the election. Today she ranks as one of the richest people and possibly the only black female billionaire in the world and the greatest philanthropist in America. Her wealth is estimated to be over 2 billion US dollars which she has generously donated to various charities close to her heart.
From Rags to Riches Oprah was born on 29 January 1954 in Kosciusko in Mississippi to a teenage single mother and brought up in a tough neighbour. She was given the name Orpah after the Biblical character in the Book of Ruth
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