People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has named entertainment mogul Oprah Winfrey its “Person of the Year” due to her use of the Oprah Winfrey Show to help animals in need of help.

 

PETA praised Oprah Winfrey for her choice to use her power to uncover “horrific” cases of cruelty to animals in puppy mills and on factory farms and for using her show to make popular the cruelty-free vegan diet that she personally tried.

 

PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said the media mogul has “used her powerful voice to defend those without one.” Oprah Winfrey will therefore become this year’s recipient PETA award plaque and letter of appreciation.

 

In April of this year, the 54-year-old dedicated one episode of her show to her late cocker spaniel, Sophie, who passed away aged 13. The queen of talk shows said Sophie had given her 13 years of unconditional love and that she was a true love of her life.

 

Other episodes of her show have exposed the terrible conditions chickens, pigs, cows and other animals raised to be eaten are kept in.

 

PETA has been known for its outspoken way of panning celebrities who appear to endorse cruelty towards animals by, say, wearing leather and fur. The Norfolk, Va.-based animal rights’ group does not shy from using strong words against those that do wrong – no matter how legendary they may be.

 

Not even the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin, has been spared PETA’s acerbic words. Earlier his year, the group made public its “Worst-Dressed of 2008” catalogue and Franklin was named “The Biggest Loser” because of her fur-wearing habit.

 

PETA also singled out leather-wearing Marilyn Manson, Lindsay Lohan, who was called a real-life “Mean Girl” and British supermodel Kate Moss, who was named “super tramp.”