The Biggest Loser Season 7: Where Are The Record-Breaking Winner And The Controversial Cast Now In 2025?

The Biggest Loser Season 7, officially titled *The Biggest Loser: Couples 2*, remains one of the most memorable and historically significant seasons in the show's long run. Aired back in 2009, this season introduced a fresh batch of eleven overweight couples, but it was the incredible transformation of one contestant, Helen Phillips, that truly made history, setting a record that stood for years. The season also featured some of the most intense training moments with legendary trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper, hosted by Alison Sweeney, culminating in a dramatic finale.

As of December 13, 2025, sixteen years after its premiere, the legacy of Season 7 continues to be discussed, not just for its record-breaking weight loss success but also for the long-term controversies that have since emerged from former contestants. We delve into the current lives of the winner, the At-Home champion, and the cast member whose allegations shocked the reality TV world, providing the most current and fresh updates on their respective journeys.

Helen Phillips: The Oldest Winner and Her Long-Term Success Profile

Helen Phillips entered *The Biggest Loser* ranch with her daughter, Shanon Thomas, creating a compelling mother-daughter dynamic. Her journey was inspirational, culminating in a historic win.

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• Full Name: Helen Phillips
• Season: 7 (*The Biggest Loser: Couples 2*)
• Relationship on Show: Mother, competing with daughter Shanon Thomas
• Starting Weight: 257 pounds
• Ending Weight: 117 pounds
• Total Weight Loss: 140 pounds
• Weight Loss Percentage: 54.47%
• Historical Significance: Became the oldest person (at 48) and the first woman to break the 50% weight loss mark, setting a new record for the highest percentage of weight lost by a female contestant at the time.
• Prize: $250,000 Grand Prize
• Current Status: She has become a powerful symbol of successful weight maintenance.

The Unprecedented Record and Maintenance Journey

Helen Phillips’ victory was a watershed moment for the franchise. Her 54.47% weight loss percentage was not only a show record but a powerful statement about what was possible for middle-aged women.

In the years following her win, Helen has been one of the show's most consistent success stories. While many winners struggle with weight regain, Phillips has famously maintained her transformation. Reports indicate she only gained a modest 18 pounds back from her finale weight, a remarkable feat given the extreme nature of the show's weight loss methods.

Her focus shifted from competitive weight loss to a sustainable, healthy lifestyle, proving that the lessons learned on the ranch could translate into a real-world, long-term maintenance journey. While she has largely stepped away from the public spotlight in recent years, her legacy as a record-breaker and long-term maintainer remains a key part of *The Biggest Loser* history.

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The Lingering Controversy: Joelle Gwynn’s Allegations

While Helen Phillips’ story was one of triumph, Season 7 also featured a contestant whose post-show experience revealed a much darker side of the reality series. Joelle Gwynn, who competed with her friend Carla Triplett, became a central figure in the long-running controversy surrounding the show’s extreme methods.

Accusations Against the Production Team

Joelle Gwynn was eliminated early in the competition, but her story gained significant attention years later. Gwynn was one of several former contestants who came forward with serious allegations against the production, trainers, and the show's doctor, Dr. Robert Huizenga.

Her claims included the shocking accusation that one of the trainers, a primary entity of the show, supplied her with illegal diet pills, specifically Adderall and a form of hydrocodone, to boost performance and weight loss. These allegations were part of a larger discussion about the intense pressure and potentially unhealthy practices encouraged on the ranch.

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The Lawsuit and Public Fallout

The controversy escalated when Dr. Robert Huizenga, the show’s medical professional, sued Gwynn for defamation over her claims. This legal action brought the entire debate into the public eye, highlighting the ethical concerns many viewers and former contestants had about the show's focus on rapid, dramatic weight loss.

Gwynn’s decision to speak out, despite the legal and public backlash, cemented her as a key figure in the narrative shift surrounding *The Biggest Loser*, moving the conversation from inspirational weight loss to one of contestant health and psychological trauma. As of 2025, this controversy remains a significant, fresh talking point when discussing the legacy of Season 7, overshadowing some of the season's initial feel-good stories.

Where Are the Other Key Contestants and Personalities Now?

*The Biggest Loser: Couples 2* featured a large cast of individuals, all supported by a consistent set of on-screen personalities. Here are the updates on the other major entities from the season.

Jerry Hayes: The At-Home Winner Update

Jerry Hayes, the oldest male contestant in *The Biggest Loser* history at the time, was an early fan favorite. He collapsed on the treadmill during the first day of training but returned to the competition, eventually being eliminated.

Hayes did not let elimination stop his transformation. He was crowned the At-Home Winner (or "Second Chance" winner) at the finale, losing an impressive 174 pounds from his starting weight of 369 pounds. His successful journey at home provided a powerful counter-narrative to the ranch-focused competition. While recent 2024/2025 updates on his personal life are scarce, his success in maintaining his health after a dramatic start remains a key part of the Season 7 story.

The Finalists: Tara Costa and Mike Morelli

The finale of Season 7 was a tight race, with the Final Four including Helen Phillips, Tara Costa, Mike Morelli, and Kristin Steede. Tara Costa, who competed with her mother, Laura, was the runner-up and a fierce competitor throughout the season. She went on to become a successful fitness model and marathon runner, using her platform to promote a healthy, active lifestyle. Her post-show career is a strong example of a positive, life-long transformation.

Mike Morelli, the third-place finisher, also achieved a massive weight loss. He and his partner, Ron Morelli, were a popular father-son duo. Like many former contestants, Mike used his experience to inspire others, maintaining his fitness and becoming an advocate for healthy living.

The Host and Trainers

The success and drama of the season were managed by the core on-screen talent: Alison Sweeney, Jillian Michaels, and Bob Harper.

• Alison Sweeney (Host): Sweeney hosted the show for eight seasons. She continues her career as a successful actress, author, and television personality, most notably in her long-running role on *Days of Our Lives* and various Hallmark Channel movies.
• Jillian Michaels (Trainer): Michaels, known for her tough-love approach, left the show and has built a massive health and fitness empire. She continues to be a prominent figure in the wellness industry, running her own app, The Fitness App, and publishing several best-selling books.
• Bob Harper (Trainer): Harper also remained a central figure on the show, eventually taking over as the host for later seasons. After suffering a major heart attack in 2017, he became a vocal advocate for heart health and continues to work as a certified personal trainer, focusing on a balanced, sustainable approach to fitness.

The legacy of *The Biggest Loser Season 7* is complex. It delivered one of the show's most inspiring, record-breaking winners in Helen Phillips, while simultaneously featuring the cast member, Joelle Gwynn, whose later revelations would fuel a critical debate about the ethics of reality television weight loss. The season remains a powerful case study in the dramatic transformations and the complicated aftermath of reality TV fame.