Meet Marianne Williamson, the motivational speaker, author, and Oprah Winfrey pal who is running for president in 2020

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Marianne Williamson - Spiritual Author and Lecturer, during a session on Religion, Consciousness and Spirituality. What Next? at Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2015

• Marianne Williamson, a motivational speaker, New York Times best-selling author, and one-time congressional candidate with a substantial following announced her candidacy for president on Monday night.
• Williamson, 66, is the 10th Democratic candidate to jump into the race. She began speaking and writing self-help books rooted in New Age spirituality in Los Angeles in the 1980s.
• Here's everything you need to know about Williamson's life, career, and political aspirations.

Marianne Williamson, a motivational speaker, New York Times best-selling author, and one-time congressional candidate with a substantial following announced her candidacy for president on Monday night.

Williamson, the 10th Democratic candidate to jump into the race, began speaking and writing self-help books rooted in New Age spirituality in Los Angeles in the 1980s.

A 1992 appearance on Oprah Winfrey's show helped launch her into Hollywood's elite class as the preferred spiritual guide for many in the entertainment world.

Read more: Marianne Williamson, a best-selling author and Oprah confidante, announces she's running for president in 2020

Williamson has been involved in social justice advocacy for much of her life, creating two organizations to support HIV and AIDS patients at the height of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.

Her first foray in politics was an independent run for Congress in California's 33rd congressional district in 2014. She ended up losing to current Rep. Ted Lieu, but is now launching a bid for the highest office in the land.

Here's everything you need to know about Williamson's life, career, and political aspirations.