Responsible for leading the way for millions, talk-show host Oprah Gail Winfrey (1954-) was born on this date in Kosciusko, Mississippi.

This remarkable woman learned to read by three. By age six, she was in the third grade. Although her parents never married and did not stay together, Oprah has talked candidly about the experiences of her rocky childhood.

"Don't complain about what you don't have," she once advised. "Use what you've got. To do less than your best is a sin. Every single one of us has the power for greatness, because greatness is determined by service to yourself and to others."

Winfrey at 19 landed her first job as a reporter for a Nashville radio station. She enrolled in college and won beauty contests. She hosted her first TV show in 1984 and starred in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple in 1985. Oprah has not stopped since.

"I do not believe in failure. It is not failure if you enjoyed the process," she admitted.

An advocate of empowerment and spirit, Winfrey's show is seen by millions throughout the world. Her fans celebrate her down-to-earth charm and trust her as a role model and source of inspiration.

"Doing the best at this moment," explained Winfrey, "puts you in the best place for the next moment." Every day, she finds ways to show others "the way out" and UP.

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