Oprah Winfrey doesn't share magazine covers with just anyone.
Since O, The Oprah Magazine's launch in 2000, the TV titan has posed with Ellen DeGeneres, First Lady Michelle Obama, Rosie O'Donnell and Dr. Oz. (Jimmy Kimmel made the inside cover in December 2013). For January 2015's "Brave New You!" issue, Winfrey cozied up to a 10-year-old lion named Beast.
Well, that's how it looks.
For safety's sake, Beast was photographed the previous day and a caretaker was on site to ensure the king of the jungle was treated properly. "I can honestly say I've never done this before," Winfrey said. Instead, she posed with stand-ins: a plush lion and George DeLacy, a member of the set design team.
So, the queen of television didn't meet the king of the jungle after all.
The OWN mogul modeled a green Marc Bouwer dress for the sultry shoot. "This gown is like a glam version of Scarlett O'Hara's curtain dress," Winfrey said, referring to Gone With the Wind's heroine. She even avoided an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction, saying, "Make sure the left breast is out of sight."
So, why did the Selma star select a lion to be her cover co-star? "We're calling 2015 a 'Brave New Year,' which is why I'm shooting for the first time with a lion on the cover of O Magazine, in hopes that this bold image will give you the courage to live the life of your dreams," Winfrey, 60, informed her readers.
Winfrey no longer makes New Year's resolutions, as she lives a life of intention. "How wonderful, how hopeful, that this month inspires us to aim higher, try harder, and strive to be the best version of ourselves," she marveled. "Change can be thrilling. If you're ready to embrace it, you've come to the right place."
O, The Oprah Magazine's January 2015 issue hits newsstands on Dec. 9.