Hi. My name is Tanya, and I'm an Opraholic.Okay, maybe comparing myself to an alcoholic, minus the alcohol plus the Oprah, is a little extreme. But I sure do like the lady a whole lot, and I think it would be silly to not mention her in a blog dedicated to great women.
If anyone can say they have a rags-to-riches story, it's Oprah. She was born in Mississippi and raised in Tennessee, and didn't receive her first pair of shoes until she was six. Now she's pulling in arou d $250,000,000 per year, from her daily talk show, radio show, magazine, etc. She seems to be one of the hardest working women in the public eye. She has also made history by becoming the first female African American billionaire in the history of America. She has also helped quite a bit in the careers of others, most noteably Rachel Ray and Dr. Phil. Bob Greene and Dr. Oz don't seem to be doing too bad either.
The reason I really like Oprah is that, unlike lots of other wealthy celebrities, Oprah has chosen, repeatedly, to give back to the world. Her most recent work, The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, is a school where young South African girls can "dwell in possibilities." Oprah has never been quiet about her passion for learning, and with the Leadership Academy, she has created a place where girls who might not otherwise get an education, can share her passion. The Leadership Academy is part of a larger program, Oprah's Angel Network, which provides funding and grants to organizations and programs serving underprivileged communities. To date, the Network has provided funding for 60 new schools in several different countries. Earlier this fall, all donations made to the Angel Network went to help families who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. I think it's great that she is not only dedicated to helping people in third world countries, but is also dedicated to helping people in her own country. She also helps others find ways to give. One of my favourite Oprah challenges was the "Pay It Forward" challenge. Every audience member received $1000, with the challenge to spend the entire amount in a way that would help other people. You can read the amazing stories here. What a fantastic idea!
Oprah also makes me a happy panda because her show topics are so very diverse, yet they always seem to have a common theme: becoming spiritually fulfilled, finding what makes you truly happy, following your passion, and educating yourself. And I must say, that sounds pretty darn good to me. Also, many of her shows, magazine articles, and web page sections are dedicated specifically to helping women of all races, ages, and sizes, feel beautiful. Whether it be spotlighting the Dove girls to showcase real beauty, recruiting Stacy London to help you find the perfect pair of jeans, or having guests like Bob Greene and Dr. Oz to share health and wellness secrets, Oprah's message seems consistent: feel beautiful, because you are.
Plus, she gives away free cars. That's pretty awesome.
Sidenote: I really think everyone should visit the Dove link, because the Campaign for Real Beauty is fabulous and everyone should know about it.
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