One of the most influential, well-known and powerful women on television today is Oprah Winfrey. She has starred in and produced many movies and has hosted her own talk show for almost 20 years. Many people would recognize Oprah immediately but may not know much about her life or the good she does for others. This woman, who has a net worth of a least a billion dollars, is extremely generous but she has not always lived a life of luxury. Winfrey, who is the first African-American female to join Forbes’ list of the world’s richest people, had a humble start in life.

Oprah Winfrey was born on Jan. 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Miss., a small farming town located about 70 miles from Jackson. Oprah’s parents were not married when she was born. Her father, Vernon Winfrey, and her mother, Vernita Lee, were only 18. Vernon did not know about his daughter’s birth until he received a “Dear Daddy” letter from Vernita while he was a soldier 250 miles away. Oprah’s mother left Kosciusko with its few job opportunities and moved to Milwaukee, Wis., and Oprah was left in the temporary care of her mother’s parents, Hattie Mae and Earless Lee, who owned a pig farm in Kosciusko.

Oprah’s grandmother taught her to write, say the alphabet and read by age three. She loved to read and practiced by reading to the farm animals. She called her strict but loving grandmother “Momma” because she practically raised her from birth.

At the age of six Oprah’s life changed drastically when she moved to Wisconsin with her mother who worked as a maid and had a new boyfriend. Oprah went from living in a medium-sized farmhouse to a one-bedroom apartment with her mother and her stepsister Patricia. Life in the city compared to life on the farm was very different for Oprah and took some getting used to.

From six to 13, she lived in Milwaukee with her mother. She ran away after suffering abuse and molestation first by a cousin and later by a friend of her mother’s and an uncle. At the age of 13 she was sent to a juvenile detention home, only to be denied admission because all the beds were filled. As a last resort, she was sent to Nashville to live with her strict father who required her to read a book and write a book report each week.

Oprah’s career began at age 17 when she was hired by a Nashville radio station. Two years later she signed on with a television station in Nashville as a reporter/anchor. After graduating from high school she attended Tennessee State University where she majored in Speech Communications and Performing Arts.

At 22 she moved to Baltimore to join a television news station as a co-anchor and, at 24, discovered her talent for hosting talk shows. She became co-host of People Are Talking, while continuing to serve as an anchor and news reporter. At 30, she moved to Chicago to host the failing talk show. In less than a year, she transformed “AM Chicago” into the hottest show in town. The format was soon expanded to one hour and, in September 1985, was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Viewed nationally since Sept. 8, 1986, The Oprah Winfrey Show became the number one nationally distributed talk show in less than a year. In 1987, the show received three Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Host, Outstanding Talk/Service Program and Outstanding Direction.

Away from her talk show, she became an accomplished actress in films such as The Color Purple, Beloved and many others. She has also produced shows and movies such as There Are No Children Here, Before Women Had Wings and others.

Oprah Winfrey was named one of the 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century by Time Magazine and in 1998, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Oprah influences many Americans. Oprah’s Book Club selections become instant bestsellers as soon as she mentions the title on the air. In 1999 she was presented with the National Book Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Gold Medal for her service to books and authors. Oprah started, O, a magazine read by millions.

A DVD featuring 20 years of The Oprah Winfrey Show was recently released. All proceeds from the sale of the DVD will go to Oprah’s Angel Network, which began in 2003 as an international campaign to assist small organizations focused on poverty reduction in developing countries. She also uses the Network to help people in need throughout the United States, including victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Oprah is dedicated to making a difference in the world and has shown her concern throughout her life. Whether you watch her show or not, whether you like her or not, there is no denying that Oprah has become a force. She has said she will give up her talk show in the next few years. However, she will undoubtedly continue to share her goodwill and compassion with the less fortunate around the world for many years to come.