Meet Joelle Gwynn: Contestant from Season 7 of The Biggest Loser
The Biggest Loser has returned to the limelight over 20 years after its initial debut on NBC.
The new Netflix docuseries Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser features former contestants and producers who uncover the intense truths behind the show’s weight-loss journey.
Key figures such as former trainer Bob Harper and medical consultant Dr. Robert Huizenga have agreed to share their insights in the docuseries.
One contestant gaining attention is season 7 participant Joelle Gwynn.
In 2009, the Michigan native joined the show at the age of 41 to improve her health. Before being eliminated in week 5, she had a memorable confrontation with Harper, which is revisited in Fit for TV.
As the docuseries continues to make waves, here’s more about Gwynn:
Who Is Joelle Gwynn?
When she appeared on The Biggest Loser, Gwynn participated in a season focused on couples.
While some contestants were paired with family members, Gwynn competed alongside her close friend Carla Triplett.
At her initial weigh-in, Gwynn tipped the scales at 309 pounds and completed the season with an impressive loss of 80 pounds. She started with a BMI of 47 and finished with a BMI of 34.8.
How Was Joelle Gwynn’s Experience With Trainer Bob Harper?
Bob Harper Trae Patton / NBC /Courtesy Everett Collection
In a 2009 episode, during a gym workout, Harper directed a group of contestants to run on the treadmill.
“Do not be sloppy. Finish this strong, Joelle,” he urged, as she struggled to keep up. “What the f***, Joelle? Every single time at 20 seconds, every time, what is it?”
In Fit for TV, both Harper and Gwynn revisit this tense moment.
“That little country bumpkin of a man spoke to me in a way I’ve never experienced on the show before,” Gwynn recounted. “I do not care for Bob Harper. F*** you, Bob Harper.”
For his part, Harper explained it was about more than just the treadmill exercise.
“It was — the picture was bigger. It was about her committing to something and finishing it,” he stated. “It wasn’t one of my proudest moments.”
What Was Joelle Gwynn’s Legal Battle With the Show?
Joelle Gwynn Netflix/YouTube
In a 2016 interview with the New York Post, Gwynn claimed she was given illegal pills to aid weight loss.
“I felt jittery and hyper,” Gwynn reportedly stated. “I informed the sports medicine guy, and the next day, Dr. H provided some flimsy explanation about their addition to our regimen, leaving it up to us to decide whether to take them.”
Harper and Dr. Huizenga quickly denied her allegations, with Dr. Huizenga later suing Gwynn and others for defamation.
In 2019, a judge ruled against Huizenga’s claim, as he could not prove actual malice on Gwynn’s part.
What Is Joelle Gwynn Doing Now?
Although Gwynn briefly ran a YouTube channel and Instagram page called Menopause Hottie, she seems to have stepped back from social media.
She did, however, agree to appear in Fit for TV, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
