“We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” 

With so many accomplishments to her credit, it’s hard to find any one word that embodies everything that is Ms. Oprah Winfrey.

Entrepreneur, activist, media mogul, actress and philanthropist are all accurate, and yet they hardly scratch the surface in capturing the impact she’s had on millions of lives around the world.

Born in rural Mississippi in 1954, Oprah came up in a time when America was especially unkind to poor little black girls. Early family challenges provided a sometimes unstable home environment, but she eventually settled with her father Vernon in Nashville and quickly began to excel.

She went on to attend Tennessee State University, and soon after began a long career in television. Her popularity grew quickly and in 1985, Steven Spielberg cast her in The Color Purple as Sophia. Just one year later, she launched her own talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. It was there she captivated our hearts.

Rather than follow the trend of the times, Oprah chose not to cover tabloid trash and instead focused on self-help. For 25-years she gave voice to our private pain, and encouraged us to embrace healing and hope. She inspired us to aim higher, and to love ourselves more. No matter where we came from or what we’d been through, she always reaffirmed our worth as human beings of divine purpose and immeasurable passion.

Historians may argue about what her greatest legacy will be, but as for us we already know. It’s the way she makes us feel – important, valued and loved.

For the selfless way she encourages others we celebrate her as a Woman Who Dares, a beacon of hope who unapologetically defies the status quo! ❤

PS – Drop us a line telling us how Oprah has inspired you!

PSS – Share Oprah’s story using the hashtag #Dare2BMe encouraging others to live the life of their dreams!