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Although the shoot happened more than 10 years ago, Vogue editor Anna Wintour recently revealed that she "strongly encouraged" Oprah Winfrey to lose 20 pounds for her 1998 Vogue cover.
And Oprah did it!
'It was a very gentle suggestion,' said Wintour during an unaired portion of Sunday's '60 Minutes' interview with Morley Safer. "I went to Chicago to visit Oprah, and I suggested that it might be an idea that she lose a little bit of weight. I said simply that you might feel more comfortable. She was a trouper!"
The most famous editrix in fashion and the inspiration for the book and movie 'The Devil Wears Prada,' "Nuclear Wintour" is known for her low tolerance for mediocrity and body fat -- both in the pages of Vogue and even on her staff at the "bible of fashion."
Oprah Winfrey Fashion Transformation
Twenty Years of Beautiful at Any Size
Consistently ranked as one of the richest and most powerful women in the world -- even credited with giving President-elect Obama over one million votes -- Oprah Winfrey has indeed risen to heights heretofore thought unimaginable. As with all of humanity, though, Oprah has had one very persistent and public struggle, and that is with her weight, which has fluctuated through the years, unlike her meteoric star. As we chronicle her looks over a 20-year period, you'll see that Winfrey remains smart about choosing styles that compliment her figure at any size. There should be NO shame in her game!
Text by Hayat Mohamed, Photo editor, Denyse Clarke
AP, Getty Images
November 1988
In 1988, two years after the debut of her highly successful talk show, Oprah was at her lowest weight ever, dropping an astounding 68 pounds. Who could forget the day she unveiled her new figure on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' along with a wagon carrying 68-pounds of fat?
Charles Bennet, AP
January 1991
Three years after her amazing weight loss, Oprah fell off track and packed on some extra pounds. Her petite figure was history at in 1991 at the Daytime Emmy Awards, of which the undisputed talk show queen has won many.
Time Life Pictures / Getty Images
May 1994
"Three" seems to be the magic word for Oprah -- or maybe "corsets"... At the 1994 Emmy Awards, the media mogul showed off a tiny waist and sculpted arms in a form-fitting dress.
Dave Allocca, Getty Images
May 1995
A failed diet regimen or a poorly-cut dress? Whatever the reason, it appeared that Ms. Winfrey's Emmy count wasn't the only thing climbing that year. When she received her award at the Daytime Emmy Awards her hips appear to have widened noticeably from the year before. She still stands triumphant.
Paul Hurschman, AP
February 1996
Ms. O's waistline was looking rather slim at the 68th Academy Awards in a navy blue fitted satin gown in 1996. Eleven years prior, Winfrey was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as Sophia in 'The Color Purple.' Since then, she has starred in and produced several films.
AP
September 2003
Oprah arrived to the 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2002 in a mellow yellow dress and her constant companion Stedman Graham, her man since 1986. Despite the added weight she was simply radiant on the red carpet. There goes that corset again!
Steve Granitz, WireImages
January 2003
In 2003, Oprah managed to stabilize her weight. Maybe it's the slimming choice of black but she looked as if she had dropped a few pounds when she was spotted attending the American Auction at the Metropolitan in NYC.
Arnaldo Magnani, Getty Images
February 2003
A month later, Ms. Winfrey was looking pretty fierce on the red carpet of the Association of American Publishers Honors Awards in a clingy red dress. By the looks of it, O was definitely hitting the gym.
Photo by Stefan Zaklin/Getty Images
August 2004
The year 2004 rang in a new do and a new waist for Oprah. She had no problem strutting her stuff at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Gala. Forget the color black, we give props to Oprah's diet and fitness plan.
Getty Images
Oprah, who has publicly fluctuated with her weight for years and who has been very vocal about being comfortable in the skin she's in, may leave a few puzzled at her agreement to shed the pounds for the magazine's cover.
"She totally welcomed the idea, and she went on a very stringent diet," recounted Wintour. "It was one of our most successful covers ever." But then again, one thing Winfrey is certainly known for -- especially in recent years -- is personal growth. Who knows if she would have gone for Wintour's "gentle suggestion" today.
Comments: (518)
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By: Kate is an Asshole on 5/23/2009 10:05AM
Kate your an asshole. That's real easy to see. I bet the only friends you have are the guys that tell you your pretty just to lay you.
*btw* You wanna go out sometime?, I bet your pretty.
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By: ladyluck538 on 5/24/2009 7:30PM
You are just mad that a fat black woman is one of the most power women on this planet. Its ok hater, we understand.
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By: Andreen on 6/10/2009 12:37PM
I will not go so far as to suggest there is something other than a close sisterhood between Oprah and Gail, however I do agree with your assessment of the phenomenal resources that Oprah has at her disposal. She has access to the best advisors, spiritual healers, psychologists, authors, world class chefs' resort areas around the world and other individuals that can help her develop a highly evolved sense of self. Her struggles are indeed internal, but to what extent, no one can say. She will have to do the difficult internal work to be able to reconcile the woman that shows up on the outside. Perhaps she has accepted some distorted notions of self, or who the self should be. Afterall, she is highly mainstreamed and seems somewhat disconnected with her culture of origin. She is of the era where African Americans were taught they were inferior and indoctrinated to believe they deserved less than others in this world. Perhaps she may be struggling with the self she has abandoned for money and fame and the deal she made with the devil at the expense of her soul. Who knows, this is a theory. I think one can be wealthy and achieve fame without catering to the mainstream. Rarely do you see her promote interests that are particular to the African American community, and if she does reach back it is not well publicized.
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By: Gramma on 5/19/2009 8:17PM
If her magazine is defunct, whose mag am i subscribing to?????????????????????? (this is for Kate) Gramma
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By: Paul on 5/19/2009 8:19PM
Oprah would go nuts if she sees the ad running above on a page about her. She is sueing the makers of Acui-Berry for using her show and image to rip off people's credit cards. It is a scam to steal your credit card number and charge you forever foe a "free sample " you order from the site. Do not fall for this or the colon clean scam. they are both out to charge your card $80-$90 a month ,for each product you order, forever if you accept the free sample. "One tip to a sexy stomach" is just one of many listed on the AOL sites and other web carriers. Read all the fine, and I mean fine print if you decide to order the product.If you see the words Acui-berry or colon clean, Stop and run the other way !
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By: Haven on 5/19/2009 8:41PM
Kate I believe you have Oprah confused with Rosie! Also, you apparently know little about weight issues. Oprah has said she has thyroid issues, which can significantly affect weight. She also has a personal trainer & a chef specializing in healthy food. I also know from experience that certain medications can cause significant weight gain.
In short, some people simply have larger body types and slower metabolisms than others. This is a result of genetics, not willpower. You might want to educate yourself before making such hurtful comments
S
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By: Ruby on 5/19/2009 8:52PM
What the !!!!! How did this go from a discussion about weight to calling Oprah gay? (to Kate) Can't you understand someone having a close friend who's like a sister? Obviously it's YOU that has a problem. With a hostile personality like that no wonder you don't have any close friends. Go eat a cookie and throw up. You are so sad.
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By: Lily Anne on 5/20/2009 12:58AM
In reference to Kate, lay off the weight problem! The worst thing for ones body is the yo-yo dieting. I wish people would leave her alone about her weight and consintrate on her intelligence. I admire Oprah for who she is not for what she weighs. She always looks beautiful and wears gorgeous clothes that compliment her figure no matter what size she is. Also, do all best friends have to be "gay"? Get off her case, she is who she is and I admire her and do not believe for one minute that she and Gayle are gay. They are two beautiful and successful women and I love her SUCCESSFUL magazine.
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By: Kate on 5/20/2009 10:30AM
Ruby... I don't "throw up" my cookies. I walk them off. It's called exercise and being healthy. You should try it if you can get up off the couch.
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By: Poo-Bah on 5/19/2009 8:49PM
Oh bologna, Haven! !
Oprah is overweight and unhealthy! She sets a poor role model for other women.
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