The life and struggles of Oprah Winfrey - Oprah Winfrey is a true inspiration on all levels. The host owns her own TV network and a magazine, she's won several awards for The Oprah Winfrey Show and she's widely considered one of the best speech-givers in the world.

But her life wasn't always this easy. Click here to learn all about Oprah Winfrey's life and struggles!

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The birth of a star - Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, Mississipi on January 29, 1954. Her name was inspired by 'Orpah,' a character from the 'Book of Ruth' (from the Bible's Old Testament.)

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Childhood - She may be one of the most famous people on the planet now, but her childhood wasn't all that easy. She was the child of separated parents who struggled financially, and for six years she was raised by her maternal grandmother.

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Childhood - At the age of nine, she went through absolute hell: being sexually abused by her uncles and cousins. She first spoke about her trauma on TV during an interview with her friend and mentor Barbara Walters.

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Influence - That act of bravery inspired many young women to speak openly about their own experiences. At the time, she was one of the pioneers in the subject, and she had many guests who shared their personal stories about sexual abuse.

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Miss Black Tennessee - In 1971, at the age of 17, Oprah got into the prestigious University of Tennessee and she also won the contest 'Miss Black Tennessee.'

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Speech goddess - Her talent was first recognized when she won the speaking contest at her university. She then started her career at a local news program in Nashville. In 1978, she worked for the 'People are Talking' show in Baltimore.

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Movies - Not only was she becoming successful as a TV host, but she also ventured into the movie industry. She acted for the first time in the 1985 Steven Spielberg movie 'The Color Purple,' where she played Sofia.

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Movies - In 1986, she starred in 'Native Son,' which told the story of young African-American man called Bigger Thomas, played by Victor Love.

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Movies - Oprah starred in the drama 'Beloved' (1998) alongside Danny Glover. She played Sethe.

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Movies - A few years later, she played the role of Gloria Gaines in 'The Butler' (2013).

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Movies - She'll also star as Mrs Which in the upcoming movie 'A Wrinkle In Time.' The movie is out in March.

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Voice over - She has also voiced several animated characters, including Gussy the Goose in 'Charlotte's Web' (2006), Judge Bumbleton in 'Bee Movie' (2007) and Eudora in 'The Princess and the Frog' (2009).

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Media world - In September 1986, the iconic 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' was born. It aired for 25 years and broke all audience records in the US.

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The Oprah Winfrey Show - One of her greatest achievements happened when she managed to interview Michael Jackson (1958-2009), which was almost impossible at the time. Over 100 million people tuned in to watch her chat with the King of Pop.

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The Oprah Winfrey Show - It was one of the longest talk shows ever in daily television history, with over 20 seasons and hundreds of episodes. She interviewed countless A-list celebrities.

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The Oprah Winfrey Show - In 1998, Time magazine named it the most successful TV show of the 20th century, and in 2002, it made it onto TV Guide's list of the 50 best shows of all times. Oprah's show also won her several Emmys.

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The Oprah Winfrey Show - In 2011, the star moved fans when she announced she'd be retiring from the show. Instead, she launched her own TV network: OWN - Oprah Winfrey Network.

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Magazine - She also owns 'The Oprah Magazine,' which is pretty successful in the female publications market.

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Profit - According to her channel, the magazine reaches 16 million people a month, including both digital and physical formats.

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Politics - She was a fierce advocate for former president Barack Obama. It is estimated that he gathered over one million votes in 2008 due to Oprah's support.

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Presidential Medal of Freedom - In 2013, Obama handed her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor a civilian can get in the US. The medal is awarded to people who contributed to the country's interests and security as well as to global peace.

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Books - The prestigious TV host has also written a few bestsellers. Her latest book from 2017 is called 'The Wisdom of Sundays: Life-Changing.'

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Highest-paid host - Her fortune is estimated at $215 million, and according to People With Money, she's the highest-paid TV host in the world.

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Style - She's also a fashion icon, as she's always elegantly dressed.

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Best friends - Her well-known best friend is Gayle King, also a TV host.

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Social causes - Oprah is extremely dedicated to charity projects. In 2012, she won the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar awarded to people who contribute towards humanitarian causes.

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Golden Globe - At this year's Golden Globes, she became the first black woman to win the Cecil B. de Mille award.

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Emotional speech - Her inspirational speech about sexual harassment and the importance of calling out abusers was the most powerful speech of the night, with some even calling it 'presidential.'

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Someone to look up to - She's an example for young girls and women all around the world, as she fought for her right to speak out and share her story and showed it's possible to become successful regardless of your background!

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