Oprah Winfrey showcased her slimmed-down figure at the 35th annual GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Awards at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on Thursday.
The famed talk show host was honoured for her commitment to promoting LGBTQ rights throughout her decades-long career, and was presented with the award by long-term friends Chilli Pepper and Paolo Presta.
However, it wasn’t the award that impressed attendees as all eyes were on Winfrey’s slimmed-down figure after she made headlines in December for confessing she had been taking “weight loss medication”.
Now, the star has opened up about feeling thankful there was “redemption” for her and others who needed the extra help to lose weight.
“I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself," she shared with People magazine.
During the awards, she wore a stunning black and purple floor-length blazer dress that highlighted her petite frame, looking relaxed as she took to the stage to accept her award with glossy, bouncy waves.
Oprah accepted an award at the GLAAD's for her support towards the LGBTQ community
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Her appearance to the glamourous event came after she faced a media storm of backlash over her upcoming documentary about weight loss drugs.
An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution will speak to people who have use medication like Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as medical professionals who discuss the risks.
Touching on the upcoming documentary, she said: “It is a very personal topic for me, and for the hundreds of millions of people impacted around the globe who have for years struggled with weight and obesity.
“There’s a part of me that feels… I’ve got to do it the hard way. I’ve got to keep climbing mountains, I’ve got to keep suffering. I’ve got to do that because otherwise I somehow cheated myself.
Oprah faced backlash after admitting she used weight loss medication
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“I realised I’d been blaming myself all these years for being overweight, and I have a predisposition that no amount of willpower is going to control.”
Winfrey has openly admitted in the past that she has continuously struggled with her fluctuating weight and chose to be honest with her fans after speculation began to mount after her weight loss.
“The fact that there's a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for.”
As well as the weight loss medication, Winfrey underwent knee surgery in 2021, with her physical rehabilitation helping her develop several healthy habits to help her burn fat.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Oprah opened up about her weight loss
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“After knee surgery, I started hiking and setting new distance goals each week. I could eventually hike three to five miles every day and a 10-mile straight-up hike on weekends.
“I felt stronger, more fit and more alive than I’d felt in years. I eat my last meal at 4 o’clock, drink a gallon of water a day, and use the Weight Watchers principles of counting points.
“I had an awareness of medications, but felt I had to prove I had the willpower to do it. I now no longer feel that way," she told People.