Every little girl, teen girl, young woman, and mature lady out there has or have had a role model. Some of us have the same role model from age 13 on. Others find various role models that they relate to as they age. Do you know what one of the hardest role models to find is? The hardest role model to find is the one who is inspiring for all ages, regardless of our path in life.
Barbara Walters is one of the strongest female role models on the planet. How many of us actually know a great deal about her, though? If you’re like me, you know who she is but you never really delved into all of who she is until the release of her own memoirs, Audition.
Just what is it about Barbara that makes her so inspiring? Besides the fact that she has lived by her words of advice: “One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time;”Let’s try asking a journalist. A journalist would tell you that Barbara broke the barriers for future female journalists and broadcasters. She paved a path proving a woman can earn success in whatever she puts her mind to, and that with determination and hard work you can accomplish anything.
Barbara was born on September 25, 1929 in Boston, MA. Her father was Lou Walters, a nightclub impresario. Her mother was Dena Seletsky Walters. She had an older sister, Jacqueline, and a brother, Burton. Jacqueline was born with a developmental disability and died in 1985. Burton died of pneumonia in 1932.
Since childhood Barbara was no stranger to celebrity figures. Her father opened a chain of nightclubs, expanding his business from Boston to Miami Beach in 1937. Barbara schooled at a private school in NYC, later graduating from Miami Beach High in 1947. As you might imagine, she was surrounded by celebrities from an early age. Some speculate this is why she has always been relaxed when interviewing and interacting with celebrities and high profile people.
In 1953 Barbara graduated from the Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY with a B.A. in English. Believe it or not, she was a secretary after college before landing her first journalism job as Assistant to publicity director and Republican activist Tex McCrary. This job gave her the chance to hone her writing and production skills. She moved to CBS next.
At CBS Barbara wrote material for the Morning Show. She married Robert Henry Katz, business executive, in 1955. Three years later they divorced.
The NBC network hired Walters in 1961 as a writer and researcher for the Today show. She began covering stories geared toward female viewers, which won her the status orrole model for many young women because of her insatiable coverage ability and strength to take on any topic.
After the first few months at NBC, Walters lobbied for her breakthrough assignment: Traveling with First Lady Kennedy on a trip to both India and Pakistan. Not only did she receive the assignment, but it earned her more responsibility with the network.
Barbara married again in 1963, this time to Lee Guber, a theatrical producer. Together they adopted a daughter, whom they named Jacqueline Dena after Walters’ sister. Barbara and Lee divorced in 1976.
Over the following years, Barbara became a staple at the Today show. She stayed with Today for 11 years where her trademark interview style of “probing-yet-casual” developed. In 1972 she staked her claim as one of the most competent female journalists out there when she was chosen to join the press corps accompanying President Nixon to China.
Barbara won her first Daytime Entertainment Emmy in 1975 for best host in a talk series. Her career blossomed in leaps and bounds with literally thousands of interviews with celebrities and political figures.Relatively recently, she released her memoir, Audition. In 2005 she hit the headlines after appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Showto reveal “secrets” from Audition.
Currently, Barbara has been promoting the miracles of modern medicine after undergoing heart surgery. She let us into her incredible experience through a small televised event entitled, A Matter of Life and Deathwhere shealso interviews other who underwent the same surgery, including former President Clinton and comedian/actor Robin Williams. She is also a regular on The View.
Perhaps one of the most inspirational things about Barbara is her unconditional pursuit of truth. Even her memoir reflects her passion, providing an open doorway into the obstacles she has overcome. She openly admits shortcomings and mistakes, providing a great role model of someone open to enlightenment. What more could any woman, young or old, seek from a true role model?