GTFOH - Oprah shares a cover with someone besides herself

Some of ya'll may hate me for this but so be it. I am not the biggest fan of Oprah.Yes I love the the fact that she is a TRUE RBW, the business she has built for herself, the charity work she does, and as an actor, I think she has played some of the most memorable roles, but its just something about her personality that doesn't sit right with me. At times I feel she's too good for some of us folk, and at that same token, I applaud the fact that she really stands up and speaks out on things that are true to her, and if she doesn't agree, everyone will know. With that said, the fact that she loves herself so much that she has always been the only one on the cover of her magazine has always bothered me. Maybe saying she loves herself so much is a little far fetched, but seriously what kind of self centered person do you have to be to say I am the only person that is worthy of being on the cover of my magazine. Loving herself so much that not 1 Oprah, but 2 Oprah's even made the cover.
I love myself too but damn.

Well the times have changed. I guess there is one person that lady O loves more than herself and that is the beautiful first lady, Michelle Obama. The next issue of O magazine will feature the 2 together. Nope, not by herself, Oprah doesn't love her that much to let her get the cover alone, but she will share it with her.

I know Gayle is sitting somewhere pissed, like I have been ridin' and dyin' for this chick since she was skinny for real and stayed that way, and she couldn't do a cover with me? Even after I sat in the hot car with her on that crazy idea of a trip to drive cross country.
Why the hell didn't I get the first opportunity to be on the cover?

The biggest problem I have with this whole ordeal is that its an action shot. Because we know Oprah can't be outdone on her own mag, and an action shot is the only way that Michelle wouldn't be able to blatantly out shine her. We all know the first lady is extremely elegant most times that she poses, but many action shots have her look sort of aloof. Now I don't think she comes off that way in this cover but I still don't like it. A lot of blogs are talking about how much they love this picture, but there is truly nothing about it that I love. I have looked at several different O magazine covers and none of them were action shots. All had Lady O all glammed up in some studio with a professional photo shoot, so why not for the shoot with the first lady?

So I want to know what my fellow Renaissance People feel about the O Cover.

Sidenote : Ellen Degeneres recently revealed on her show that her goal is to grace the cover of O Magazine. Does this mean she may have a shot now, or will Lady O go back to only loving herself enough to grace the cover and this will be a one time only thing? Time shall tell, but I would love to see Ellen on the cover.

34 comments

YBW March 8, 2009 at 3:13 PM

I think O looks a lil' goofy on this cover, while Michelle looks classy as always. Plus Michelle's belt is interesting me... hmmm

DrennaB March 8, 2009 at 3:34 PM

Because I HATE this picture so much, I will refuse to believe this is the cover until I see it on the stands. I mean, I HATE IT - she didn't have to do First Lady Obama like this. FL Obama looks crazy to me.

Gail probably doesn't care; she's been riding Oprah's curtail forever. BUT anyway, I'm NOT a fan of Oprah. AT ALL. I do not want to go too far into it but she gets on my nerves. LOL!!

A.M. March 8, 2009 at 3:51 PM

aww man u are to funny and i agree with everything u said.

I like oprah, don't have n e probs with her but i see where you are coming form. It's funny you would bring all those things to light and I'm mad she even put two photos of herself.

Michelle still looks pretty though, nice outfit

and yea, poor Ellen, it's not gonna happen.

Can't wait 2 see u round the blog :)

Keith March 8, 2009 at 4:16 PM

I'm glad you brought this up...Cause I thought it was just me..Ever since her magazine first premeired I have been making jokes about how Oprah is the only one ever on the cover of this magazine.

No one I know who is a fan seemed to have a problem with it...I think it's kinda boring myself..but
hey when I get my own magazine, I guess I can have who I want on the cover or not :)

Neither Gail, Ellen or even Steadman is going to have that cover alone...you and I both know that!

IntrospectiveGoddess March 8, 2009 at 4:31 PM

When I read the title of this post, the Obamas instantly crossed my mind as the only people she would consider to grace her cover, but damn she just had to be in the shot also? ugh...I do think that it is a little suspect that she didnt do just a regular photoshoot, all that aside I still believe that Michelle outshined Oprah anyway ..but lets be honest, Oprah is not all that hot in the face even in a glam shot, I have read oprah's magazine a few times and it just doesnt speak to me, but that goes for her show as well...I believe that most African Americans have a love/hate type of attitude towards her...with good reason I believe...Ellen on the cover? eh, I dont think so, not that she wouldnt deserve it, I just dont see the O, making that move

Mrs Somebody March 8, 2009 at 5:16 PM

Nice blog!!!!
My 1st time here and I'm adding u 2 my favourites!

Anonymous March 8, 2009 at 5:23 PM

Lol @ Gayle being pissed! Ok, I love the magazine, but her being on the cover every single month is beyond me. I mean you are on tv everyday, the magazine is named after you, why do we need to see you on every issue? I think the action shot could have definately been done better. First Lady still looks fabulous, but the expression they captured doesn't work.

SLC March 8, 2009 at 5:43 PM

I agree you on your view about Oprah...I hate to say this but the reason why I won't buy her magazine is because she's the only on the cover. I like to see new people...not the same one all the time. I might buy this one though just because Mrs. O is on the cover. I'm all for Ellen getting on the cover, but I don't see that happening in the future.

Eb the Celeb March 8, 2009 at 6:09 PM

@Ma'At - I am not feeling that plastic clear belt the first lady has on. Just seems tacky to me

@Miss BB - That's what I was thinking too. When I first saw it I was like... its a behind the scenes of the photoshoot... I am hoping that is the case. There are plenty of reason O gets on my nerves too, I just dont like to bash her because everyone comes out of the woodworks defending her arse. But we can definitely compare notes in offline...lol

@Intro - Exactly... somewhere when her network hit a couple million she stopped reaching out to our community. Then when she hit billion it was a definite rap. Like you said, look at her audience and that will tell you who she appeals to and they dont look like me or you.

Thx Mrs Somebody

The Jaded NYer March 8, 2009 at 7:40 PM

If Ellen makes the cover I may just re-subscribe to O Magazine.

I actually canceled my subscription because I was getting the same vibe from Oprah, and many of her articles didn't speak to me anymore.

I'd love to read this interview, tho, 'cause she IS a damn good journalist... gotta give her that!

MzInspiredMind81 March 8, 2009 at 8:38 PM

I can't stand this cover(as do most of the other posters). It looks extremely fake to me.

ShellyShell March 8, 2009 at 8:55 PM

I get Oprah(free subscription from my mom) and I don't like this cover. I don't like how either one of them look. But as far as caring that she is the ONLY one on the cover of HER magazine doesn't bother me a bit! Shyt if I had my own magazine I would be hard pressed to put anyone but me on the cover..lol!
I personally get sick of seeing the same damn people on the cover of magazines ESPECIALLY Essence. How many times we can see Mary,Halle and Beyonce! Shyt there are many more RBW's out there. I don't give a dayum that Oprah loves herself that damn much to grace the cover of EVERY issue of HER magazine!

VerbFashion March 8, 2009 at 9:06 PM

LOL! Hell yeah Gail's pissed!

The 2 Oprahs thing was really over the damn top.

I knew if not both Obamas at least one would be coming up shortly in this magazine. I figured it would just be a picture of Oprah sitting somewhere in the white house on the cover and it wouldn't be until you opened the thing up that you saw either Obama...lol

Good Blog.

ChpterReads March 8, 2009 at 9:28 PM

I always wondered why Oprah was the only one on the cover of her magazines. Though I applaud her for having Michelle Obama on the cover the picture isn't a flattering one and she could've chosen a better atmosphere for the cover to be taken. IDK but this could've been a collectors issue of the O magazine but unfortunately she made a horrible decision on this cover. Better luck next time O...

I love Oprah, she's a great woman, she sets standards for other RBW, she's an activists and a phenomenal entrepreneur. There are times that I take a notice at her audience, she's needs more of us in her audience but that's just my hang-ups... But all in all I love her.. LOVE HER!

The Jaded NYer March 8, 2009 at 9:36 PM

Wait- what's wrong with this cover? They both look good- outfits, make-up, etc.

Am I missing something?

MrsRony March 8, 2009 at 9:38 PM

awww man..I always get so much flak for not liking O. The new aged feel good goo just gets to me...doesnt feel real. Anyways. I always thought put herself on the cover so there would always be a black woman somewhere on the newsstand. I was ok with for the first few years but after that...comeon! She can keep a blk person on the cover but it doesn't HAVE to be her.

Mizrepresent March 8, 2009 at 11:17 PM

lol, i think Michelle, Miz Obama, looks class as ever...and O, well, oh well. I feel you too on how she doesn't always come over as my sista...sometimes, well maybe mosttimes a bit standoffish...i mean i love her success story, and her power, but i often feel that she is not really connected with her own as much as she should be. O, has been a personal hero of mine for awhile, and yet, she is human too, and falls short many times and yet still, i commend her for what she has accomplished. She is no Michelle by far...and that is why Michelle is on the cover.

Darius T. Williams March 8, 2009 at 11:48 PM

sooo funny - but I'm glad she's sharing the cover too - and what an appropriate person to do so with.

Tiffany S. Jones March 9, 2009 at 1:22 AM

Alright, I love Oprah and I'm not ashamed to say it! She's my shero.
From what I understand, she's a very guarded person who happens to have an "Alpha Dog" type personality.
I've never met her, the running joke between me and my friends is that I would probably pass out at the site of her.
I don't know what the deal is with the magazine, but hell, the concept has worked for nine years.
I say that FLOTUS was the perfect person to share the cover with. I see your point about Gayle, but let's face it, Gayle is not a covergirl.
Isn't she the editor or something? She has no busisness on the cover.
As for the pic itself, I'm not feeling the candid shot. They should have scheduled a studio shot.

Eb the Celeb March 9, 2009 at 1:27 AM

@Smarty - Not her biggest fan but best believe if we were in the same room... I would definitely go heavy into groupie mode... lol... and I dont do that for anyone. Wouldn't speak to her or come up to her but definitely would be nudging the person next to me like... OMG that's Oprah...lol

Angel March 9, 2009 at 9:10 AM

in short...sorry they both look horrible in that photo, there could have been something alot more classy Oprah looks like she just copied and pasted herself in the photo!

Unknown March 9, 2009 at 9:46 AM

i think i'm one of the few to comment here that thinks this cover looks fabulous! the first lady fantastic and oprah looks great too. they both look real and not airbrushed...the colour of their outfits says 'spring' and looks fresh. i love that it's set outside and not on the typical boring photo set.

also, oprah said before on her show that she is on her cover because she feels like who better to represent her magazine than herself? i see that logic....but i guess she now feels there is someone beyond owrth to represent her magazine.

i'll definitely be buying this issue.

Diva's Thoughts March 9, 2009 at 11:54 AM

I CAN NOT believe that Oprah has someone else on the cover besides herself! lol Albeit she is SHARING the cover but still. I am in total shock.

Anonymous March 9, 2009 at 1:24 PM

i'm so happy that i'm not the only person who's not in love with oprah!!!! this makes me insanely happy!!!

and yes, oprah is entirely too self-centered and i don't think she looks great next to the first lady. in my opinion, michelle clearly dominates this cover with her flawless outfit choice and the grace that is always there.

did anyone notice how oprah's abs were insanely airbrushed on that first one? i know she lost weight but comeon... let's be realistic!

Ms_Slim March 9, 2009 at 2:30 PM

Anyone who knows me knows that while I admire Oprah, I also don't like her very much. Because of that, I found myself wondering why she felt the need to be on every SINGLE copy of her own magazine. smh

I was berated for that opinion though, having found it ridiculous, self-centered, and just over the top in general. "She's a household name so that's why! She's a product at this point" were the answers I got. And I was called a hater.

LOL; So glad I am not alone in this! :)

PS; I like the First Lady cover though. And if you imagine the cover sans Oprah, it still sits well because...it's MICHELLE...who is fierce w/o trying, might I add :)

Video Vix[o]n March 9, 2009 at 7:44 PM

oh Oprah... what words can you say for her.

definitely agree on the cover twice thing. it screams "look, i went from this to this. how did i do it you ask? read about it all here." lol.

the michelle obama cover is cool, but its an Oprah mag, so she still stands out in some way.

there is something about Oprah indeed: she's like a sponge with a brillo back, rubs me good one way, and bad the other.

Gayle... forget about it. not gonna hear about her again.

Dave Van Buren March 10, 2009 at 8:13 AM

baby steps... first she shares the cover then she shares the cover with a decent pic... lol

WTH is up with that clear belt? Michelle channeling her inner 80's... lol

Anonymous March 10, 2009 at 11:20 AM

Michelle O. was the perfect choice to grace the O magazine vanity cover. Oprah could actually learn quite a bit from the First Lady on how to engage "regla folk."

Anonymous March 10, 2009 at 12:08 PM

yeah Oprah is somethign else..I'm surprised Michelle is on there as well and she stands out in her bright red and yellow. I think it will be a one time shot I don't think Ellen will appear on there but I do think that Ellen can have her own Magazine!

Now I just saw the topic line of the post below this one so I have got to go read it because I've been thinking about that topic lately within!

Go.

princessdominique March 10, 2009 at 12:08 PM

Michelle is always classy. I love it. People are tired of Oprah on the cover. I know I am.

Monie March 10, 2009 at 1:36 PM

The cover is not *that* bad to me. On one hand, I would have liked to see a photo shoot type picture but haven't we seen Michelle like that over and over and over again?
And who cares if Oprah has herself on the cover every month? Who cares that much about the cover...isn't all the good stuff on the inside anyway?

CCG March 11, 2009 at 5:32 PM

WOW!!!

Who else would be worthy of SHARING the cover?

E.M.H. March 11, 2009 at 9:16 PM

I've read your blog before and it's quite interesting but this is my first comment. I stopped by via Brianna's blog. It's O's magazine and if she wants to be on the cover, that's her prerogative. I don't think it's the best shot of the first lady or Ms. O, but it could be worse.

Eryn March 13, 2009 at 8:41 AM

Nah, I don't think she'll give up the spotlight again. If Halle, Tyra, or Beyonce hasn't gotten the cover, I doubt Ellen would although it would fly off of the shelves if she did.

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