Elizabeth Ott
English Composition II
MW 2:30-3:45
Portfolio One
Four Idols
Smart, sexy, talented, and timeless: these are four characteristics that make up four
unique women. Oprah Winfrey, Audrey Hepburn, Andrea Sachs, and Coco Chanel are these
four unique women. These women are my idols.
Most people when they hear idol think of a golden statue on top of a hill or in a
temple. They imagine people bowing down to this idol and giving money and gifts to this
idol. When idol is thought of in this manner many instantly assume that having an idol is bad.
Most likely due to the Commandment, "though shall have not other gods before me." And the
declaration, "though shall not make for you any foreign objects." When idol is thought of in this
manner, it is seen as bad and corrupt. However there is more than one definition of idol.
I say I am my own person with my own thoughts and ideas and I can define idol for
myself and my life personally. Idol does not have to be a statue or a worshiped object; it is the
perfect embodiment of a concept. And Oprah, Audrey, Andrea, and Coco are the women that
embody the concepts that I wish to emulate. When idol is seen in this new light it is no longer
bad, evil, or corrupt. In contrary it is healthy, natural, and reassuring that there is still good in
this world. If you can find one or even a few people who influence you to be a better person and
to better yourself, and you work your hardest to embody their admiring quality, you are off to a
good start.
Oprah Winfrey, Audrey Hepburn, Andrea Sachs, and Coco Chanel; some of
these women are probably the most known and celebrated people in the world. These women
have little in common when seen from the world's eye, but for me they all share one substantial
thing in common. They all embody characteristics that I wish to emulate. Their stories, their
lives, their roles may all be different, but their respect from me all the same.
Page 1
I respect and admire these women. They are role models. They lay the foundation for
others to build the walls, and still more the roof. I call Oprah, Audrey, Andrea, and Coco my
paragons, my heroines, and my mentors.(Thesaurus.com) Although they may not be physically
in my life they still have a huge impact in my life.
These four women have taken me to new places. Oprah takes me beyond the four walls
of my bedroom when I watch her journey to faraway lands and help children, Audrey encourages
me beyond my own expectations to dance when I watch her in Funny Face, Andrea reminds me
to overcome obstacles when I watch her in the Devil Wears Prada, and Coco pushes me beyond
my comfort zone when I witness her undeniable influence. Just as I hope to take you beyond the
words of this paper in showing you my admiration for four unique women.
I am going to try to express in words how much I admire Oprah. Oprah is uniquely
herself. There is no other. Literally, you say Oprah and people instantly know. It isn't which
Oprah are you talking about or who again? It's always just a smile, a nod, and a story in mind of
her goodness.
Oprah has more money than God, $385 million a year to be exact, but she also gives
away more money in a year than can be counted. (Wikipedia) Money is nice. However, her
money is not what makes me respect her. It is her undeniable fame. You would have to be
living in a hole for the past 20 years to not have heard of Oprah. I want that. Even in a high
school of a little over 400, only about fifty people knew my name. At my church, which I have
been attending for fourteen years, only a couple handfuls know me and a few handfuls know of
me. Why, you might ask. Because I am shy and quiet and I never do anything memorable, but
more than that I lack what I admire in Oprah, gumption. Gumption is the embodiment of spunk,
guts, courage, and initiative. (Random House)
Oprah Winfrey was born January 29, 1954. Today she is fifty-five years old. She
currently resides in Chicago, Illinois with her partner Stedman Graham. Oprah was not always
known the world over as the rich and successful talk show host and media mogul. Oprah came
from small beginnings, and experienced many struggles as a young woman. Up until the age of
fourteen Oprah was sexually molested, she lost a baby after premature birth, and battled with
drugs. However, Oprah never lost faith, "I knew there was a way out. I knew there was another
kind of life because I had read about it. I knew there were other places, and there was another
way of being." (Woopidoo)
Oprah's story began as the first African American Female news anchor in Nashville. She
soon moved onto a talk show called "People are Talking" where she was better able to express
her views and ideas. Success soon found her in Chicago where she landed a talk show job on
AM Chicago. After only one year it was re-named "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Today "The
Oprah Winfrey Show is the most successful talk show in the world. Oprah has been the host for
over twenty years. Oprah is more than a talk show host, she is one of the most respected and
known women in the world. Vanity Fair wrote, "Oprah Winfrey arguably has more influence on
the culture than any university president, politician, or religious leader, except perhaps the
Page 2
Pope." Why wouldn't she? Oprah was named 2008 person of the year by PETA for her
influence during her show on puppy mills and factory farms, she took her whole staff and crew
on vacation to Hawaii in 2006 for twenty successful years in partnership, she has put 250 African
American men through college, Oprah raised money for Katrina victims, she has given over
$303 million dollars in charity and was voted America's most philanthropic celebrity by Business
week, and she runs Oprah's Angel Network. These acts are just the tip of the iceberg.
(Wikipedia)
Oprah's influence is so strong; many have even accused her of holding her own religion.
This is most likely due to the fact that anything and everything aired on her show or said from
her mouth, or promoted through her instantly becomes the hottest, latest, and most unattainable
asset. "When Oprah promoted the movement of the Secret, a belief that if you put positive
emotion into the universe it will be returned to you, Christianity Today accused Oprah of
heading up her own church-free spirituality. Statements have been made that by 3000 there will
be a religion call "Oprahism"."(Wikipedia)
Oprah is full of gumption and influence. This is why Oprah is my idol. I hope that I can
be charitable just like her, and have success just like her, and have the courage to make
decisions that will be criticized. Even when the world is pointing their finger in my face, I hope
I can be half the women Oprah is. Oprah is my idol. I wish to emulate her influence, her
success, and her gumption. Although there are other women who possess the same qualities as
Oprah, I have chosen Oprah for her realistic and personable nature. Oprah does not put on a
facade of perfection. She opens up about her weight struggle, she cries with her guests, we have
all seen her without makeup or her hair done, and just like so many of us her romantic life isn't
perfect. For twenty years Oprah has been the definition of idol, the perfect embodiment of a
concept. Oprah is my idol.
Now I am moving on to the other end of the spectrum. There is not a movie on the shelf
that can top the classics of Audrey Hepburn. Audrey's talent was undeniable. The true
definition of triple threat, she can act, dance, and sing all while looking gorgeous. Audrey was
the graceful, poised, and classic beauty among the sexy Hollywood starlets. She stood out in a
time of conformity. She was loved by all and her mark on the world is still seen today.
I best know Audrey from her role in Funny Face and in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I admire
Hepburn in both these roles. In the movie Funny Face, she is a shy and reserved young lady who
is persuaded, actually almost forced into becoming a model. At first she is opposed, but soon
agrees after learning she will be traveling to Paris. I idolize Audrey in Funny Face because I can
relate to her characters shy and reserved nature. I have spent most of my life people pleasing and
turning down opportunities because of doubt or embarrassment. I admire that Audrey's character
has the guts and the strength to pursue a new venue. She may not have known the possibilities of
branching out at the time of her decision, but in the end she gains confidence, learns a vital life
lesson, and falls in love.
Audrey takes us on an entirely new adventure in "Breakfast at Tiffany’s". Her character
is bold, talkative, and unmistakably adventurous. However we are mistaken. For it is all just a
facade. She is actually scared and frightened. She uses her personality as a shield to protect
Page 3
herself. She goes through this endless cycle of emotionally detached millionaires or rats and
super rats as she calls them pretending to be uninterested in love and only interested in fortune.
I can also relate with Audrey's character in Breakfast at Tiffany’s because I too use
certain qualities about myself to somewhat protect myself against getting hurt. I don't go to
events or parties because I am afraid of rejection, I don't introduce myself to people because I am
afraid of being made fun of or not being liked, I do favors for people so they will like me, I can't
say no because I want people to see me as a cool and relaxed person. I do all these things to
protect myself from getting hurt, but in reality I am hurting myself more by the things that I
do. Hopefully one of these days I can do as Audrey did in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and move past
my hurt and let someone in to discover the true me.
I have chosen both Audrey and Audrey's characters as my idols. Audrey is graceful,
poised, educated, and sophisticated. "She was born into a blue blooded family in Belgium in the
year 1929." Audrey's high class and well off upbringing gave her the benefits of being educated
in sought after private schools, she attended ballet school in London, she can speak fluently
English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Dutch/Flemish, she modeled and acted.(Internet Movie
Data Base) Truly she had it all. I idol Audrey because I to wish to be poised, graceful, and
educated just as Audrey. I want people to see something different in me and to notice my
individuality. I want to emulate Audrey. I want to reflect Audrey's ability to perfectly embody
the concept of grace, poise, and education. I idolize Audrey.
Now we approach Andea Sachs. Andrea is played by Anne Hathaway in the movie The
Devil Wears Prada. In The Devi Wears Prada Andrea is a sweet and fresh faced Northwestern
college graduate who grew up in Ohio. She has recently moved to New York to pursue
journalism. Her options for writing are slim and so she settles for a job as a second assistant to
Runway Editor and Chief, Miranda Priestly. She knows that after one year working for Miranda
she will have experience and many opportunities. However, she must get through the year at
Runway in order to benefit from the work. (Wikipedia)
Miranda is a demanding and uncooperative pain in the butt. She uses her power and
influence to scare people into respecting her. One comment that Andre makes in the movie is,
"She isn't happy unless everyone around her is panicked, nauseous, or suicidal." (Anne
Hathaway, The Devil Wears Prada) Andrea soon finds herself faced with the decision of staying
true to herself and possibly not gaining the success and praise she so desires from Miranda and
Runway or changing the physical things about her in order to please Miranda. Andrea chooses
to change her physical appearance and begins to look just like any other Runway girl. However,
between Andrea's passive nature and the demands of Miranda and the job she soon finds herself
compromising her morals in order to fit in and get ahead. Her personal life begins to struggle
and she soon finds she doesn't even recognize her own reflection in the mirror. Andrea finally
reaches her limit when Miranda compares Andrea to herself. Andrea quits her job even though
she fears her reputation will be ruined. (The Devil Wears Prada.
I so enjoy this movie and I admire and idolize Andrea because of our similarities. I can
identify with her struggles and feel her pain. I too have a tendency to be passive and many times
find myself to crumble under the pressure. I admire Andrea’s strength to quit her job despite her
Page 4
fears of the future. I also admire Andrea for her humility in admitting her wrongdoings to her
boyfriend and finding her true self in the end. She is strong and beautiful. However, very
relatable because everything just didn't fall into her lap.
I hope to emulate Andrea in the future. If I happen to find my integrity being
compromised due to the pressure of others, I hope that I can follow Andrea's example and blaze
my own trail and discover my own self. Andrea is the perfect embodiment of strength and
beauty. I admire and look up to Andrea. Andrea is my idol.
Finally we approach Coco Chanel. Where would the world be without the little black dress? I
believe Coco Chanel to be the gatekeeper of fashion and a true trendsetter. Without her we
would be going on dates in tasteless and tacky dresses not little black dresses. Clothing for
women could very well still be itchy, tight, and constricting corsets and dresses. Truly women
would be at a loss without Chanel.
Coco Chanel is to fashion as oxygen is to life. Without one the other does not exist.
Coco brought us the little black dress, Chanel no. 5, bell bottoms, the Chanel suit, and the Chanel
jacket. But Chanel has brought us more than that, she has brought us change. During Chanel’s
younger years the women dressed for their man. The dresses during Chanel’s time where layers
upon layers of heavy and itchy fabric. Women were suffocated by tight corsets and skin was
never shown. Chanel begin designing simple, comfortable clothing made out of cheaper but yet
still good quality clothing. Her idea of dress was to be simple and comfortable with one key
piece that was the show stopper. Chanel was very brave for many of her pieces were inspired
from men’s wear and she was deeply criticized for her works. But over time Chanel's attitude
toward fashion became the mainstay. Whatever Chanel was doing so was the rest of the world.
Her pieces are timeless and remain fashion forward generation after generation. (Lewis, Jone
Johnson)
Coco is talented and she broke the mold. I idolize Coco for being able to do what I only
dream of doing. I often put on an outfit in the morning and feel really good about it, but am
afraid of what others might think and so I quickly run back and change my clothes. I have yet to
have the courage to try something new or to set a trend for others. That is why I admire Coco for
being able to do what I have not. Coco is the perfect embodiment of talent and trendsetting. I
hope to achieve a fraction of her success. Coco Chanel is my idol.
Smart, sexy, talented, and timeless, these are four characteristics that I aspire to be. The
women that I idolize embody these traits and more. I look up to my idols and I draw from their
passion, and learn from their mistakes. I do not worship these women or put them before God. I
simply look to them for inspiration and wisdom. I would not know the things I know or have
experienced some of the things I have experienced if it weren't for the example of my idols. I am
who I am today because of them. I too one day hope to be the perfect embodiment of a concept.
I hope to be an idol. I hope to be an inspiration to a young girl.
Page 5