Category: biggest loser 17

Estella Hayes
63
White Team
Partner: Jerry Hayes (Husband)
Trainer: Jillian
Retired Nurse
Wheaton, IL

NBC Bio
Estella is a loving, caring, spiritual, and kind person. She can be very strong in times of crisis, or when she is passionate about something/someone. She often prioritizes caring for grandkids and out-of-town family and does not get regular exercise. Estella admits she can no longer hide behind her excuses as to why she cannot exercise or eat better. She confesses her love of baked goods; and says that providing lots of snacks around the house for grandkids and cooking for the family brings her comfort. Estella’s youngest sister passed away last year due to morbid obesity-related complications, adding a constant reminder of her own need to act quickly to be at a healthier weight. Estella loves to dance and music gets her motivated. She’s is ready to make drastic changes to have more energy to keep up with her soon-to-be-healthier hubby and her grandkids, who bring her great joy. Estella says, “I am not a shrinking violet!” So, watch out other contestants!

Carla Triplett
36
Grey Team
Partner: Joelle Gwynn (Best Friend)
Trainer: Bob
Assistant Bank Manager
Detroit, MI

NBC Bio
Carla is the second born out of four children. She struggled for attention by showing off, overeating and getting in trouble. Today Carla has one issue that she struggles with: her weight. Carla has lost weight on countless occasions; however, it always seems to find its way back. Carla refuses to work out with her husband because she feels that he is too hard on her. She truly wants to get in shape, live a healthy lifestyle with her husband and start their family. With a best friend like Joelle alongside her, pushing her to the limit, Carla’s goal of losing weight will be obtained.

Joelle Gwynn
41
Grey Team
Partner: Carla Triplett (Best Friend)
Trainer: Bob
Non-Profit Founder
Detroit, MI

NBC Bio
Joelle is a zealous and optimistic person who challenges herself and her listeners to “Stay Positive” through her non-profit Internet radio show “My Music – My Choice.” However, Joelle’s lifelong struggle with weight leaves her feeling far from positive. She has dieted all of her life, but when her emotions get riled up, so does her appetite! Joelle recently got a reality check after being diagnosed with high blood pressure and borderline diabetes. This really scared Joelle because heart disease runs rampant in her family. She now knows she must make a serious life change.

Dane Patterson
27
Black Team
Partner: Blaine Cotter (Cousin)
Trainer: Jillian
Real Estate Appraiser
Mesa, AZ

NBC Bio
Dane is the classic offensive lineman who played in high school and college, and was told to eat big and be big or get cut from the football team. In recent years it has been quite the opposite; he has been told to diet and lose weight or die a young death. Just five years ago Dane was a lean, mean machine, but since switching to that infamous desk job, he has found himself inching towards an obese 400 pounds.

Although Dane is 395 pounds, he still plays sports and is more athletic than anyone his size. Dane fears leaving his family at a young age, and because of his size it is possible that could be in the not-too-distant future. He has to do this, and the love of his family along with his competitive spirit will make sure that he is the Biggest Loser.

Blaine Cotter
27
Black Team
Partner: Dane Patterson (Cousin)
Trainer: Jillian
College Counselor
Mesa, AZ

NBC Bio
Blaine is a very big guy who not so long ago was thin and healthy. He is a perfect example of a loveable, friendly, loud and happy fat guy. He is a former athlete who always has to win. Blaine has a sense of humor, which, coupled with his demeanor, makes just about everyone he comes in contact with comfortable; he is the life of any party. Blaine has a beautiful family who love and support him. The health problems that Blaine has (diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol) can all be reduced or eliminated by losing weight. He has to do this for not only himself, but also for his wife and three children, as well as for his fourth child who is on the way! Six lives, not just one, will be changed forever.

Filipe Fam
26
Blue Team
Partner: Sione Fa (Cousin)
Trainer: Bob
Lube Technician
Mesa, AZ

NBC Bio
Filipe is energetic and spontaneous, and has been told that he should be a comedian by many, even strangers. He has never wanted to pursue comedy because 99.9% of his jokes are fat jokes and fat is not something he wants to be. Filipe did not start gaining weight until high school and used his asthma as an excuse to not work out and be healthy. He comes from a family of nine; one of his siblings died accidentally at a very young age and Filipe has blamed himself for years because it was his responsibility to watch him. Since then, he has had a great love for family and been very protective of each and every one of them. By losing weight this will show his family that he leads by action, not just by words.

Sione Fa
28
Blue Team
Partner: Filipe Fam (Cousin)
Trainer: Bob
Owner, Landscape Company
Mesa, AZ

NBC Bio
Sione is a very social person and makes friends easily. He is the life of the party and keeps his family laughing. His weight has been up and down most of his life and he has tried every diet out there, causing him to gain the weight back and then some. Sione was very athletic and competitive in school, but always worked as a team player. He is the fourth child in his family of five. Being the owner of his own company caused Sione to work long hours, making it impossible to get to the gym and stick to healthy eating habits. Sione enjoys singing and Polynesian dancing, but lately it has been hard for him to perform due to his weight. Sione says that he has never wanted to be a fat dad and hopes that his children will never him that way.

Michelle Aguilar follows up her Biggest Loser win last night the way the previous winners have, with a Got Milk? ad. Michelle’s ad runs in USA Today on December 17. Check it out below.