Jillian Michaels

Last updated

Jillian Michaels
Jillian Michaels Candid Photo.jpg
Michaels in May 2018
Born (1974-02-18) February 18, 1974 (age 50)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Personal trainer
  • businesswoman
  • media personality
  • author
Spouse
Deshanna Marie Minuto
​
​
(m. 2022)​
Children2
Website jillianmichaels.com

Jillian Michaels (born February 18, 1974) is an American fitness expert, nutritionist, businesswoman, media personality, and author. [1] She is best known for her appearances on NBC series such as The Biggest Loser . She has also made an appearance on the talk show The Doctors . In 2015, she hosted and co-judged a series on Spike titled Sweat, INC. In 2016, her reality television series Just Jillian premiered on E!.

Contents

Early life

Michaels was born in Los Angeles on February 18, 1974, [2] the daughter of psychotherapist JoAnn, and lawyer Douglas McKarus. [3] [4] [5] Her mother is Jewish [6] and her father is of Syrian descent. [4] She was raised in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles. [2]

Michaels was heavy in her youth, using food to comfort herself, which became more pronounced at age 13 when her parents divorced. Her mother enrolled her in martial arts classes to help her deal with stress, the result of which was Jillian focusing on health, wellness and fitness. [7]

She attended California State University, Northridge, supporting herself as a bartender and personal trainer during that time. In 2002, after working briefly as an agent with International Creative Management, she opened the sports medicine facility Sky Sport & Spa in Beverly Hills. [2]

Career

Michaels in April 2011 Jillian Michaels (5599059149).jpg
Michaels in April 2011

As a personal trainer, Michaels uses a blend of strength training techniques with her clients including kickboxing, yoga, Pilates, plyometrics, and weight training. [8] Michaels has also developed a continuing education series for trainers with AFAA and holds a nutrition and wellness consultant certificate with the American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA). [9]

Media

Jillian Michaels: The Fitness App is one of the top fitness apps globally and has won awards from both Apple and Google for best of in health and fitness app category. [10] Michaels has also authored 9 books on health and wellness topics with eight New York Times Best Sellers New York Times Best Seller list. [11] [12]

Since February 2011, Michaels has hosted a weekly podcast, Keeping It Real, through iTunes. In December 2011, the show was among the podcasts honored by Apple in its App Store Rewind 2011, winning in the Best New Audio Podcast category. [13] Michaels recently formed a partnership with Bill Maher's Club Random to expand her audio podcast "Keeping It Real" to video. [14]

Michaels launched her company Empowered Media LLC in 2008 and released her fitness video membership website called Fitfusion.com. Fitfusion is also associated and broadcasts on AT&T U-verse, BroadbandTV Corp, Bell Satellite TV Canada, and other TV channels, as well as Roku, Apple TV, and Fitness OnDemand reaching audiences in Marriott, Hilton Worldwide and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. [15] [16]

The Biggest Loser

Michaels in April 2017 Jillian Michaels (34144495611).jpg
Michaels in April 2017

Michaels was a trainer on the reality series The Biggest Loser when the show started in October 2004. On the show, she assumed the role of Red Team trainer and remained in that capacity for the first two seasons. After her departure in 2006, she was replaced by Kim Lyons. [17] She returned to the show in 2007 as the Black Team trainer competing against Lyons' Red Team and Bob Harper's Blue Team. [18] Along with Harper, Michaels was also a trainer in the Australian version of the show from 2006 to 2008. [19]

On December 7, 2010, Michaels announced via Twitter that the eleventh season of the show would be her last. [20] Michaels made her last appearance on The Biggest Loser on May 24, 2011.

On September 4, 2012, it was announced that Michaels will return to The Biggest Loser in Season 14. [21] Michaels also returned for Season 15, which premiered on October 15, 2013, on NBC, but did not return for Season 16 which aired in the fall of 2014. [22]

Losing It With Jillian

On June 1, 2010, NBC debuted Losing It With Jillian, a spin-off of The Biggest Loser. In the show, Michaels visits the home and workplaces of family members for a week. [23] [24]

Losing It With Jillian originally ran on NBC in June and July 2010. As of January 2012, all eight episodes of the series are available for viewing online. [25]

Contract with CBS Television Distribution

On May 6, 2011, CBS Television Distribution announced that Michaels had signed a multi-year deal to become a co-host of the panel-discussion show The Doctors, as well as to serve as a special correspondent on the CTD program Dr. Phil . Michaels had been a guest on The Doctors several times previously. [26] On the show, Michaels hosted a recurring segment called Ask Jillian, which dealt primarily with nutrition and diet topics.

Michaels left The Doctors in January 2012 after half a season, because, she said, the arrangement "wasn't the fit both the show and I hoped for". [27] [28]

Charity work

Michaels works with a variety of charities including the UNHCR, [29] the NFL's Play 60, [30] Stand Up to Cancer, [31] Working Wardrobes, [32] Hope for Haiti, [33] Sow a Seed, and Dress for Success. [34] She also devotes time to animal welfare causes, and helped PETA rescue a racehorse from a slaughterhouse in 2012. [35]

Criticism

The company Basic Research LLC and Michaels were sued in a class action suit for false advertising when marketing Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Calorie Control, which claimed to promote weight loss by only taking two pills before a meal. [36] [37] [38] [39] Basic Research was given the "Most Outrageous" award for Quackwatch's 2010 Slim Chance Awards, which is awarded to "...promoters of weight loss schemes." [36] Michaels was sued multiple times over the diet pills with her name on them. [38] The lawsuits were eventually dismissed. [40]

Personal life

Michaels publicly came out in 2012, but has stated, "Let's just say I believe in healthy love. If I fall in love with a woman, that's awesome. If I fall in love with a man, that's awesome. As long as you fall in love... it's like organic food. I only eat healthy food, and I only want healthy love!" [41] She has credited the music video for Madonna's 1990 song "Justify My Love" with helping her acknowledge her sexuality. [42]

From 2009 to 2018, Michaels was in a relationship with Heidi Rhoades. [41] They adopted a two-year-old daughter from Haiti in May 2012, while Rhoades gave birth to a son that same month. [43] They became engaged at an unknown date, but announced the end of their relationship in June 2018. [44] [45]

In 2018, Michaels began a relationship with fashion designer Deshanna Marie Minuto. They became engaged in November 2021 and married in July 2022. [46] [47]

Political views

Michaels referred to Donald Trump as "a bigot trying to rob Americans of their equal rights" during the 2016 United States presidential election. [48] That same year, Michaels labeled Trump's vice presidential candidate Mike Pence "the number one anti-gay politician in the country right now." [49]

In a reversal to her prior comments regarding Donald Trump, Michaels announced she had voted for Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election. [50]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<i>The Biggest Loser</i> (American TV series) American competition reality TV series

The Biggest Loser is an American competition reality show that initially ran on NBC for 17 seasons from 2004 to 2016 before moving to USA Network in 2020. The show features obese or overweight contestants competing to win a cash prize by losing the highest percentage of weight relative to their initial weight.

The Biggest Loser is the first season of the NBC reality television series entitled The Biggest Loser, which premiered on October 19, 2004. The show features overweight contestants competing to lose the largest percentage of their body weight and receive the title of 'Biggest Loser,' along with a $250,000 grand prize. The first season featured twelve contestants divided into two teams of six players. The teams were each led by a personal trainer, Bob Harper with the Blue Team and Jillian Michaels with the Red Team. The first season was hosted by Caroline Rhea.

The Biggest Loser is an Australian reality television show, based on the original American version of the same name. It is produced by Shine Australia and screened on Network Ten. Since 2015, the show has been hosted by former contestant Fiona Falkiner, It was formerly hosted by Ajay Rochester from 2006 to 2009 & former Olympian Hayley Lewis from 2010 to 2014. The show debuted on 13 February 2006, followed by a second season on 4 February 2007 which introduced Michelle Bridges, Shannan Ponton and Steve Willis. The third season began airing on 3 February 2008. A fourth season, which features couples competing as teams, started airing on 1 February 2009. A fifth season, which aired on 31 January 2010, featuring former Olympic swimmer Hayley Lewis as the new host, and in 2011 the show introduced the new trainer Tiffiny Hall. In its eleventh season, the show introduced new trainer Libby Babet. The show did not return in 2018 due to low ratings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Bridges</span> Personal trainer, author, television personality

Michelle Bridges is an Australian personal trainer, author and television personality. From 2007 to 2015, she was a trainer on the Australian version of The Biggest Loser, making her first appearance in the second season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Harper (personal trainer)</span> American personal trainer, author, television personality

Robert Harper is an American personal trainer, reality television personality, and writer. He appeared on the American television series The Biggest Loser, a show he later hosted. He was an advisor on The New Celebrity Apprentice.

The Biggest Loser: Families is the sixth season of the NBC reality television series The Biggest Loser. The sixth season premiered on September 16, 2008, featuring Alison Sweeney as the host and Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels as the contestants' trainers.

The Biggest Loser: Couples 2 is the seventh season of the NBC reality television series The Biggest Loser. The season premiered on January 6, 2009, with 11 overweight couples competing for a cash prize of $250,000. Alison Sweeney is featured as the host, with trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. Helen Phillips won the competition with a total weight loss percentage of 54.47%.

The Biggest Loser: Second Chances is the eighth season of the NBC reality television series The Biggest Loser. The contestants competed to win a $250,000 prize, which was awarded to Danny Cahill, the contestant with the highest percentage of weight lost. This season premiered on NBC on Tuesday, September 15, 2009.

The Biggest Loser: Couples 3 is the ninth season of the NBC reality television series The Biggest Loser. The contestants competed to win a $250,000 prize, which was awarded to Michael Ventrella, the finalist with the highest percentage of weight lost. It first aired January 5, 2010. After six episodes, The Biggest Loser went on hiatus and returned after the 2010 Winter Olympics on March 2, 2010. The live finale aired on May 25, 2010.

The Biggest Loser: Pay It Forward is the tenth season of the NBC reality television series entitled The Biggest Loser. The contestants competed to win a $250,000 prize, which was awarded to Patrick House, the finalist with the highest percentage of weight lost. It premiered on September 21, 2010 as the first season to be filmed in high definition, and concluded on December 14, 2010.

The Biggest Loser: Couples 4 is the eleventh season of the NBC reality television series entitled The Biggest Loser. The contestants competed to win a $250,000 prize, which was awarded to Olivia Ward, the contestant with the highest percentage of weight loss. It premiered on January 4, 2011. Along with existing trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, two new trainers will be featured who were revealed in Week 3. One of the featured contestants is Rulon Gardner, a former gold medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics. It was the longest season in Biggest Loser history at 20 weeks long. This season is the second, after Pay It Forward, to be filmed in high definition. This season marks the first time in USA Biggest Loser history that a contestant left the show by choice. As well, for the first time in The Biggest Loser history, a couple has made the finale together. And, for the first time in The Biggest Loser history, all 3 finalists are women.

Cara Castronuova is an American champion boxer, a professional sports announcer, political activist and celebrity fitness trainer. She has won two Golden Gloves championships in Madison Square Garden. She was ranked #2 nationally by USA Boxing. Castronuova also starred as one of the head celebrity trainers on Season 11 of NBC's The Biggest Loser and is a boxing ring announcer.

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Dolvett Quince is an American entrepreneur, fitness model, actor, and personal trainer. He became widely known for his role as a trainer on the American version of The Biggest Loser from season 12 to season 17.

The Biggest Loser: Challenge America is the fourteenth season of the NBC reality television series entitled The Biggest Loser. The contestants will compete to win a $250,000 prize, which will be awarded to the contestant with the highest percentage of weight lost. It premiered on January 6, 2013. Alongside veteran trainer Bob Harper and returning trainer Dolvett Quince, Jillian Michaels returned for the first time since season 11. While the contestants have been split into three teams, White (Jillian), Blue (Bob), and Red (Dolvett), the contestants may train with any of the three trainers. In addition, three younger contestants are participating, but not subject to elimination. This was the first time since season 11 that America decided who made it to the live finale.

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The Biggest Loser is the eighteenth season of the American reality television series The Biggest Loser which premiered on January 28, 2020. Season 18 marks the series' return from a four-year hiatus and is intended to not only show people the necessity of weight loss, but also the necessity of living a healthy lifestyle. It is the first season to air on the USA Network; the preceding seventeen seasons originally aired on NBC. Bob Harper who served as a trainer in previous seasons returns as the host in season 18. The twelve contestants were trained by professionals Steve Cook and Erica Lugo.

References

  1. ↑ "Jillian Michaels". AskMen.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 "Jillian Michaels Biography". Biography.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Jo Ann McKarus: Psychotherapist". JillianMichaels.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Health for Women Magazine" (PDF). www.juliehadden.com. 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Jillian Michaels on Adopting Daughter from Haiti: I Had 'This Gift I Could Give ... Citizenship'". Peoplemag. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  6. ↑ "The Heartbreaking Reason Jillian Michaels Is Dedicated to Walking". Yahoo! . July 11, 2019. Archived from the original on June 15, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Why Jillian Michaels is All About Intermittent Fasting". January 9, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Jillian's Bio". JillianMichaels.com. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Jillian Michaels Bio". Archived from the original on January 26, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Best Daily Helper - Android Apps on Google Play" . Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  11. ↑ Best Sellers - The New York Times February 07, 2010 (accessed January 11, 2012)
  12. ↑ Best Sellers - The New York Times April 24, 2011 (accessed January 11, 2012)
  13. ↑ iTunes Rewind 2011: Apple Gives Us Their Best Music, Movies, and Apps of the Year (accessed January 10, 2012)
  14. ↑ Ashley Hume, Larry Fink (August 23, 2024). "Jillian Michaels loves the 'patriotism and Americana' in Wyoming after leaving California". Fox News. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  15. ↑ "'Meet the Netflix for Fitness: FitFusion". Reader's Digest Best Health Magazine. January 19, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  16. ↑ "'FitFusion.com Makes Switching Up Your Workout Cheaper and Easier". Self Magazine. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  17. ↑ Why did Jillian leave 'Biggest Loser'? (accessed January 10, 2012)
  18. ↑ Jillian Michaels returns to 'Biggest Loser' (accessed January 10, 2012)
  19. ↑ Biggest Loser star battled weight, blues The Sydney Morning Herald , September 18, 2006 (accessed January 10, 2012)
  20. ↑ "'Biggest Loser' will soon lose Jillian Michaels – The Marquee Blog". CNN. Archived from the original on December 15, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Jillian Michaels Returns to 'The Biggest Loser' in January 2012; Series to Feature Teen Participants". TV By the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  22. ↑ Hines, Ree (June 25, 2014). "'Biggest Loser' trainer Jillian Michaels won't return for season 16".
  23. ↑ Losing It With Jillian. - NBC. (at NBC.com).
  24. ↑ Kinon, Cristina (May 12, 2010). "'Mean' trainer Jillian Michaels sheds tears, while families shed pounds on 'Losing It With Jillian'". Daily News . Retrieved May 18, 2010.
  25. ↑ Losing it With Jillian - NBC Site (accessed January 11, 2012)
  26. ↑ Albiniak, Paige (May 6, 2011). "Jillian Michaels to join 'The Doctors'". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  27. ↑ Starr, Michael. Jillian Michaels off 'Doctors', New York Post , January 3, 2012. (accessed January 11, 2012)
  28. ↑ Potts.
  29. ↑ "Close". Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  30. ↑ The Biggest Loser's Jillian Michaels at the NFL's Play 60 Event Archived January 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (accessed January 10, 2012)
  31. ↑ Jillian Michaels to Host All-Star Game Charity 5K & Fun Run Archived January 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (accessed January 10, 2012)
  32. ↑ Working Wardrobes Press Room Archived November 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine (accessed January 10, 2012)
  33. ↑ Fisher, Luchina. "Hope for Haiti: Stars Line Up for Tonight's Telethon", ABC News, January 22, 2010. (accessed January 24, 2012)
  34. ↑ Dress for Success Worldwide: The Power Walk Archived January 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (accessed January 19, 2012)
  35. ↑ Beth Ann Macaluso, "Jilian Michaels Helps Rescue Racehorse Bound for Slaughter," US Weekly April 19, 2012.
  36. 1 2 kreidler, Marc (December 29, 2010). "2010 Slim Chance Awards | Quackwatch" . Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  37. ↑ kreidler, Marc (February 14, 2009). "Class Action Suit against Jillian Michaels | Quackwatch" . Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  38. 1 2 Djordjevic, Marta (June 23, 2021). "The Shady Truth About Jillian Michaels". Nicki Swift. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  39. ↑ Smith, Ryan (February 15, 2010). "Jillian Michaels Sued Over Diet Pills; "Biggest Loser" Star Stands By Her Product". CBS News. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Burning Question: Did 'Biggest Loser's' Jillian Michaels Go Too Far with Caffeine Pills?". September 8, 2013.
  41. 1 2 "Jillian Michaels Is Gay". SheKnows.com. May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  42. ↑ "Q&A: Jillian Michaels on Her Madonna-Influenced Coming Out, LGBT Community's Pressure to Marry & Why She Uses the Word 'Fag'". Between the Lines .
  43. ↑ "Jillian Michaels Is a Mom – Times Two!". People . May 23, 2012. Archived from the original on March 24, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  44. ↑ Hautman, Nicholas (June 15, 2018). "Jillian Michaels and Fiancee Heidi Rhoades Split After Nearly Nine Years Together". Us Weekly . Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  45. ↑ Mazziotta, Julie (June 15, 2018). "Jillian Michaels and Fiancée Heidi Rhoades Have Been Split 'for Awhile Now'". People Health. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  46. ↑ Siwak, Miranda (November 28, 2021). "Jillian Michaels Is Engaged to DeShanna Marie Minuto". Us Weekly .
  47. ↑ Pettibone, Kat (July 22, 2022). "Jillian Michaels, Marries Fiancee DeShanna Marie Minuto". Us Weekly .
  48. ↑ @JillianMichaels (June 12, 2016). "this is an amazing tweet coming from you - A bigot trying to rob Americans of their equal rights" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  49. ↑ Bendix, Trish (November 18, 2016). "Jillian Michaels is One Political Mother". Go. New York. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  50. ↑ @rubinreport (November 3, 2024). "Jillian Michaels is supporting Donald Trump 🇺🇸 The full interview is out now across platforms" – via Instagram.
Awards and achievements
New title The Biggest Loser Red Team trainer
October 19, 2004 – November 29, 2005		Succeeded by
New creationThe Biggest Loser Black Team trainer
September 11, 2007 – May 24, 2011		Succeeded by
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