Rachel Frederickson came under fire for her incredible weight loss when she won the 15th season of The Biggest Loser and recently opened up about the backlash she experienced following her transformation.
Frederickson is 5’4″ and weighed in at just 105 pounds to win the NBC reality competition, losing a remarkable 155 pounds.
The 24-year-old reality star’s extreme weight loss caused a quite a furor. In an attempt to respond to the backlash, Fredrickson wrote a post for Today.
“I was determined never to give up,” Frederickson said of the competition. “When I stood on stage at the live finale, I had never felt stronger. I had accomplished everything I wanted to do. I was extremely proud of myself. That moment didn’t last long.”
#BiggestLoser' star Rachel Frederickson talks life after her controversial win http://t.co/h7fmUJ06fJ pic.twitter.com/3a5cpvvDtX
— EntertainmentTonight (@etnow) December 10, 2014
“Comments during the controversial storm following my weight loss were hurtful. My self-esteem was once again affected by other people’s voices — this time, the kind that live forever in Facebook posts or written in the pages of magazines. People tried to bring me down and (privately) succeeded.”
“There will always be other voices in life,” she conceded. “The trouble comes when you stop listening to your own. I am committed to trusting my decisions and standing strong behind them. I found strength in this struggle and I am listening to my own voice again!”
TBT! Lisa changed my life when she chose me for @biggestlosernbc. I'm so excited to be working w/ her @DreamJobbing!! pic.twitter.com/zug1Du55xZ
— Rachel Frederickson (@RachelInspires) September 25, 2014
Even Biggest Loser trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper were shocked by Frederickson’s appearance at the finale.
After Michaels later left the program after 12 seasons in protest of her portrayal on the show, and out of concern for contestants, Harper and Dolvett Quince returned as trainers. Newcomers Jessie Pavelka and Jennifer Widerstrom joined the show for the 16th season.
The Biggest Loser airs 8 p.m. ET Thursdays on NBC.