Category: reality tv

The Biggest Loser is returning for season 8: Second Chances. The show will premiere on NBC on Tuesday September 15. The 16 contestants who will be competing for the grand prize are:

Abby Rike
35
Mabank, TX
Teacher

Alexandra White
20
Harrisburg, PA
College Student

Allen Smith
44
Columbus, IN
Firefighter/EMT

Amanda Arlauskas
19
Butler, NJ
Patient Care Technician

Antoine Dove
23
Dudley, NC
Health Insurance Agent

Daniel Wright
19
Willow Spring, NC
Student

Danny Cahill
39
Broken Arrow, OK
Land Surveyor/ Musician

Dina Mercado
28
Commerce, CA
Custodian

Julio Gomez
40
Algonquin, IL
Mortgage Loan Officer

Mozziz “Mo” Dewalt
56
Louisville, KY
Youth Mentor

Rebecca Meyer
25
Des Moines, IA
Student/Nanny

Rudy Pauls
31
Brooklyn, CT
Engineer

Sean Algaier
29
Tulsa, OK
Youth Pastor

Shauntina “Shay” Sorrells
30
Newport Beach, CA
Social Worker

Tracey Yukich
37
Allen, TX
Homemaker

Antoine Dove
Age: 23
Height: 6’0″
Hometown: Dudley, NC
Occupation: Health Insurance Agent

NBC Bio
Antoine is a very ambitious, personable and caring young man. Helping raise his younger brother has forced Antoine to grow up fast and become the leader he is today. Antoine’s father passed away from heart disease at the young age of 30 and Antoine is afraid he will share the same fate if he does not change his life now. Being raised by a single mother, Antoine took on the role of being man of the house and always tried to set a good example for his little brother.

Antoine struggles with developing a regimented gym schedule because he travels quite a bit for work. Now that he has slowly packed on the pounds year by year, Antoine knows he will not be able to provide for his mother and brother if he does not stay fit and healthy. Antoine plans on using the same determination and diligence he puts into his career at the ranch. He would love to get into shape to live a healthy lifestyle for himself and the rest of his family.

Amanda Arlauskas
Age: 19
Height: 5’6″
Hometown: Butler, NJ
Occupation: Patient Care Technician

NBC Bio
Amanda, the typical girl-next-door, is 19 years old and has been held back from every important milestone in her life because of her weight. She missed her prom because she did not want to wear a dress, has missed activities and vacations and is always being compared to her thinner friends. She is a good friend who is incredibly loyal and always looking after everyone else.

Amanda is going to school to become a Registered Nurse, and currently works at a local hospital as a patient care technician. She loves working and caring for all of her patients, but often time feels like a hypocrite as her outward appearance is in direct contrast with her career path in the health profession. Amanda wants to lose weight and become healthier, that way she can feel confident when promoting health to others.

Amanda is the only person in her family who is severely overweight. Ever since she was young, her food obsession has been her weakness and comfort. Her supportive aunt, who has terminal cancer, has made her realize that life is too short to be living it unhappy or unhealthy. She is now ready to change so she can find someone to share her life with. Amanda is a strong-willed teenager who is ready to start living a life she has never known. She is ready to begin her 20’s and begin really living.

Tracey Yukich
Age: 37
Height: 5’2″
Hometown: Allen, TX
Occupation: Homemaker

NBC Bio
A classic Southern belle, Tracey grew up by the coast of North Carolina. Always full of energy, she is the life of the room from the moment she walks in. You can usually find Tracey shuttling kids back and forth to school and sporting events like softball, basketball, baseball and gymnastics.

Tracey did not start gaining weight until pregnancy, going from 113 pounds to over 250 by the time she had her fourth child. A combination of unfiltered eating during each pregnancy, and her husband being deployed for long periods of time with the Marines led to a constant struggle with depression, which led to more eating. Food was a crutch for Tracey and she turned to it constantly. She would not eat in front of others and when she did, it was a meager salad.

Weight loss to Tracey is something she has on her brain when she goes to bed at night and when she wakes up in the morning. She wants to be able to run with her husband, who was a Marine, and not be completely out of breath. Tracey would like to take on the burden of providing for their family, and the prize money would be a great help to her husband’s business.

Shauntina “Shay” Sorrells
Age: 30
Height: 5’8″
Hometown: Newport Beach, CA
Occupation: Social Worker

NBC Bio
Shay grew up the youngest of three girls. She was in the foster care system from age five to 18. As far as Shay can remember, she has been overweight. In the last 10 years Shay has found that stress, emotions and learned eating habits have continued to increase her weight. Both of Shay’s older sisters are overweight, and nearly all of her extended family. Family celebrations were always centered around food. Meals at home included fried chicken, biscuits, jambalaya, gumbo, fried fish, macaroni and cheese, cakes, pies, cobblers and anything else filled with starch! At a young age, Shay was expected to learn to cook and help make these meals for the family. In the family it was considered an honor to cook well.

Shay is a social worker and is always willing to do what it takes to help a client find their motivation and strength. Currently Shay holds a 4.0 in her Master’s in Social Work program, which is full-time, meanwhile she works three part time jobs and holds down an internship. Lastly, Shay’s weight affects her career as she works with people for whom she is attempting to motivate, and her clients look to her as an example. Shay is eager to once and for all get into shape so she can live a long and healthy life with her husband and boys.