Girl We Love: Oprah

Does she really need any introduction? Oprah Winfrey is the Queen of all media—she touches it and it turns to gold. She defied being either a “serious talk show” or a celeb-oriented one, and created a niche all her own. We heart her and we are sad to hear about her eventual departure from daytime television after 25 wonderful years.

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A NY Times article out today praises not just everything the fierce lady did in her career, but all that she did not do as well. She didn’t sell out her brand to sell lame kitchenware or bookshelves; she chose to create best-seller novels simply by placing her all-knowing seal on them and not by creating her own publishing company; she created a successful magazine in an era when there have been so few; the list goes on and on.

By avoiding the opportunistic and money-making traps that so many other celebs and figure-heads fall into, Oprah was able to retain that aura of trust and genuineness that millions of people flock to (and make no mistake, she’s made a ton of money anyway). She didn’t shy away from sharing the deeply personal conflicts in her own life, such as her struggle with weight and past history of abuse. And yet with every story she shared, there was never a moment where you thought she was just doing it for the sensationalism. You felt that she truly hoped to help and touch other viewers out there who might be going through the same thing.

Love her or hate her, Oprah is a part of an amazing success story that was built upon positivity and love (so rare in the entertainment/media world). She’s given back so much, both to numerous charities and to the viewers (male and female) who invite her into their homes every day. But we especially applaud her efforts to urge young girls and women to create better lives for themselves. Oprah’s shows on positive self-image, breaking the chains of domestic abuse, sexual education for the younger set, and so many others are triumphs and we can only hope that someone else might come along to help fill the void that will be left by her. She can certainly never be replaced but hopefully her legacy will inspire others to follow in her footsteps.

(And what are we going to do without her annual “Oprah’s Favorite Things” episode?? Christmas won’t be the same without it! Sorry Santa.)