Fit for TV: Where is The Biggest Loser's Rachel Frederickson now?
The once-popular Brat Camp – which saw 'badly behaved' teenagers sent to strict therapy programs – has been hit with allegations and claims the centres were more like "child-abuse institutions". Now, another memorable reality TV series from the noughties is under the spotlight: The Biggest Loser.
In a new three-part documentary titled Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser, Netflix takes a deep-dive into The Biggest Loser, interviewing former contestants, coaches, and health experts to uncover "the true story behind the hit weight loss reality show."
But one face is noticeably missing from the docuseries. Rachel Frederickson is one of the most well-known contestants to have appeared on The Biggest Loser, but her name is merely mentioned in the three-parter. Here, we explore what happened to The Biggest Loser's Rachel Frederickson and where she is now...
The Biggest Loser premiered on US channel NBC in 2004 and, according to Netflix, it was a "reality show unlike anything America had ever seen". The show saw groups of "overweight" people compete in a 30-week program with the goal of losing as much weight as possible in that time. The person who dropped the most weight was crowned "the biggest loser" – hence the show's name – and typically won up to $250,000 (roughly £186,000).
The show was an instant success – many put this down to the country's obesity rankings, which have at times topped global charts – with millions tuning in for the season one finale. The Biggest Loser became such a cultural phenomenon that a British version premiered just a year later. The UK edition of the series ran on Living TV from 2005 to 2006, then moved to ITV in 2009 before the last series aired in 2012.
While some contestants opted not to step into the spotlight following their time on the show, there have been plenty of famous faces to come out of The Biggest Loser.
The show's first female winner, Ali Vincent, went on to write a book and launch her own TV series, while season nine's Michael Ventrella went on to become a motivational speaker. But one contestant fans repeatedly ask the whereabouts of, is Rachel Frederickson – the winner of season 15.
Rachel Frederickson appeared on the 15th season of The Biggest Loser at the age of 23. She started the series at 260 pounds (18.5 stone, 117.9 kg) and ended up winning the show, weighing in at just 105 pounds (7.5 stone, 47.6 kg) at the finale. Frederickson's dramatic transformation on The Biggest Loser prompted concern from viewers – one journalist described her as having a "now-emaciated body" – and the show received a lot of criticism for this. Even the show's trainers, Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper, looked visibly shocked at her appearance during the finale.
Following Frederickson's win, critics argued the show had "gone too far" in its pursuit of extreme weight loss, and just two series later, The Biggest Loser was cancelled.
A year on from her win on The Biggest Loser, Frederickson penned an emotional essay for TODAY in which she recalled her time on the show and its impact. She admitted that the comments over her dramatic weight loss were tough to handle, describing them as "hurtful", and revealed she'd gained 20 pounds (1.4 stone, 9 kg) in the year since filming ended.
Regardless, Frederickson said that the most important opinion to her was that of her own. "There will always be other voices in life. The trouble comes when you stop listening to your own," she wrote. "I am committed to trusting my decisions and standing strong behind them. I found strength in this struggle and I am listening to my own voice again!"
Describing her time on the show, Frederickson said: "When I stood on stage at the live finale, I had never felt stronger. I had accomplished everything I wanted to do. I was extremely proud of myself."
Since then, Frederickson – who is now 35 – has kept a very low profile, remaining out of the public eye. Her Instagram account (on which she has over 3000 followers but is following no one) is private, with a bio that reads: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live life to the fullest!" Elsewhere online, her LinkedIn profile reveals that she works in Minnesota at a farmer-owned food and beverage manufacturing co-operative.
All three episodes of the Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser documentary will be available to stream on Netflix from Friday 15 August.
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