Oprah Gail Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She grew up in poverty and faced numerous challenges in her early life, including abuse and discrimination. Despite these hardships, Winfrey excelled in school and won a scholarship to Tennessee State University, where she studied communication. Her first job in media was at a local radio station, which paved the way for her career in television.