Just imagine having the same name as a hollywood star. How would this make life? Would you get upgraded in airports or would people just slam the phone down on you and think you were pulling their leg. Well Oprah Winfrey is a 12 year old girl who has got to meet her nameske read article:
It's not easy to achieve a life-long dream by the age of 12, but Oprah Winfrey has found a way.
No, she's not the talk show host, but this local teenager is on her way to meet her namesake.
Oprah is the daughter of Rodney and Linda Murphy, and they admit they are asked about the name from time to time.
“It was my husband's idea,” the proud mom said. “He wanted to name her after a positive role model. Of course people ask about the name a lot.”
Now the family of four, which includes Oprah's older brother 19-year-old Rodney Winfrey, Jr., has a new story to tell about her name.
The Upson-Lee Middle School student left for Chicago Tuesday morning and will tape a segment today for the Oprah Winfrey Show.
“I got a call Friday afternoon asking if I had a daughter named Oprah,” Linda said. “I told them I did and we began to talk about the show. I received another phone call Saturday asking for pictures and to see if I could fly out Tuesday.
“I was like ‘is this real,'” she said, laughing. “I just kept reminding myself to stay calm.”
A letter from a family friend landed in the right hands telling Oprah of a pre-teen with her same name and similar spirit.
The family of four is off to the windy city and even though the visit won't be long, little Oprah has big plans.
“We can sight see before the show,” she said. “I haven't figured out what I will wear yet, but it will be black. I don't want to wear a light color and the camera not pick it up.
“I'm not sure when the show will air, I just know we are taping Wednesday,” she said. “The show is called ‘Letters to Oprah' and that's pretty much all I know.”
There is one thing Thomaston's Oprah wants to know about Chicago's Oprah.
“I want to know what her middle name is,” she said. “That's the one question I really want to ask.”
Other than that she's fairly relaxed.
“I'm not sure if all my friends believe me, but they want me to say their name on TV. I'll have to miss school, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make,” she said, with a grin on her face.
“I've heard about the name all my life and it's a honor to be able to meet her face-to-face.
“I like how she created the schools in Africa. That took a lot of money to do that and it was really neat. I would like to go to Africa and see her school.”
The soon to be 13-year-old has great plans for herself as she dreams of becoming a pediatrician.
“That's what I want to do,” she said. “Then in my own way I will be helping people.”
Trade the microphone for a stethoscope and this little Oprah is on her way to creating a name sake all her own.
