Oprah Winfrey, 72 ,Shares Story Behind 1986 Oscars Gown and Permanent Scar

Oprah Winfrey opened up about an uncomfortable moment from her early career, sharing a story from the 1986 Academy Awards that left her with a lasting reminder of what went wrong.

At the time, Winfrey was attending the Oscars for the first time and was also nominated for her role in The Color Purple. She explained that she did not fully understand how formal gowns needed to be prepared before the event, which led to a painful experience on the night.

She described wearing a white satin dress with a heavy beaded collar. According to her, the design caused real discomfort once she sat down during the ceremony. She said, “Because this was the first time I’d ever done anything, I didn’t know that you’re supposed to get it fitted before you actually go to try to put it on.”

The situation became worse when she tried to sit during the event. The weight of the collar caused pressure on her neck. She recalled, “When I went to sit back in the chair, [the collar] choked me, and I ended the night with a scar on my neck.” She also shared that she spent much of the night adjusting the dress and trying to stay comfortable while the ceremony continued.

Even though the experience was painful and she did not win the award that night, she later found humor and meaning in it. Winfrey joked that she felt like she received a sign during the evening. She said, “I heard the voice of God say to me, ‘You’re not gonna win because you can’t get out of the chair.’” Looking back, she said it helped her change how she thinks about fashion and comfort.

After that night, she decided she would never prioritize appearance over comfort again. She explained, “After that, I decided that, no matter what you’re doing, you want to be comfortable.” That moment became a personal rule she has followed ever since.

The story was shared during her guest appearance on Colbert’s show, which is currently in its final stretch of episodes, according to broadcast reports. The interview was part of a series of farewell conversations with well-known guests.

Outside of television appearances, Winfrey has stayed active in public life. She recently attended major fashion events in Paris, including shows by Stella McCartney and Chanel during Paris Fashion Week. She is also preparing for upcoming speaking engagements, including a business summit in Romania later this year.

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