From a heartbreaking suicide to a shock criminal charge and a wild transformation: Where are the most memorable contestants of The Biggest Loser Australia now?

by

The popular yet contentious reality TV series features Australian individuals losing an impressive amount of weight within a short span of time.

For eleven years, the reality show The Biggest Loser faced criticism not only from viewers but also from its participants and a past host like Ajay Rochester.

Multiple individuals expressed concerns that the program encouraged body-shaming, particularly towards those considered overweight. On the other hand, some people suggested that the rapid weight loss percentage within the given time frame was not only potentially harmful but also questionable in terms of feasibility.

Ever since they appeared on the show, one competitor experienced an unexpected personal catastrophe, another went through a significant change in life, and yet another encountered legal troubles that led to incarceration.

Here is a look at some of the series’ most memorable participants today.

Alison Braun – 2008 

Alison Braun, a mother of three, has successfully kept off her impressive 66kg weight loss since departing from the show back in 2008.

Maintaining her slender physique for nearly two decades, she’s managed to do so even amidst the challenges that came her way following the conclusion of the series.

In 2009, Alison experienced the heartbreaking loss of her husband by suicide, and then in 2016, due to health complications, she underwent surgery to safely remove her problematic breast implants.

She now describes herself as a motivational speaker on social media.

In 2017, Alison revealed how she managed to stay trim after her impressive weight loss on the show.

She explained to the Today Show that it’s not solely about motivation. Many people believe that the key lies in motivation, but what truly matters is establishing a routine and making a conscious decision.

It was challenging to return to routine and make changes in my everyday lifestyle… I found myself needing to reevaluate and transform my personal life at home.

Craig Booby – 2014

On The Biggest Loser: Challenge Australia in 2014, Craig Booby astonished viewers by losing almost 80 kilograms.)

He weighed 183.4kg when he appeared on the show aged 34.

After emerging victorious against fellow competitors, he walked away with a $75,000 cash prize, tipping the scales at a final weight of 103.6 kilograms.

His change in circumstances brought him to prominence as a leading figure in the small Australian town of Ararat, formerly known for having the highest obesity rates, which subsequently sparked a wave of dieting among the town’s residents.

But just two years after leaving the show, Craig started putting weight back on.

Currently, he is a fisherman and has undergone a significant transformation compared to his appearance during his time on the show. Like numerous individuals who have lost weight, he finds it challenging to maintain his new physique.

He’s now a fisherman and there’s a noticeable change in his appearance compared to when he was on the show. Many people who’ve shed pounds can relate to the difficulty of keeping the weight off.

Daniel Jofre – 2015 

Daniel joined The Biggest Loser contest, initially weighing 132 kg. After an impressive weight loss of 51.6 kg, he successfully emerged as the winner, leaving him at a trimmed-down weight of 80 kg.

Together with his uncle Rob and brothers Pablo and Tony, he shared the title of co-champion. They all made history in the show by collectively losing an impressive 208 kilograms, a record-breaking achievement.

After appearing on the show, the family dedicated themselves to health and wellness, ultimately establishing a thriving business specializing in personal fitness training.

These days, it seems that Daniel is devoting more attention to his personal life following the arrival of his second child together with his spouse, Aimee.

It seems that Pablo and Tony, his brothers, have faced challenges in sustaining their significant weight loss throughout the years.

Sam Rouen – 2008

19-year-old university student Sam Rouen, seemingly adored by many, undoubtedly resonated with the audience as the beloved champion in the show’s history.

An excessively heavy teen lost a significant amount of weight, going from 154 kilograms to 93 kilograms, and ended up victorious in their weight-loss competition for the year, achieving the highest weight reduction during that period.

Ever since appearing on the show, Sam has taken up the role of a firefighter and displayed his toned body in charity calendars.

After my life-changing transformation on The Biggest Loser Australia in 2008 – dropping those pounds like they were nothing! – I found myself reaching new levels of fitness, finally qualifying to join the ranks as a firefighter. It was pure bliss, feeling stronger and more capable than ever before!

Since 2011, Sam has cleared the recruitment hurdles and has been serving diligently as a firefighter up until now.

He earlier stated, ‘I demonstrated to myself that I can accomplish anything I set my mind on. Although I still encounter difficulties and obstacles, today gave me the strength to recognize my value and my ability for personal growth.’

May everyone have the chance to take a good look at themselves, discover their true worth, and understand just how remarkable they truly are – capable of achieving great things.

Adro Sarnelli – 2006  

In the year 2008, Adro claimed victory in the inaugural season of a weight-loss reality show, shedding an impressive 51.3 kilograms over the course of four short months from his original weight of 136.5 kilograms.

On the show, the three-time father was honored for being a true symbol of Australian resilience, having triumphed against all odds to win the championship.

He used the $200,000 prize for winning The Biggest Loser to open a weight loss centre in Melbourne.

The facility shut down in 2014, and Adro eventually faced bankruptcy on February 12, 2015, due to accumulating approximately $280,000 worth of debts.

The center ceased operations in 2014, while Adro declared bankruptcy on February 12, 2015, after amassing around $280,000 in debt.

Last November 2017, he gained approximately $33,000 from his mother’s estate, which was settled after her passing. However, rather than applying this sum towards settling his debts, he chose to conceal it by depositing the money into a friend’s banking account instead.

Upon being queried about the identity of his friend by his trustee, Adro chose not to disclose this information, as stated by the Australian Financial Security Authority.

The personal trainer faced allegations of failing to fully divulge property obtained during bankruptcy to the appointed trustee.

He was additionally accused of hiding, getting rid of, or discarding that asset, as well as not revealing the name of the individual he transferred the property to without disclosing it.

Following the court’s decision, Adro received a 12-month probation sentence requiring a security deposit of $2,000, after he incurred credit card debts exceeding $8,000 over a period of two years following his bankruptcy declaration.

His more recent offences breached that bond, and he lost the surety.

In this case, he admitted to the allegations concerning his mother’s inheritance and received a prison sentence of four months for each accusation, all sentences to be served at the same time.

Fiona Falkiner – 2006 

The host of the weight-loss show originally appeared on television as a timid 23-year-old woman hailing from Geelong, Victoria, before becoming a contestant.

After the show, Fiona managed to shed an impressive 30 kilograms, bringing her weight down to 71 kilograms, and she’s been thriving in her career as a prominent plus-size model ever since.

The stunning blonde returned to the show as its host in 2015.

She is now married to Hayley Willis and the couple share two sons Hunter, four, and Spencer, two.

In the year 2019, exactly seven months into their relationship, the couple found themselves getting engaged during a vacation in Vanuatu. It was Hayley who took the initiative and proposed the question.

2020 saw Fiona reveal that she and her partner were expecting their initial child, posting on Instagram a picture of Hayley holding her baby bump. They subsequently became parents to a son named Hunter in May 2021.

Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, they postponed their wedding. They welcomed their second child in August 2022, and finally tied the knot a few months later.

Read More

2025-08-30 15:06