From The Biggest Loser to Midwest Quiet: Rachel Frederickson's Life Now
The Biggest Loser's Rachel Frederickson: From Weight Loss Sensation to Corporate High Flyer
In a shocking turn of events, Rachel Frederickson, the 2014 winner of The Biggest Loser, has resurfaced in Minnesota, sending shockwaves through the entertainment and fitness communities. The former reality TV star, who stunned audiences with her dramatic weight loss from 260lbs to a mere 105lbs, has been keeping a low profile since her big win.
But don't be fooled – Rachel is still making waves. The 35-year-old has traded in her microphone for a suit and tie, landing a high-powered job as a customer insights and analytics manager at Land O'Lakes. This isn't the only change she's made, though – after years of dodging the spotlight, Frederickson has opted for a quieter life in the Midwest.
Frederickson's name has been back in the news this month thanks to the Netflix series Fit For TV: The Reality Of The Biggest Loser, which kicked off on August 15. The three-part documentary is taking an unflinching look at the show that made Rachel a household name – and it's not pretty.
Viewers were left reeling when Frederickson emerged from the competition with a weight loss of 155lbs, but things took a darker turn as the series delved into the extreme methods used to help contestants shed pounds. It was claimed that some behind-the-scenes personnel wanted contestants to survive on an astonishing 800 calories a day while clocking in eight hours of grueling exercise.
But what about Rachel's own journey? The former high school swimming champion shared her story with Today in 2014, revealing that she had gained weight after falling in love and moving to Germany with a foreign exchange student. "I was lonely, overweight, and miserable," she confessed. But Frederickson refused to give up – and with the help of a strict 1600 calorie diet and three to four exercise classes a day, she transformed her body and won the coveted $250,000 prize.
However, not everyone was impressed by Frederickson's stunning weight loss. Critics pointed out that she had become alarmingly thin, with some even suggesting that she looked "unhealthy" on stage at the live finale. Former trainer Jillian Michaels spoke out about her decision to leave the show in an appearance on Thomas DeLauer's podcast, admitting that Rachel's dramatic weight loss had left her feeling horrified.
"I quit permanently when I saw Rachel walk down that stage looking like she was suffering from malnutrition," Michaels said bluntly. "It was a wake-up call for me – and it should have been for everyone else too."
Frederickson herself seemed to be in denial about the controversy surrounding her weight loss at the time, insisting that she had never felt stronger or more proud of herself. But as the backlash grew louder, even she couldn't ignore it. "People tried to bring me down and (privately) succeeded," she wrote in a poignant essay for Today.
In the years since her win, Frederickson has undergone a remarkable transformation – one that goes far beyond her physical appearance. After leaving her job as a voice actor, she started her own T-shirt business and later pursued a degree in logistics, materials, and supply chain management from the University of Minnesota (graduating with honors in 2020). Today, she's a respected professional with a thriving career – but will she ever go back to the spotlight?
As for her social media presence? Forget about it. Rachel is not on Instagram, Facebook, or any other platform – and her LinkedIn profile doesn't even feature a photo of herself. But who needs a public image when you've got a lucrative job and a secret life in the Midwest?
The question on everyone's lips now is: will Frederickson ever speak out about the extreme measures she took to lose weight? Or has she finally found peace, putting the controversies surrounding her weight loss behind her? Only time (and possibly her next public appearance) will tell.
