Between the likes of Wife Swap and The Simple Life, the noughties provided some of the best reality TV moments in entertainment history. Clips from the era are now being shared on TikTok feeds globally, but not all reality shows from the noughties are worth praising in the modern day.
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, one of the most well-known contestants to have appeared on The Biggest Loser. Her name is merely mentioned in the three-parter, but she’s become a symbolic figure in the show’s history, after her appearance during the final led to widespread concern that she had lost too much weight through unhealthy methods.
In fact, former trainer on the show, Jillian Michaels, who also did not appear in the Netflix documentary, has now spoken out to suggest Frederickson is part of the reason why she ultimately quit the programme herself. In an Instagram post, dated 19 August 2025, Michaels claimed: “Not only did I never once get the opportunity to personally work with Rachel Frederickson in any capacity - I raised serious concerns both publicly and to NBC directly about contestant health and the condition of Rachel in particular at BL's Season 15 finale.”
She also alleged that in response, she received an email from a high up name at NBC (the network which aired The Biggest Loser) suggesting “if I did not publicly condone the appearance of contestant Rachel Frederickson at the show’s finale, NBC would pursue legal action against me”. Michaels adds, “I resigned from The Biggest Loser shortly thereafter.”
So far, NBC has declined to comment on Michaels and Frederickson (as per TODAY, which is owned by the same parent company as NBC).
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Here, we explore what happened to The Biggest Loser's Rachel Frederickson and where she is now...
What was The Biggest Loser?
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.
Who was on The Biggest Loser?
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.
Who is The Biggest Loser's Rachel Frederickson?
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.
Where is The Biggest Loser's Rachel Frederickson now?
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.
What did the network say about Rachel Frederickson?
In a statement at the time her series aired, the show’s executive producer David Broome issued a statement saying, “Rachel passed all the required medical tests ensuring she was healthy.”
How to watch Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser
All three episodes of the Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser documentary are available to stream on Netflix.
Cosmopolitan UK has contacted representatives for Netflix, as well as representatives for Michaels, about these reports.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
