What happened to Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels as Netflix doc examines reality show
A new docuseries examines the experiences of those behind hit reality TV show The Biggest Loser.
Now streaming on Netflix from today (August 15), Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser takes an inside look at the making of the hit competition that ran for 18 seasons beginning in 2004 and finishing in 2016.
Although there was an attempted revival back in 2020. The three-part series features interviews with the creators, producers, past contestants and trainers like Bob Harper who were involved in making the show.
However, one person heavily involved with the show who does not feature in the series to be interviewed, is Jillian Michaels. So who is she, what happened to her after the show and what does she do now? Here is everything you need to know.
Who is Jillian Michaels?
Jillian Michaels is a fitness expert and media personality who was one of the professional trainers featured in multiple seasons of The Biggest Loser. She appeared in seasons one and two before taking a break and returning for the fourth season until its 11th.
She left again before making another comeback for seasons 14 and 15. Leaving the show for good, she claimed that there were fundamental differences between her and the producers.
Often seen has being extremely tough with contestants, according to TV Insider she was unhappy with how she was portrayed. She told People magazine: "You saw none of the relationships, none of the bonds that I build with my clients. Millions of people have this warped negative perception of me."
Are Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper still friends?
It seems that whatever friendship was seen on screen between the two trainers has not continued now it is no longer on the air.
During a 2020 interview with Us Weekly, Bob revealed that the pair had not been in touch 'at all'. In fact, Bob tells the docuseries makers that when he suffered his heart attack, Jillian was the only person who did not contact him to wish him well.
What is Jillian Michaels doing now?
After leaving The Biggest Loser, Jillian launched her own app called Jillian Michaels The Fitness App. According to its website the app offers custom workouts and meal plans devised by experts as well as online support. An annual membership costs around $150.
Jillian has also become a media personality in her own right with more than half a million followers on her YouTube page. It is where she hosts her Keeping It Real Podcast.
According to its IMDB page, the show began in 2011 and "follows Jillian Michaels having in-depth interviews with the world's leading experts in all fields of wellness. From medicine, fitness, and nutrition to parenting, money, and relationships, the show is raw, authentic, and fact-based."
The fitness expert has courted some controversy for her political views having shared that she voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
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