01of 17REX/ShutterstockAs a teen competing in the Miss Fire Prevention competition of Nashville, 197102of 17Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty ImagesAs a young news anchor in Baltimore, 197803of 17Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty ImagesHosting the showPeople Are Talking,197804of 17Oprah Winfrey in the 1985 film adaptation ofThe Color Purple.Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/ShutterstockMaking her film debut inThe Color Purple,198505of 17Courtesy Everett CollectionOn her eponymous talk show, 198606of 17Paul Natkin/WireImageShowcasing her weight loss on theOprah WinfreyShow, 198807of 17Robin Platzer/Twin Images/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesWith longtime partner Stedman Graham at the DaytimeEmmy Awards, 199508of 17Frank Micelotta/Getty ImagesAccepting the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 54th Annual PrimetimeEmmy Awards, 200209of 17AP Photo/Denis FarellAt a ribbon cutting for her Leadership Academy for Girls school in South Africa, 200710of 17Jim Cole/AP/REX/ShutterstockWith Barack andMichelle Obamaat a New Hampshire campaign rally, 200811of 17Dave M. Benett/Getty ImagesWith Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel at Mandela’s 90th birthday party, 200812of 17Michael Reynolds/EPA/REX/ShutterstockReceiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from PresidentBarack Obama, 201313of 17Atsushi Nishijima/Paramount/Pathe/Harpo/Kobal/REX/ShutterstockWith costar David Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay in the movieSelma, 201414of 17Greg Allen/Invision/AP/REX/ShutterstockWith best friend Gayle King at an OWN event, 201515of 17Atsushi Nishijima/Disney/Kobal/REX/ShutterstockIn the movieA Wrinkle in Time, 201816of 17Oprah.Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesAccepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award during the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, 201817of 17JB Lacroix/WireImageAt an event for her television network OWN, 2018
01of 17REX/ShutterstockAs a teen competing in the Miss Fire Prevention competition of Nashville, 1971
01of 17
REX/Shutterstock
As a teen competing in the Miss Fire Prevention competition of Nashville, 1971
02of 17Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty ImagesAs a young news anchor in Baltimore, 1978
02of 17
Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images
As a young news anchor in Baltimore, 1978
03of 17Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty ImagesHosting the showPeople Are Talking,1978
03of 17
Hosting the showPeople Are Talking,1978
04of 17Oprah Winfrey in the 1985 film adaptation ofThe Color Purple.Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/ShutterstockMaking her film debut inThe Color Purple,1985
04of 17
Oprah Winfrey in the 1985 film adaptation ofThe Color Purple.Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
Making her film debut inThe Color Purple,1985
05of 17Courtesy Everett CollectionOn her eponymous talk show, 1986
05of 17
Courtesy Everett Collection
On her eponymous talk show, 1986
06of 17Paul Natkin/WireImageShowcasing her weight loss on theOprah WinfreyShow, 1988
06of 17
Paul Natkin/WireImage
Showcasing her weight loss on theOprah WinfreyShow, 1988
07of 17Robin Platzer/Twin Images/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesWith longtime partner Stedman Graham at the DaytimeEmmy Awards, 1995
07of 17
Robin Platzer/Twin Images/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
With longtime partner Stedman Graham at the DaytimeEmmy Awards, 1995
08of 17Frank Micelotta/Getty ImagesAccepting the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 54th Annual PrimetimeEmmy Awards, 2002
08of 17
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
Accepting the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 54th Annual PrimetimeEmmy Awards, 2002
09of 17AP Photo/Denis FarellAt a ribbon cutting for her Leadership Academy for Girls school in South Africa, 2007
09of 17
AP Photo/Denis Farell
At a ribbon cutting for her Leadership Academy for Girls school in South Africa, 2007
10of 17Jim Cole/AP/REX/ShutterstockWith Barack andMichelle Obamaat a New Hampshire campaign rally, 2008
10of 17
Jim Cole/AP/REX/Shutterstock
With Barack andMichelle Obamaat a New Hampshire campaign rally, 2008
11of 17Dave M. Benett/Getty ImagesWith Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel at Mandela’s 90th birthday party, 2008
11of 17
Dave M. Benett/Getty Images
With Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel at Mandela’s 90th birthday party, 2008
12of 17Michael Reynolds/EPA/REX/ShutterstockReceiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from PresidentBarack Obama, 2013
12of 17
Michael Reynolds/EPA/REX/Shutterstock
Receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from PresidentBarack Obama, 2013
13of 17Atsushi Nishijima/Paramount/Pathe/Harpo/Kobal/REX/ShutterstockWith costar David Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay in the movieSelma, 2014
13of 17
Atsushi Nishijima/Paramount/Pathe/Harpo/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
With costar David Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay in the movieSelma, 2014
14of 17Greg Allen/Invision/AP/REX/ShutterstockWith best friend Gayle King at an OWN event, 2015
14of 17
Greg Allen/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock
With best friend Gayle King at an OWN event, 2015
15of 17Atsushi Nishijima/Disney/Kobal/REX/ShutterstockIn the movieA Wrinkle in Time, 2018
15of 17
Atsushi Nishijima/Disney/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
In the movieA Wrinkle in Time, 2018
16of 17Oprah.Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesAccepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award during the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, 2018
16of 17
Oprah.Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award during the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, 2018
17of 17JB Lacroix/WireImageAt an event for her television network OWN, 2018
17of 17
JB Lacroix/WireImage
At an event for her television network OWN, 2018
source: people.com
