Oprah Winfrey helps her 'greatest teacher' Dr. Maya Angelou celebrate her 86th birthday with the unveiling of her portrait



She has cited Dr. Maya Angelou her 'greatest teacher'.



So of course Oprah Winfrey was on hand to help the famed writer and poet celebrate her 86th birthday and unveiling of her portrait at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC on Saturday.



The 60-year-old media mogul held the I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings author's hand as the special moment took place inside the gallery.



Powerful women: Oprah Winfrey and Cicely Tyson took a moment to pose with author Maya Angelou on her 86th birthday on the weekend as her portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC

Maya has long been celebrated as an important civil, women and basic human rights activist, with her published works having often been briefly banned from libraries.



Her writing is now available and appreciated worldwide, and her life's work has been honoured with a portrait that will remain in the gallery for public viewing.



Oprah showed up in support of her fellow wave-maker, looking stunning and radiant in a fitted black turtleneck as she held Maya's hand.

Johnetta Cole and Kim Sajet joined in for a happy snap at the prestigious event which saw the I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings author celebrated for her body of work

Maya's smile was insatiable as she sat in her wheelchair dressed in a glittering black gown, surrounded by a slew of other strong figures in art and culture such as actress Cicely Tyson.



Oprah has had the legendary woman on her show in the past, where she shared such words of wisdom as: 'Don't get older just to get wiser.'



'If you get older, you will be wiser, I believe that - if you dare. But get older because it's fun!'

Doing what she does best: Oprah, 60, took the podium to speak at the event in honour of Maya

She even dared to touch on the issue of what happens to parts of the female body with age, speaking candidly about the topic.



'And the breasts are very interesting, because they are in an incredible race to see which one will touch my waist first!' she joked as she chatted with Oprah in 2002.



Maya notably declared that 'living is fun', as she chatted with Oprah about issues of life and wisdom.