FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 4, 2016 OWN LAUNCHES INAUGURAL “SUPERSOUL 100” LIST CELEBRATING 100 INDIVIDUALS USING THEIR POWER TO MOVE THE WORLD FORWARD Photo caption: Inaugural SuperSoul 100 / Credit: OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Photo link: https://owncomm.box.com/s/2jx1a54kcrri2t7xoyqpz8tx1b75kced LOS ANGELES – OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today the “SuperSoul 100,” a dynamic group of 100 trailblazers whose vision and life’s work are bringing a higher level of consciousness to the world around them and encouraging others to do the same. Inspired by OWN’s Emmy-winning series “SuperSoul Sunday,” featuring Winfrey’s thought-provoking conversations with top thinkers, and curated by the OWN leadership team, the “SuperSoul 100” list recognizes remarkable individuals in five categories: Soul Creatives, Soul Entrepreneurs, Soul Givers, Soul Igniters, and Soul Teachers. “Each one of these individuals is uniquely connecting the world together with a spiritual energy that matters,” said Oprah Winfrey, OWN CEO. “These inspired leaders are using their gifts and voices to help elevate humanity.” This SuperSoul 100 list brings together members that span all ages, ethnic groups, industries, and faiths. These influencers are inspiring others to live out an authentic life and use their platforms to help contribute to society and inspire others. The complete inaugural list, including a special photo with Ms. Winfrey, will be unveiled in the September Issue of the O, The Oprah Magazine on newsstands August 10, 2016. Among the SuperSoul honorees are such Soul Creators as Jesse Williams (Activist, Actor, Ebroji app founder), Zendaya (Platinum selling recording artist), Ava DuVernay (“Queen Sugar” and “Selma”), and Gina Rodriguez (Golden Globe winning actress for “Jane the Virgin”); Soul Entrepreneurs such as Sophia Amoruso (CEO and Founder of Nasty Gal), Amanda Steinberg (Founder of Daily Worth and WorthFM) and Troy Carter (Head of Global Creator Services for Spotify and Partner at Cross Culture Ventures); Soul Givers such as Charles Best (Founder & CEO of DonorsChoose.org), Greg Segal & Jenna Arnold (Co- Founders of Organize), Blake Mycoskie (Founder and Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS) and Alexis Jones (Founder of #ProtectHer); Soul Igniters such as Janet Mock (transgender activist), Shaka Senghor (activist and author) and Maria Shriver (Founder of Shriver Media); and Soul Teachers such as Dr. Brené Brown (best-selling author, researcher, Founder and CEO CourageWorks), Glennon Doyle Melton (author), Dr. Shefali Tsabary (best-selling author and clinical psychologist) and Tony Robbins (entrepreneur, best-selling author, philanthropist). OWN has built the network’s SuperSoul brand across platforms, including on-air with “SuperSoul Sunday,” returning with new episodes Sunday, August 7 at 11am ET and featuring in-depth conversations with Oprah Winfrey and spiritual thought leaders; online with SuperSoul.tv, a portal for articles and video content; and through live events such as SuperSoul Sessions, an annual speaker series featuring thought-leaders as they take the stage to inspire and uplift. OWN continues to expand the brand by developing and presenting content aimed at inspiring viewers to pursue the highest, soul-fueled vision for their lives, and the SuperSoul brand is the embodiment of that intention. Followers can participate and help spread the word via Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets using the hashtag #SuperSoul100. For photography, bio info and additional information, please visit: www.SuperSoul.tv/100 THE SUPERSOUL 100 LIST: SOUL CREATIVES Abdallah Tablet is an architect and landscape architect from Lebanon, and is currently working at OLIN on several large scale projects. He says, “the main driver in my production and development of space, is knowing that it will create better people.” Amandla Stenberg is a social activist that was declared “one of the most incendiary voices of her generation” by Dazed magazine. Time Magazine named her one of The “30 Most Influential Teens of 2015”. When she is not making music, she is making noise on social media. Ava DuVernay is revolutionizing the film industry. She is the director of the film Selma, and she made history for being the first black woman to receive a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director. She created the new scripted drama series “Queen Sugar” for OWN, and handpicked an entirely female directorial team. Cheryl Strayed is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Wild, the New York Times best sellers Tiny Beautiful Things and Brave Enough, and the novel Torch. She was also a co-host, along with Steve Almond, of the WBUR podcast Dear Sugar Radio. Common is a Grammy Award-winning, hip hop recording artist, actor, poet, and film producer. Common is also part of the "Knowing Is Beautiful" movement, which supports awareness of HIV and AIDS. He is also the founder of the Common Ground Foundation, a non-profit that empowers underprivileged youth to be strong citizens. Imagine Dragons is a Grammy Award-winning, hit making alt-rock band that has gone double platinum. They maintain a band culture of humility, reliability, and creativity. DeVon Franklin is an American author, film producer, preacher and motivational speaker. He serves as President/CEO of Franklin Entertainment, a new first-look production company with Sony Pictures Entertainment. Elizabeth Gilbert is best known for her 2006 memoir Eat, Pray, Love. The book was an international best seller, translated to over thirty languages, with over 10 million copies sold worldwide. Erin Bagwell & Komal Kaur Minhas launched a Kickstarter campaign that raised $100k in 30 days. They created Dream, Girl- the documentary showcasing the stories of inspiring and ambitious female entrepreneurs. Gary Gunn is a New York City-based music producer, film composer, sound designer, and self taught multi-instrumentalist noted for his genre defying musical aesthetic and forward thinking application of sound. Gina Rodriguez is a Golden Globe winner for her title role on the CW series, Jane The Virgin. Gina was recently named by Time Magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World”. Gretchen Rubin is one of the most thought-provoking and influential writers on habits and happiness. She is the New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Happier at Home. India.Arie went from “singing under a tree in the park” to the Grammy Awards stage in 5 years. India has 21 Grammy nominations, 4 Grammys, and 10 million albums sold worldwide. In-Q is a national poetry slam champion and muti-platinum selling songwriter who has sold-out one of the largest one-man poetry shows in Los Angeles history. Jesse Williams is an actor, Founder of FarWord, and producer of QuestionBridge, an innovative transmedia project that facilitates a platform for black men from diverse backgrounds to represent and redefine black male identity in America. Jill Soloway is a comedian who decided feminist storytelling is the way to go. She is the creator of the groundbreaking TV series Transparent that has received 11 Emmy nominations. Lin-Manuel Miranda is an award-winning composer, lyricist, and performer, as well as a 2015 MacArthur Foundation Award recipient. His current musical, Hamilton won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album. Hamilton was nominated for 16 Tony Awards and won 11. Misty Copeland is the first African American female Principle Dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. She is also the author of the children’s picture book, Firebird. Nate Parker is an actor, director, producer, and writer. After having difficulty finding roles that well represented a strong black male, Nate took matters into his own hands and wrote The Birth of a Nation and sold it at Sundance for $17.5 million. Parker has inspired millions of young filmmakers across the nation. Prince Ea is a rapper and spoken word artist. His YouTube and Facebook platforms featuring lyrical poetry and theatrical videos, has accumulated over 500 million views. Sophia Bush is an actress and director. Sophia serves on the Board of Directors of the Girl Project, which focuses on educating young girls in Nigeria, Kenya, and India. Zendaya is a multi-talented actress, platinum-selling recording artist, and COVERGIRL. One of her generation’s most influential celebrities, Zendaya currently stars and co-produces the Disney Channel's hit spy comedy "K.C. Undercover.” She is working on the follow up to her self-titled debut album, which yielded the platinum-certified single “Replay." SOUL ENTREPRENEURS Amanda Steinberg is the founder of DailyWorth, the leading financial media company for women. She is also the founder of WorthFM, an all-digital, low-cost, comprehensive financial management service. Arianna Huffington is the co-founder, president, and Editor-in-Chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, and author of fifteen books. She has been named to Time Magazine’s list of “The Most Powerful Women.” Elizabeth Cutler & Julie Rice are co-founders and instructors at SoulCycle. They joined together with a dream to create an exercise studio that provided an efficient and joyful workout. Elliot Bisnow is the founder and managing partner of Summit, whose goal is to create communities and places that are catalysts of entrepreneurship, creative achievement, and global change toward a more joyful world. Ingrid Nilsen is a YouTube personality and beauty guru. After six years of making YouTube videos, Ingrid told her 3.9 million followers that she is gay.