If I were to be a famous personality, I would be "_______"

If I were to be a famous personality, I would be...?

Such simple question yet so hard to answer, hard in a way that there are a vast number of successful people out there that you could choose from. However, personally I would prefer to be myself in any aspect of my life rather than to be somebody else. But for the sake of this blog, I think I want to be....Hmmm... Who could I be? Since it’s really hard to choose just one personality whether it’s fictional or not I think I’m just going to enumerate some personalities that I most likely prefer in no particular order. Forgive me if this is going to be one extremely long blog. ^_^ (again...lol)

First off, here are Oprah Winfrey and Tyra Banks respectively and a little bit of something about them:

“Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” -- Oprah

"I was taught to read at an early age. By the time I was three, I was reciting speeches in the church. They'd put me up on the program, and say, 'Little Mistress Winfrey will render a recitation,' and I would do 'Jesus rose on Easter Day, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, all the angels did proclaim.” -- Oprah

Orpah “Oprah” Gail Winfrey is an African-American media personality, Academy Award nominated actress, producer, literary critic and magazine publisher, best known for her self-titled, multi-award winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history. She has been ranked the richest African American of the 20th century, the most philanthropic African American of all time, and was once the world's only black billionaire. She is also, according to some assessments, the most influential woman in the world.

On the other hand, Tyra Lynne Banks:

"Self-love has very little to do with how you feel about your outer self. It's about accepting all of yourself. You've got to learn to accept the fool in you as well as the part that's got it goin' on” -- Tyra

"A smart model is a good model" --Tyra

Tyra Banks was once quoted as saying, and she seems destined to prove it in every way. Now widely known as one of the world's foremost supermodels, Banks began her modeling career at the age of 17 with the Elite agency after flirting with attending college at Loyola Marymount. The 5'11" beauty was quickly discovered in Los Angeles, her birth city, and offered a healthy contract with cosmetics company Cover Girl -- becoming only the third African-American woman in the world to secure such an opportunity. She is an African-American media personality, actress, occasional singer, former model and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model in Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo and New York, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough. Banks is the creator and host of the UPN/The CW reality television show America's Next Top Model and is co-creator of True Beauty. She also hosts her own talk show, The Tyra Banks Show. In 2009 she was honored by Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) with the Excellence in Media Award.

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As for the reasons why I consider these two to be such an inspirational personalities that I adore aside from what is already mentioned above; both Oprah and Tyra are African-Americans who really made a name and impact in Hollywood despite their race. They showed everyone that ethnicity doesn’t matter when it comes to entertainment and making people happy. But to make this simple I would just describe them separately and enumerate the reasons why.

To start with Oprah Winfrey is…

**Brave

--Oprah had a very traumatic and dark childhood. By six, she was living with her mother and suffered from physical and mental abuse. Then at the age of 9, she was raped and sexually abused by several different men, including her teenage cousin and her mother’s boyfriend. Followed by being pregnant at the age of 14, unfortunately her son died in infancy. Nevertheless, she overcame poverty, parental neglect, sexual abuse and racism to become one of the richest and most powerful women in the entertainment industry. Through sheer force of her personality and by simply being herself she proved and showed everyone how brave she is and that she could conquer any struggles in her life and continue to move forward come what may.

** Very Charitable

-- Oprah Winfrey makes $275 million annually and her earnings are likely only going up from there. She’s making about $753,424 a day, $31,392 an hour, $532 a minute and $8.72 a second. It’s mind boggling! But where does she spend all those money? Designer clothes and accessories? High breed cars? All the finest material things you could ever think off, but who wouldn’t right? With all those money she has there’s no telling what she’s spending it to. However, one thing I’m sure of, charity. That’s right, As Oprah’s wealth and influence have grown, so has her compassion. Oprah founded Oprah’s Angel Network to encourage people to make a positive difference in the lives of others. She signed a wooden dog bone for an auction benefitting the Mississippi Animal Rescue League. She gave 300 members of her audience $1000 each to donate to a charity of their choice. Winfrey helped design and signed a pair of shoes for the Stuart Weitzman charity shoe auction benefiting ovarian cancer awareness and research. She even builds several schools around poor countries to help children who have no access to any school or any formal education. And that’s not the end; as long as she lives she would continue doing these kinds of stuffs towards other people. Her charity work is never-ending and she has won numerous awards for her philanthropy.

** World's most influential woman

-- Winfrey was called "arguably the world's most powerful woman" by CNN and Time.com. “arguably the most influential woman in the world" by the American Spectator, "one of the 100 people who most influenced the 20th Century" and "one of the most influential people" of 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 by Time. And with all that said, Winfrey is the only person in the world to have made all six lists! Forbes named her the world's most powerful celebrity in consecutive years. Ladies Home Journal also ranked Winfrey number one in their list of the most powerful women in America and President Barack Obama has said she "may be the most influential woman in the country". Now that’s what I call an “Alpha Female” (wink). Winfrey's influence reaches far beyond pop-culture and into unrelated industries where many believe she has the power to cause enormous market swings and radical price changes with a single comment.

**Such a great successful entrepreneur and Oh-so RICH!

-- Oprah came from nothing and raised up to be who she is now. She has credibility; she has talent; and she's done it on her own to become fabulously wealthy and fabulously powerful. With success, comes big money, and Oprah has invested in numerous lucrative business ventures. Ms. Winfrey owns Harpo Films, Oprah.com, Oprah Winfrey Network, Harpo Studios and Harpo Production Company. She is also the founder and editorial director of two magazines. And right now she is adding a major piece of real estate to her media empire, teaming with Discovery Communications to create an Oprah-branded TV net. The queen of talk shows has bought Discovery Health Channel and will rename it OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network. With her latest purchase, Oprah will have full control over all editorial, programming and branding decisions. And now it’s like she has everything! Oprah became the first African-American woman to reach billionaire status, according to Forbes Magazine. She has broken through cultural, geographical and gender barriers, letting the world know it’s not your circumstances, but your heart that determines how far you go in this world.

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Then there’s Tyra Banks. She is…

**Charitable and such a great role model

-- The same as Oprah, Tyra Banks is also one charitable person. She is on the board of advisors for the Yéle Haiti Foundation. She also participated on lots of voluntary works and donated to loads of charities. Tyra also founded her own foundation named TZone. The Tyra Banks TZONE Foundation empowers girls and young women to live their dreams, discover new possibilities within themselves and take on life's challenges with fierce determination and drive. It is about building self-esteem and confidence, launching leaders, showing the world that girls can do and be anything they set their minds to. She was even chosen by FTC Publications Class-Elite Magazine (USA) as "The Role Model for Models" [2007].

**A great supermodel

-- Tyra began modeling when she was in 11th grade. Quite young isn’t she? But despite her age she later went to Paris, France to do some runway modeling. Within Banks' first week in Paris, designers were so entranced by her presence on the runway that she was booked for an unprecedented twenty-five shows - a record in the business for a newcomer. Her striking looks and business savvy extended to several offers, including assignments with Ralph Lauren and various magazine covers. She was the first African American woman on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and she became the first-ever African American chosen for the cover of the Victoria's Secret catalog (which really is a big deal in the world of modeling). And due to her love for modeling she started her own show the America's Next Top Model. She is a judge, the host and the executive producer of the said show.

**From a Supermodel, now a TV icon

-- Tyra’s television career started way back when she started having appearances on different TV series then sooner or later she also appeared in movies and music videos. When people watch television, it’s hard to miss the talent and reach of Tyra Banks. When she launched her new show, America's Next Top Model, she became a true pioneer in reality TV. After having successful seasons with ANTM, she was blessed to have her own talk show and became the host of The Tyra Banks Show, a daytime talk show aimed at younger women. From this show she won the Daytime Emmy Award for her work and production. How cool is that? Anyway, not long ago she started a new yet another reality television series based on fashion magazines called Stylista. Aside from these she also authored her own book before entitled Tyra's Beauty, Inside and Out. The book was advertised as a resource for helping women to make the most out of their natural beauty.

And those were the gazillion reasons why I adore those people. It’s because they made a great impact not only to me but also to the whole world and they pretty much alike in some ways. They’re like a seeker of truth in themselves and in others, their empathy, honesty, and love of people have made them one of the most beloved women in America and in other parts of the world; a teacher who educates a devoted audience about subjects as varied as sexual abuse, divorce, children's issues, and countless other important subjects; and a close friend who visits over 20 million homes a day.

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Aside from those two, I also somehow like Paolo Coelho and Eion Colfer.

Paolo Coelho and Eoin Colfer are both Great authors. Among all the great works they have done my favorite books are “The Alchemist” by Paolo Coelho and “The Supernaturalist” of Eoin Colfer. Paolo and Eoin are the only authors I like as of now. Given the fact that I don’t usually read books cause I find them boring and I really don’t see the joy of reading and it only makes me sleepy. I rather watch those stories in film rather than spend hours and days reading them. Just like in the case of Harry Potter, ha-ha...I really love its story but I actually haven’t able to finish reading even its first book. Lol. :P(In fact, I fell asleep while reading the first paragraph and I never continued reading it since then. hahaha ^_^) However, in the case of these two authors, for some reason I’m really fascinated with their woks and I really enjoy reading their books and unlike other books that would surely take me a long time to finish no matter how short the passages are, with their works I could finish reading them in no time. And I kinda like the feeling it brings me. I mean somehow, I feel like I’m in one with the characters and I see myself as if I were really there. And after venturing the depths of their story I finally learned something new every time. It opens my eyes to the greatness of the world and makes me dredge up the simple taught and lessons in life that people usually forgets. With their stories I feel like I became a better person having the knowledge and spirituality that other people seems to disregard.

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And now a glimpse from my past that I no longer want to dredge up and how did this kind of people influence me to change and have a better outlook in life and be who I am today.

Honestly speaking, when I was a kid I’m the kind of girl who always hid my face so afraid to tell the world what I've got to say and show them who I really am. All those time I feel so alone, so lonely, so out of place and every time I’m in front of everyone I tried to hide these feelings, feelings that I can barely contain, yet I tried to put up a smile, such plastic smile; a smile that usually fooled everyone around me. It feels like I’m constantly wearing a mask. I can't help my feelings of being alone; I hide myself for the day just longing to go home. Those who see me do not see me. I am too truly bound! People around me have always thought that I’m such a cheerful little kid. Little did they know, the tears and snags hidden beneath. From then on it has been a form of escape, an escape from the reality of true feelings. I’ve always thought that misunderstandings could be an easy way out. My life was spiraling downward. It was just a black abyss, so dark and suffocating it’s grabbing a hold of me and tightening its grip. Yet what I really want is to escape and show everyone what I’m capable of but no one ever seems to understand. I deem that my diary is the only one that gets me, my only best friend. My hopes, fears and beliefs were the only things that make me feel alive.

Every night I sprawl on my bed and as I lay awake and brooding silently as I wish for a life I could rather have I take myself away to a much better land and let myself cry looking forward to that day then I ask the one above with questions that endlessly running in my head and I try to find my own answers,

“Dear God I wrote this letter,

To put my thoughts on paper,

Sometimes life seems like a criminal,

Without a well planned caper

I know You're the answer,

But I forget the question,

How do I know You love me,

When no one else, seems to care

I've tried everything I thought,

Might help me understand things,

And it didn't tell me anything,

Or even play my heart strings

So I'm writing You this letter,

To wait for Your reply,

I am so tired, of not believing,

I'll give You a try”

-- Dear God by FM Static

And I've been feeling all this pressure just to figure it out. Time is wasted day after day. I sit with people I don't understand, people I don't belong with. As I look at the people I do belong with I am intimidated. I feel as though there is a line that I can never cross separating me from them. I promised myself that I will never tell anyone how I feel. I am an impenetrable brick wall! but I always long to be on the other side. Fading, hating, waiting for some place where I can fit, I don't know where I fit in but every time that records spins I know the way it makes me feel. I never tried to be anyone’s trend, never asked to be everyone's friend. I'm just who I am and that's life for real. And when I’m tired and wearing thin and there's no one else around, I’m always longing for someone to give me the strength to carry on ‘till my balance starts to set in. And they might never understand why I do what I do but I can only speak my mind and what I feel is true. I’ll take a vow to be the only one who stands whatever it takes. I'm tired of trying to make it; I've spent so many nights trying to get it all right, trying to be who you want me to be. I'm sick and tired of waiting, for someone to see, and start believing in me. I can’t go back to being someone I’m not, not anymore. I never had a chance to do things my way so now it’s time for me to take control.

I’m wiser now; I’m not the foolish girl you used to know. I’m stronger now, I’ve learned from my mistakes which way to go. And I've tried not to let anyone in until now. It took time for me to figure it out and when I feel like I'm complacent with my head in the clouds I finally realized. This time I finally see the reason why, I can't do this alone. It took me some time and concentration to believe it, this I know, I need to build my faith and trust sometimes. And it's all fine, and it's all well, I really want to find what I believe for myself. I'm tired of making excuses and now I need to decide for myself. What if I stumble? What if I fall? The time has come for me to stop asking myself such questions and need not to be afraid anymore because I don't wanna ride the fence anymore. I wanna stand up, and shout it, and let it be known. And now if you tell me, that I can't make a difference 'cause I’m just one, I’ll tell you that you’re wrong because one is all it takes to start it right? And if you try to push me and try to knock me down, I won't listen 'cause I’ve got nothing left to lose.

Every year I get a little farther from old misconception that take the place of mistakes and lessons. There are things I've learned from, things I've been burned from and its part of who I am. Every day I get a little closer to the things that I want to say with my life in no particular order. I'd like to make some sort of mark so that the world knows I was here and I've been thinking about how I could scream it out loud or paint a picture somehow. And I've been trying 'till now, these walls are freaking me out, just need to let it all out and reach out because sometimes, you can forget who you are. But now I know I'm not out here on my own because there are people who do care and who do mind and especially because I have the love and guidance of the Lord in me. There have been a lot of people thinking I'm going' nowhere, times that I felt like turning around, but every time it happens I could feel that someone’s telling me to push on and keep my head up and this kept me on track from letting myself get fed up. And now there’s no point on trying to get my life back again because what is important is to learn to move forward and live life to the fullest.

I don't know, but I think I'm learning. Sometimes you just got to look closer instead of searching so hard. So when I start to get down and the world fills up around me and my head starts spinning like a top I can look up for a second and know that I'm alright, I spent so long not believing, so now is my chance to do so. And all this time, while the world passes us by what will we leave behind, but the pages of our lives? And if we take our time, I bet we can all find the things in life worth living for. One thing I know is that when life's moving slow I'm not out here on my own, I've got everybody else on my side. I'm on a long journey through mountains of apathy and I'm not afraid to walk through. And I know that if I just stay strong I can make it and if I try harder when I just can't take it. And when everything around me feels so broken and jaded all I have to do is believe in myself.

And so I’ll leave you guys an excerpt from a song that truly describes me as of now and to sum up what I was trying to convey to all of you…

“ This is real, this is me
I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be now
Gonna let the light shine on me

Now I've found who I am
There's no way to hold it in
No more hiding who I wanna be
This is me ”

And from all these experiences and things I’ve learned from everyone else it has opened my mind to a much wider judgment about life and now it comes to this. And now, I am not afraid to try things on my own. No matter what I’ll keep it real, I’ll live and share my life the way I feel, and it’s time for me to do it on my own. So better to take me for what I am.

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Peace out!,

Julirose