Anyone who watched The Biggest Loser during its noughties heyday or who caught the Netflix documentary, Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser, will be more than familiar with the name Jillian Michaels. As well as being a high-profile coach on the popular series, she went on to make a global name for herself writing multiple books on health and fitness, and launching her own workout series, including via a popular app. These days though, her life looks pretty different to her reality show peak.
For those less familiar, let's take a look at who Jillian Michaels is and what she's been up to since the Biggest Loser wrapped – and what we know so far about her decision not to appear in the Netflix docuseries charting the highs and lows of the weight loss show that initially ran for 17 seasons in the US. (TLDR: she has now claimed she refused to take part as she – in her words – "knew it would be manipulated just like the show was")
Always known for being a straight-shooting talker, it seems Michaels is just as opinionated as ever in the year 2025.
Let's get into it...
Who is Jillian Michaels?
From its first episode which aired October 2004, Jillian Michaels appeared (alongside coach, Bob Harper) as a personal trainer on the weight loss reality show, The Biggest Loser.
Known for her no-nonsense approach in the gym – which in Fit for TV is framed as either motivational or degrading, depending on who is talking – Michaels pushed contestants to their limit, to sweat it out and encouraged them to make radical lifestyle changes.
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While she briefly departed the show for one season in 2006, she soon returned for 2007 and remained in place until 2010, after which she again stepped back for a time, before returning for a few more series and then bowing out for good.
At the peak of the show's popularity, Michaels and Harper made countless TV appearances, often together, launched workout DVDs and more.
Outside of her life in the limelight, Michaels and her former partner, Heidi Rhoades, share two children; a daughter, Lukensia, who was adopted in 2012 from Haiti, and a son, Phoenix, born the same year.
Michaels married DeShanna Marie Michaels, a fashion designer, in the summer of 2022.
Why did Jillian Michaels not appear in Netflix's Biggest Loser documentary?
At the end of the docu-series, a note appears explaining that Michaels was approached to appear on Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser but declined the opportunity.
A few days after the show's release, Michaels threatened legal action over the documentary and replied to a fan's comment querying why she didn't take part with: "Because I knew it would be manipulated just like the show was."
She has also denied allegations of breaking the show's rules by giving contestants harmful caffeine pills and spoken out about how she was shocked by one contestant's, Rachel Frederickson, appearance in the final, but was allegedly told to play it down by NBC, the show's network.
Michaels and fellow trainer, Bob Harper, are also no longer friends, which could have contributed to her decision.
Cosmopolitan UK has contacted representatives for Netflix, as well as representatives for Michaels, about these reports.
What is Jillian Michaels doing now?
Nowadays, it seems Michaels is focussed on her podcast Keeping It Real: Conversations with Jillian Michaels and makes occasional appearances on US news channels, such as CNN, to discuss politics. In recent episodes of her podcast, Michaels has discussed the likes of Jeffrey Epstein (with a former CIA operative), vaccine scepticism and has hosted divisive figures such as Piers Morgan and Candace Owens (a political commentator whose views have been described as 'far right' and who has been accused of promoting conspiracy theories).
Last year, Michaels openly stated that she voted for Donald Trump, saying she did so despite not supporting all of his policies, describing the choice between him and Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, as "a question of lesser evils".
She later attended Trump's inauguration ball, which sparked criticism from some with fears that the Trump administration could potentially enact harmful policies against the LGBTQ+ community (pointing out that Michaels herself is a member of said community).
Michaels previously stated in a Daily Mail interview that she feels un-cancellable, quipping, "I've been cancelled so many times. Now I just wear a T-shirt and every time is like a Boy Scout badge for me."
Earlier this year, she appeared on a podcast hosted by Russell Brand, the comedian currently awaiting trial following multiple sexual assault allegations (all of which is strongly denies and said he looks forward to disproving in court).
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.
