Inspirational Stories Of The Famous, The following celebrities have all transformed their lives in dramatic ways, some rising from poverty to stardom, others overcoming life challenges to achieve success. See if you can guess the identity of these stars.
Lynn Woolsey, First welfare mother to serve in Congress, The transformation: When her marriage ended, this California mother of three was forced to go on welfare to cover her mortgage and to pay for child care, which allowed her to keep working. She later used that experience to win election to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she has served her constituents for 20 years. Lynn Woolsey will not seek re-election in 2012
Susan Boyle, Unlikely singing sensation, The transformation: At 48, this plain and unremarkable woman from Scotland became an international singing sensation after she appeared on the television program, “Britain’s Got Talent.” Though she placed second in the televised competition, the audience loved her. Her debut album was the most pre-ordered album of all time at Amazon.com. Susan Boyle I Dreamed A Dream musical opens March 23
Mark Wahlberg, Boston bad boy, The transformation: The youngest of nine siblings from Boston’s rough-and-tumble Dorchester neighborhood, this now-famous film star was a drug addict at 13, charged with attempted murder at 16 and sent to prison for assault. After he was released, the high school dropout turned his life around to become a successful rapper/musician with the help of his older brother.Boston's Dorchester neighborhood crime rate
Maria Cantwell, Tech executive to washington state senator, The transformation: Elected to Congress in 1992, this former state legislator lost her first re-election bid in 1994 and took a job at Seattle-based RealNetworks, where she earned millions in stock options. Staging a political comeback in 2000, she won a narrow victory for a U.S. Senate seat in a recount, but the dot-com bust wiped out much of her fortune.
Jeff Bezos, Online entrepreneur 1999 TIME person of the year, The transformation: This entrepreneur decided to strike out on his own in 1994. He drove from New York to Seattle, wrote the business plan for a new kind of Internet venture and founded a now hugely successful online company in his garage. His business made him a multi-billionaire and landed him on the cover of Time magazine as person of the year in 1999. TIME's person of the year, Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos net worth + 19.1 billion
Stephen King, Prolific Maine novelist, The transformation: Unable to find work as a teacher after college, this author started his professional writing career while working in an industrial laundry and supplementing his income with occasional short-story sales to magazines. He became one of the most successful novelists in U.S. history but was nearly killed when he was struck by a car while walking along a road near his home in Maine. Stephen King published 49 novels, Dark Towers movie
Oprah Winfrey, Billionaire female media mogul, The transformation: Born into poverty (where?) and sexually molested as a young girl, this media icon was an unwed mother at 14 (her son was born premature and died in infancy). Determined to rise above her circumstances, she became a broadcast journalist and went on to become an entertainment phenomenon, multi-billionaire and world-class philanthropist whose face and name are known worldwide.
Jim Carrey, Canadian stand-up to ace hollywood actor, The transformation: When he was in high school, this actor and comedian lived with his family in a VW camper van and worked as a janitor at a nearby tire factory to help his parents make ends meet. He dropped out of school to pursue his passion for comedy and, soon after, moved to Los Angeles, eventually becoming one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. Jim Carrey Anastasia Vitkina girlfriend,
Snoop Dogg, Chronic gangsta rapper, The transformation: This influential rapper started out as a poor kid in a rough neighborhood (where?). Arrested several times for drug possession after high school, he did time in prison before getting involved in music and turning his life around. His first album hit No. 1 on Billboard’s hip-hop and Top 200 charts, and he continued to score with each new release. Los Angeles Riderettes Lady Arena Football League
Jewel, Alaska wild child turned hit singer, The transformation: This genre-bending singer-songwriter grew up in a wilderness home without indoor plumbing. Determined to earn her living only with her music, she lived in her van and performed at taverns and street fairs, and was discovered in a San Diego coffee shop. She signed a contract with Atlantic Records and released her multi-platinum debut album when she was 21.
