One of the most powerful woman Oprah Winfrey

Rising from poverty to become the first African-American woman billionaire, Oprah Winfrey embodies the American dream. Through television, movies, books, and radio she speaks to women the world over. CNN and Time have called her “arguably the most influential woman in the world.” Through book recommendations, philanthropic activities, human rights awareness, and political activity, Oprah influences women around the world.

Oprah’s rise to fame and fortune started in high school, when she started working as a part-time news radio anchor. From there she moved on to local TV news, then to a morning talk show, which launched directly into The Oprah Winfrey Show. Though her show started out in the typical tabloid style, in the 90s it began to take on its own identity, including now famous book reviews, human interest stories, women’s health, gift giving, and psychological/spiritual themes. Her show has also been noted for many celebrity guests, whom she typically interviews in an intimate, friendly style.

Oprah’s career has not been without controversy, however. She has received criticism for not asking tough questions of guests she seems to like personally, and for refusing to have VP-nominee Governor Sarah Palin on her show, when she has had Senator Barack Obama on the show. She responded by saying that she didn’t want to politicize her show, and that she would welcome the opportunity to interview Sarah Palin after the election

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One of the most controversial criticisms of Oprah, however, has been in the area of spirituality. Through television, radio, and book reviews Oprah has embraced and promoted the teachings of New Thought spiritualism. Its teachings include the idea that you can achieve health, success, and happiness by visualizing what you want. This controversy has been amplified by statements she has made about the nature of truth and God, including one she made during a webinar: “God is a feeling experience and not a believing experience. If your religion is a believing experience…then that’s not truly God.”

Regardless of her criticisms, however, it is undeniable that Oprah is one of the (if not the) most influential women in the world.

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