“l love Australia,” says Oprah Winfrey

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If there’s one woman who fits the description of a super-woman, then it’s the lady called Oprah Winfrey.

She is thought to be the one who put Barack Obama in the White House. To be fair, the Obama juggernaut was under construction long before he met Oprah.

But his rise to the presidency remained a palpable doubt, and then out of nowhere, Oprah endorsed him. 

“He is the one,” said Oprah, and the next thing we knew, Obama was taking the presidential oath.

This week, the power of Oprah has been transferred to Australia. The private jet of the Queen of talk show arrived last week.

Three hundred of her carefully-selected fans arrived earlier, in fulfillment of a promised she made live on television a few months ago to bring all of them to Australia.

Two hundred of her audience members on the trip had never left the United States before their trip to Australia.

“They didn’t even know where Australia was,” Oprah said at a news conference. “They’ve never said the word ‘Australia’.”

Who is this super-woman called Oprah?

Here is how one writer summed her up: “Born poor in Mississippi, raped at nine, she got to university and then the media, becoming a TV anchor and talk show host, watched by millions, worth billions.”

Hidden in that terse summary is her personal unconquerable spirit – and the story of her life and what it took her to become what she is today is a story she generously shares with her audience.

Oprah’s audience is predominantly female, middle-aged and middle class.

“Oprah is to women, what sports is to men,” noted an unnamed media industry admirer.
Former US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice says Oprah is inspirational because “her message is empowering,” which is simply, “I did it, and so can you.”

Her show is watched in more than 140 countries, making her a truly global brand. What she does and continues to do has transformed her into a billionaire – she is worth over 2.7 billion US dollars, according to Forbes magazine.

Being the mistress in keeping a positive image, Oprah does her best to educate underprivileged children, builds homes for the homeless and funds effort to help victims of abuse.

In Australia, Oprah gave out more than one million dollars of HP and Microsoft products to the Canterbury Boys School, including a laptop for every teacher and student.

She has also presented a cheque to a man battling cancer in the amount of $250,000, courtesy of Microsoft.

Sometimes, the things she give out are just a way of keeping steam in her show.

As an example, the 6,000-strong audience in Sydney have each been given a necklace.

Condoleeza Rice, known as a friend of Oprah says “I have felt her warmth, and I am always moved by her deep love for others.”

“She makes you want to invite her into your life – and she invites you into her life.”
No wonder, Australia has invited her to help boost tourism, with much of the trip being funded by Australian tax payers.

It is believed the benefit will far outweigh the cost.

But Oprah also believes she invited herself into Australia, for she says “you haven’t been anywhere until you visit Australia.”

Two episodes of the Oprah Winfrey Show being recorded in Australia is expected to go on air sometime in 2011.

For part of the duration of her visit to the Down Under, the country’s iconic Opera House in Sydney is even being temporarily renamed the “Oprah House.”

In front of the “Oprah House,” in the full view of thousands of fans and cameras, Oprah Winfrey yelled out the ultimate endorsement for Australia.

“I love Australia,” she said, again and again.