Oprah's Favorite Guest: Tererai Trent

As her show gets closer and closer to its finale, Oprah is looking back on some of the program's most memorable moments during its 25-year run.

On Friday, she revealed who her favorite guest of all time is: Dr. Tererai Trent, a Zimbabwean woman who, in Oprah's words, was "not allowed to have an education," was married at 11, had three children by 18, and whose husband beat her every day. Trent wrote down her dreams: to move to America and earn a bachelor's and a master's degree, as well as a PhD. She did every one of those things, and first appeared on Oprah's show in 2009. As Oprah welcomed her back on Friday, she exclaimed, "my favorite! Of all time!"

Trent told Oprah that she wanted to build a school in Zimbabwe, so Oprah surprised her with $1.5 million to help her out.

"We are going to build a school!" Oprah exclaimed.

Comments

[Monrocsol]

08:51 AM on 05/25/2011

Of course, the woman is black. Granted, the woman is a wonderful soul, but this choice is the same as her choosing Barack Obama. All three are black.

[justjojo]

09:31 AM on 05/25/2011

I think only you're seeing color here. I find that woman's story incredibly important and touching, and I am NOT an Oprah fan at all.

[robert horwitz]

07:29 AM on 05/25/2011

Oprah please just pack up all your money and go away.

[Travelgabi]

12:28 AM on 05/25/2011

GOOD FOR HER!!!!

[oldgeek1]

05:50 PM on 05/24/2011

Am I the only one who could care less about what she says or does?

[Noble]

01:24 AM on 05/25/2011

No, many people could care less. If you for example actually cared less, you wouldn't have bothered clicking on the link nor would have bothered to post. Now you know.

[justjojo]

09:35 AM on 05/25/2011

No, although I don't "care less." I care deeply about the messages she sends and the power she has and I am not at all a fan of hers although I will concede that she has done some good work. I have been appalled many a time over the years at her superficiality and thoughtless treatment of many things. With the kind of power she wields come great responsibility and I don't believe she rises to the challenge. I am especially turned off by her unabashed consumerism and her dreaded "Favorite things" episode every year. My stomach turns every time I see audience members getting orgasmic over Ipods and custom-made cheese cakes. Ugh.

[g-moi]

10:51 AM on 05/24/2011

Fantastic choice. And, though I rarely watch her show I love the positive effort she has made to better the world around her. She tries to live the solution. Thank god Tererai Trent was able to get through such awful times. Here's hoping more women become empowered and we can stop the cycle of violence against women!

[SpreadthePanic]

09:39 AM on 05/24/2011

I'm not really an Oprah fan, but then again, I'm not in her target demographic. I respect her ability to connect with her audience and her ability to stay relevant in entertainment for so long. Most people who host these types of shows last a few years and then are replaced by the next big thing, but Oprah has not only managed to stick around but to stay at the top - and has managed to do so while being a black woman who has struggles with her weight - three factors that certainly make it difficult in the entertainment world. While I won't really notice the absence of her show, she should be commended on her drive, her success, and her willingness to use those to help others.

Those of you who are bashing her simply for being successful and making a lot of money should be ashamed of yourselves.

[www Commented TV]

06:34 AM on 05/24/2011

Unique and deceptively good TV interviewer.

OWN network is sure to succeed in due course. She's got deep pockets!

[themodernleader]

05:43 AM on 05/24/2011

    I wish that our wealthy non-tax payer, philanthrophists were as enthused in  strengthening the organization that made them wealthy as they are in helping hapless people half way around the earth.  We risk our future by risking our own people.
   The gilded robber barons of the late 19th century spen their millions on purposes they considered worthy of an emerging democracy.  Our self-centered plutocrats are internationalists.  Americans are beyond helping.

[GerseyGeri]

03:54 PM on 05/23/2011

If we only had the opportunity to help people as she does.

[Murray bowen]

03:01 PM on 05/23/2011

Boy! I have read some nasty comments, but soemof these take the cake. I have not always been a fan, but I do enjoy watching the sheow when I've had the opportunity. Oprah has bone more than most in daytime television and she is great with her philanthropis work.

I guess geldonski just woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

[ItAintNoRocketScience]

02:57 PM on 05/23/2011

What. Ever.

[geldonski]

02:23 PM on 05/23/2011

I wish this fraud would finally disappear. She sure has been shoveling the BS for a long time to all of the fools that watch her show. She has turned so many of you into big chumps.

[ItAintNoRocketScience]

02:57 PM on 05/23/2011

I couldn't have said that better myself!

[frant52]

12:14 PM on 05/23/2011

I've never been a fan of Oprah's show, however there is no denying the fact that she has spent a good deal of money of very worthy causes. I hope Dr. Trent is able to pass her courage on to others in the school she will build. This is a beautiful way to pay it forward!

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

01:13 PM on 05/23/2011

I'm the same way. I stopped watching her show years ago and sometimes she rubs me the wrong way with the "aren't I wonderful" shtick, but she does donate a lot of money and shine her spotlight on many worthy causes. Thousands have benefitted from her generosity and for that I am glad there is an Oprah.

[liveinhope23]

12:10 PM on 05/23/2011

It is easy to wax cynical about Oprah. I don't watch daytime TV and I can't really claim to be a fan of hers. However, from the information that I do have, she has attempted to reach a large number of people with useful medical information, has done a great deal to encourage reading and education in general and has championed numerous worthy, charitable causes. Many people on this site carp about her narcissism and massive ego - it's a moot point. Since you don't know her personally and neither do I, if we are going to judge her (and I really don't see why everyone is so intent on doing so) it must be by the outcome of her efforts over these 25 years. Given the performance of most of the uber-rich in our country, I'd have to say that she has done a remarkable job. Whether or not her causes were truly altruistic or self-serving is beside the point. If I give a dollar to a hungry man to boost my own self-image as a charitable guy, it does not change the fact that the man still eats.
With all the awful, uncaring things that are attributed to rich people in this country (most of them justifiably) it seems very petty to discredit her good deeds by claiming to have insight into her intent - when clearly, that is not possible.
I can't say I'll actually miss her but I wish her well.

[DynamicInfo]

11:30 AM on 05/23/2011

who cares...I'm so done w/Oprah...I have Opray fatigue

[AlisonCarnie]

11:50 AM on 05/23/2011

As a former battered woman who had to disappear from Toronto to Chicago to save my life in 1996, I am alive because of Oprah.

Before Nicole Brown was slaughtered, no one ... and I mean no one ... paid attention to women being beaten, terrorized nor murdered (and there is STILL one hit every 45 seconds and two who wake up this morning will be dead by night fall in North America) ... we told no one ... we felt shame ... after all, it was our fault.

Oprah had on writers, therapists, psychologists, victims, law enforcement over and over and over again ... slowly the words came ... it wasn't me; it wasn't my fault; I couldn't have changed anything; it is ubiquitous ... it wasn't ever me ... not ever.

I was physically free when I arrived in Chicago ...

Only after the gift of Oprah was I cerebrally free ...

She has saved many lives

and this one, this glorious, fabulous, valuable one, is truly free.

Albeit, I lived in Chicago for twelve years, I never had the opportunity to thank her ...

Well, I am back home in Toronto, and I thank her now.

[Strateshooter]

12:53 PM on 05/23/2011

Alison: Thank you for this inspiring testimonial. God continue to richly bless you!!!

[Pippen]

01:04 PM on 05/23/2011

NIce to have you around =)

[fatback65]

12:13 PM on 05/23/2011

Who cares? Most of us here do I think. Must be a right-winger only interested in your little world. Whether you like O or not, I imagine those kids whos lives will be changed by a new school will care.

[yomam]

01:14 PM on 05/23/2011

oh, you mean the ones who were raped?

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

01:20 PM on 05/23/2011

I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous. She must be a self-interesed right-winger because she's had enough Oprah?

I'm a card carrying Leftie and I stopped watching Oprah ages ago. I applaud and appreciate every thing she's ever done to help someone, bring issues to people's attention and support good causes, but I got over her when she was traveling around one summer putting on these big tent shows that she opened with the phrase: "The Universe is speaking to you through me, Oprah Winfrey."

I am not downplaying or slagging on any of her good works - which are many. But at that point, I didn't want to watch someone with such an ego interview celebrities and give her audience prizes.

I have no doubt that she will continue to use her fame and fortune to help others, but I'd like to see her doing that with less publicity for herself, which I think will happen.