The Business of Beauty: 7 Black Beauty Queens Who Used Their Brains to Make a Difference
Oprah Winfrey
Born in 1954, Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire and one of the most famous people in the world. However, while attending Tennessee State University, she was also crowned Miss Black Tennessee at the age of 17. Two years later, she became the first black female news anchor in Nashville. In 1983, the Oprah Winfrey show was born in Chicago. In 1986, the show went into syndication, becoming the highest-rated talk show in history and winning over 40 Emmys. Winfrey also starred in The Color Purple and Beloved, and formed Harpo Productions. In addition, she launched O, the Oprah Magazine, and the OWN TV network. Never selfish with her money, she spent over $40 million on the Oprah Winfrey Academy for Girls in South Africa, in addition to the gifts of cars, scholarships, and more given to the public.