When you love something or someone, it comes from your heart, much as Oprah Winfrey’s extraordinary charity work and dedication to the mass media and communications industry.  For years her loving heart and mission to change the world has affected both national and international communities alike.  She is an international household name, an icon, philanthropist, activist, friend, caregiver, and so much more.  Oprah Winfrey is a woman we love because she is an example of karma, and that people can overcome anything.  She is a powerful self-made woman who is a role model for women and men of all ethnic backgrounds.

(Juda Ngwenya © Reuters/CORBIS)

Amongst her diverse plethora of “hats”, Oprah Winfrey is the face and CEO of Harpo Inc. and producer of the Broadway play version of the Color Purple, the Steven Spielberg film she once starred in and helped blossom her career, in addition to acting and producing television and big screen films.  Her world-renowned talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, has dominated the airwaves for over a decade, and continues to be an American favorite since the show launched in 1986. Her O Magazine is just the yummy scoop of vanilla ice cream on Winfrey’s oversized slice of media pie.  As Oprah’s resume is extensive, her humanitarian deeds triumph over her multi-media victories.  She is one of the most charitable people and female this planet has yet seen.

Oprah Winfrey has donated over an estimated 300 million dollars of her own money back to charity. In 2007, Winfrey founded the opening of the first all girls’ boarding school Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the influence of Nelson Mandela to establish leadership in the South Africa post years of Apartheid.  Currently, the Leadership Academy provide as an educational institution for 152 young girls. Through the school, Winfrey and “her daughters” have volunteered to change the community in South Africa, taking part in countless charitable functions.

Not only does Winfrey support human rights and charities, in 2008 she was named’Person of the Year’ by animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).  As she uses her talk show and media stance as a platform to discuss issues that she feels are importance, non-bias to gender, race, and/or animal kingdom, Oprah has defied the international perception of a woman’s role in society.  She is responsible for breaking the color barriers that society puts on African Americans and females.

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Growing up as a black female in America in the 1960′s I am almost positive that she has surprised herself with all of her accomplishments.  Nevertheless, Winfrey has remained humble and dedicated to making an impact on the world.  She uses her prominent stance in society to benefit those around her. She has came a very long way; from a poverty stricken and troubled childhood in rural Kosciusko, Mississippi and later migrating to Milwaukee’s inner-city, to  the world’s first Black American Billionaire; Oprah Winfrey is living proof that all things are possible.