She is one of the most influential people of her time
Throughout her long and successful career, Oprah has been one of the most influential people on the planet. She spoke before the US Senate Judicial Committee in support of the National Child Protection Act in 1991, sharing her personal story of child abuse. Bill Clinton signed the Act into law in 1993 with Winfrey's help. It was termed the "Oprah Bill" because it sought the creation of a national database of all child abuse and sex offense indictments and convictions, as well as violent crimes, arson, and felony drug offenses. In 2008, Oprah put her political clout to the test once more, using her program as a platform to promote the Combating Child Exploitation Act. On air, she urged her audience to contact their senators in favor of the bill, leading the bill to be passed into law.
Since 2004, Oprah has appeared on the TIME list of the 100 most important persons in the world ten times, including being named one of the 100 most influential individuals of the twentieth century. She comes in second only to Barack Obama, who has 11 appearances on the list. Through her talk show, Oprah has a tremendous amount of clout. The "Oprah Effect" was coined as a result of this. It alluded to the impact that an appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" or an endorsement by Oprah Winfrey can have on a company. The publishing industry was the most affected by the Oprah Effect. According to available data, 59 of Oprah's book club selections made the top ten list of USA Today, with 29 making the top spot. For example, Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison's works are said to have benefited more from Oprah's recommendations than from her receiving the prize.
Oprah's power came from the confidence of her 42 million-strong audience and her honesty. Unlike most celebrity endorsements, she backed small family companies. Several businesses and professionals grew as a result of their appearances on her show, while a throwaway remark about beef in 1996 sent cattle prices soaring, costing ranchers $11 million. Weight Watchers' stock skyrocketed in 2015 after Oprah Winfrey said she had purchased a 10% investment in the firm.