Oprah and the team at O Magazine held the O You! Conference here in Atlanta recently at the Georgia World Congress Center. Over 5,000 attendees packed out the place in order to participate in forums and discussions held by some of the top brass at the magazine.
Some of the people featured at the event were; financial guru Suze Orman, life coach Martha Beck, physical trainer Bob Greene, designer Nate Berkus, and Dr. Mehmet Oz.
The event started with Editor-at-Large for O Magazine and everyone's BFF, Gayle King who shared a funny story about trying to fly to Atlanta and being stopped at security because of the metal in her girdle.
The morning sessions had topics such as, Finding Your Passion, which is a favorite theme for the magazine.
There was a free lunch on the lawn of the GWCC — at which O writer Penny Wren moderated a series of discussions. Dr. Oz got his groove on with Stepp Stewart as the two of them taught the entire crowd dance moves. Stepp stated he was once over 200 pounds and lost it all by "dancing and eating right."
While at lunch I met three great friends, Henrietta Archie, Hattie Thompson and Dororthy Cochran who have been friends for over 20 years. Hattie surprised Dororthy and Henrietta with tickets to the event. The price of the tickets were $125.00. "I thought they deserved it," said Hattie. "They are always doing things for others so I wanted to do something for them." Now that is true friendship.
At the end of the event Oprah Winfrey stepped out on the stage and the crowd went crazy. Dressed in a purple dress, she and Gayle wore the same colors but different shades, Winfrey sounded much like a preacher. She spoke about being a child of God and how He was her source. She advised all the O You attendees to get still and listen to the voice within to guide them to their destiny. Winfrey stated that she was destined to do a talk show from the very beginning although she didn't know it. She shared the story of speaking in front of the members of her church at the tender age of three and how everyone would tell her grandmother "That there is a talking child" and stated that her destiny was set right then. She addressed the rumors in the media that stated her channel is a fledgling channel. "I don't care what the media says about this 'struggling network' I know whose I am so, let me just tell you something, I’m doing all-right,” said Winfrey. Later Winfrey took questions from a few members of the audience.
Throughout the day attendees received giveaways including free make-up at the L’Oreal booth, free samples of toothpaste from Crest, Spanxx Tights and free Zero Vitamin Water. For many of the attendees the best gift came at the end of the night when they received a reversible leather tote filled with L’Oreal Paris products, a miniature T-Fal nonstick egg pan, Nature Made Vitamins, coupons from all the sponsors and a Gurli natural fiber throw from Ikea.
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