Fitness trainer Jillian Michaels announced that she’s leaving NBC’s reality TV show The Biggest Loser. This will be the third time she has quit over the past 10 years (2006, 2010). Michaels told People magazine she doesn’t like the way she is perceived on the show as being too “tough” with the overweight contestants. Another reason behind her departure is her disapproval of last season’s winner, Rachel Frederickson, who appeared to Michaels and millions of viewers to be too thin at the finale.
When Michaels quit in 2006, personal trainer Kim Lyons replaced her. In 2010, retired tennis player Anna Kournikova replaced Michaels. This time, former American Gladiator Jennifer Widerstrom will replace her. Jessie Pavelka, formerly the trainer on Lifetime’s reality TV series DietTribe, will also join the cast. He originally didn’t want to do a reality show but quickly realized its impact—since DietTribe he went on to act in Lifetime movies including NBC’s Friday Night Lights
