It’s been a rollercoaster of a year since Oprah announced her weight-loss journey on Twitter. Since then, the talk-show queen’s diet and exercise routines have spawned a whole new genre of articles and hashtags (#Oprah2020, #oprahweightloss, #oprahwtsjourney, #oprahretro, #retrooprah). We’ve watched her lose over 25lb, and in the process, shed the stigma that comes with being obese. Now, with less than a month until the opening of the 20th anniversary edition of Oprah’s Favorite Things, we look back on her incredible journey and the lasting impact it’s had on both her and the fashion industry.
Turning Point
In February 2020, just as the world was awakening from its COVID-19-induced slumber, Oprah revealed her weight-loss journey on Twitter. “I’m on a mission to lose 40lbs by the end of the month,” she wrote. “And I’m starting today.” The tweet linked to an Instagram post showing off her glamorous ensembles for the upcoming season. Within hours, she had over 20,000 followers, and the hashtag #oprah2020 was trending worldwide. Her latest show, Oprah’s Favorite Things, will mark her 25th anniversary in 2020, so this was clearly a special moment for her. But, on a more personal note, this was also a moment of clarity for us. Here was Oprah, a household name and one of the most recognizable individuals in the world, revealing that she’d been struggling with her weight for years. Now that she had finally taken the step to lose the extra pounds, it seemed like the perfect excuse to reflect on her incredible life and work. We were inspired to watch and learn from her incredible journey.
The Transformation
Since that fateful day in February, Oprah has not looked back. In fact, she’s since lost over 25lb, and she continues to shed pounds even now, as she nears the end of her journey. We’ve seen her transform from a size 20 into an eight in just a matter of months. Although it’s been an incredible journey, we should have known from the beginning that it would be challenging for Oprah to lose the weight. After all, she’s arguably the biggest woman in the world. However, her incredible willpower has enabled her to overcome any obstacle put in her path, and the weight has slowly but surely started to come off. It’s been a truly inspiring story, and it’s a testament to Oprah’s incredible willpower that she’s been able to shed the pounds and prove the haters wrong.
The Stigma
One of the most interesting things about Oprah’s journey is the way it’s helped to redefine the way we look at obesity. Up until now, we’ve often seen images of overweight individuals on TV and in magazines, and obesity has often been associated with a negative impact on health. However, with the advent of social media, celebrities and ordinary citizens alike are able to share their struggles with obesity and the stigma that comes with it. Through her Twitter and Instagram accounts, Oprah has helped to shed the negative connotations that accompany obesity, helping to prove that people can look glamorous even while struggling with weight loss. Her journey has also helped to prove that being overweight doesn’t necessarily mean you’re unhealthy, and vice versa. It can be a slippery slope into weight loss and better health, and Oprah’s journey is a testament to that. Furthermore, as research has shown, maintaining a healthy weight can enhance your overall quality of life, so it’s certainly worth the effort.
The Fashion Industry
Along with her incredible journey, Oprah has helped to redefine the way we look at fashion and style. Here we have a woman who started her career in the fashion industry as a senior executive at Revlon, and who went on to purchase her own fashion label. It’s no secret that people love to follow her fashion choices, as her numerous red-carpet appearances have attested to. However, it’s not only about following her fashion choices, it’s about owning them. As she’s gotten in touch with her feminine side and embraced her curves, so too has her style evolved. We rarely see her in anything but bold reds and powerful blacks now, and it’s clear that she draws a lot of her style inspiration from men. However, it’s also the reason she’s been able to shed the pounds and transform her body into something closer to what it was meant to be. For years, she’s been vilified for her size, and it’s certainly no secret that men don’t tend to wear clothing aimed at women, particularly smaller women. However, with the advent of social media and internet forums, it’s become easier for people to find friends and connections with whom they share common interests and hobbies. Through this, we’ve seen the fashion industry shift towards embracing diversity, especially in terms of size. People are now more likely to associate fashion and style with women of all sizes and colors, which has undoubtedly aided in the growth of the plus-size market and helped to debunk the fashion industry’s traditional ideal of beauty. As a result of this, it’s clear that even men’s fashion has evolved to celebrate the beauty of diverse individuals, and obesity no longer has to be stigmatized.
It’s been quite the journey for Oprah, as we’ve seen her transform from a size 20 into an eight. But as she nears the end of her journey, it seems like it’s been all the more worth it. Here’s to you, Oprah. We’re proud to have been a part of your journey, and hopefully, this article will serve as a small tribute to your incredible life and work. May you continue to inspire others to live their best life, and may you enjoy your Favorite Things to the fullest. We’re certainly looking forward to celebrating your successes with you in September.