OPRAH WINFREY

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey

Introduction

The saga of Oprah Gail Winfrey (Oprah), the lucrative media maven, took off from very modest beginnings. Her journey to fame and fortune marked by a path obstructed by innumerable obstacles. Her story depicts a rare narrative of triumph in the face of adversity. From a news-anchor on a local television channel to a celebrity talk show host, Oprah emerged as one of the most favored celebrities across the globe. She catapulted to the status of a 'celebrity brand' with ardent followers. A pioneering businesswoman, Oprah undertook a variety of ventures like Harpo Productions Inc. (Harpo), O: The Oprah Magazine (O) and her satellite radio, Oprah Radio. The star Oprah was always present, through her talk show, while each of these ventures formulated. Nevertheless, after running for over two decades Oprah has decided to end her acclaimed talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show (TOWS) in 2011. Moreover, she plans to start her television network the 'Oprah Winfrey Network' (OWN). With TOWS no longer being around, will Oprah succeed in garnering the same success for her new venture? Will Oprah be able to remake history with OWN or is she trying to overstretch her brand power?Discussion and Analysis

Oprah born on January 29, 1954 in rural Mississippi. Her mother Vernita Lee (Vernita) and father, Vernon Winfrey (Vernon) was teenage friends. However, this relationship was short-lived and her parents parted ways by the time Oprah born. Born out of wedlock, to a single parent, Oprah had a tough childhood. Soon after Oprah's birth, Vernita moved to North America in search of a job. She left Oprah with her mother Hattie Mae Lee (Hattie); with the intention of taking Oprah back with her once she had settled in a job. However, surviving amidst utmost poverty, Hattie could only offer a dignified life to Oprah. Raised on a farm, Oprah often wore dresses made out of potato sacks, making her a laughing stock amongst the locals.Oprah Winfrey: Rags to Riches Story

Despite her modest lifestyle, Hattie determined to educate Oprah. At the age of three, she had learnt to read. Hattie also used to take Oprah to church where she began showcasing her matchless oratory skills. Her ability to recite brilliantly the Bible verses earned her the nickname 'The Preacher'. As Oprah did not have many friends, she used to spend time with the farm animals, naming them and playing games like interviewing them and telling them stories. Hattie was unable to take Oprah's responsibility for long as she fell ill. Consequently, at the age of six years Oprah moved in with her mother at Wisconsin. This added to the woes of Oprah because Vernita used to work long hours as a maid which left her with very little time for Oprah.

Despite being a gifted student, Vernita was never able to encourage Oprah in her education. To make matters worse, the absence of parental supervision coupled with Vernita's long working hours led to many bitter experiences for the teenaged Oprah. She was a victim of many traumatic incidents including raped by ...