Oprah HOST: Our listener question this week comes from Mexico. Wilfrido Medina Navarro wants to know more about television personality and producer Oprah Winfrey.
Several publications have named Oprah Winfrey one of the most influential people in the world. Oprah is best known by her first name. She is famous for having her own television show and production company and for helping people. Oprah is said to be worth more than two-and-one-half billion dollars. She gives money to women, children and families in need.
Last year, she opened a school for hundreds of girls in South Africa. In nineteen ninety-eight, she created Oprah's Angel Network, which helps people in need around the world. Oprah is especially interested in protecting children from sexual abuse. She was responsible for gaining support for the National Child Protection Act of nineteen ninety-three, known as the "Oprah Law. " It created a national public list of people found guilty of abusing children. In two thousand five, she created Oprah's Child Predator Watch List. This list helps identify people who are suspected of abusing children.
Oprah was not always so successful, however. She was born into poverty in a small town in Mississippi in nineteen fifty-four. Her mother was young and unmarried. Oprah was sent to live with her grandmother, who taught her about the importance of education.
Starting when she was nine years old, Oprah was sexually abused by members of her family as well as a family friend. She was later sent to live with her father in Tennessee.
She was named Miss Black Tennesee when she was eighteen. She became a radio and television reporter in Nashville. In nineteen eighty-four she took over a local television talk show in Chicago, Illinois. It was later renamed "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Soon the show was broadcast across the country. Today it is the most popular talk show in television history. It is broadcast to more than one hundred countries.
Oprah started her own production company that produces movies and television programs. She started two popular magazines, a Web site, book club and satellite radio channel. Oprah Winfrey has received many awards for her television show and for her public service.
