NBC Sizes Up New Loser Contestants

Thu., Dec. 18, 2008 1:58 PM PST by Gina Serpe

Biggest Loser, Alison Sweeney, Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels

NBC/Mitchell Haaseth

The new season of The Biggest Loser is offering a double helping of transformation-seeking contestants.

Just two days after Michelle Aguilar was named winner on the sixth season finale, NBC has unveiled the 11 new two-person teams who will battle both the bulge—and each other—to become the winningest loser in prime time on The Biggest Loser: Couples.

The forthcoming edition, which includes pairings of friends, siblings, grandparents, fiancés and even former models, has already tipped the scales of viewer intrigue, with the network hyping a slew of contestant firsts for the get-fit show.

With a combined weight of more than 3.5 tons, the latest crop boasts both the show's heaviest ever female contestant as well as the heaviest contestant in the series' history, at 379 pounds and 454 pounds, respectively.

The new go-round will also widen the age spread, with the youngest male contestant and joint oldest contestants to date in the form of an 18-year-old and a team of 63-year-old grandparents.

In addition to the less tangible perks associated with competing, the season's winner will, as always, receive $250,000.

Allison Sweeney returns to host, and Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper are back to train the contenders when the new cycle kicks off Jan. 6. Here's the full list of contestants:

Carla Triplett, 36, assistant bank manager; Joelle Gwynn, 41, nonprofit founder (best friends)
Daniel Wright, 19, student; David Lee, 23, student (best friends)
Sione Fa, 28, landscape company owner; Filipe Fa, 26, lube technician (cousins)
Blaine Cotter, 27, college counselor; Dane Patterson, 27, real estate appraiser (cousins)
Damien Gurganious, 31, industrial designer; Nicole Brewer, 37, wardrobe stylist (engaged)
Tara Costa, 23, model/finance manager; Laura Denoux, 24, model/sales director (former models)
Ron Morelli, 54, city councilman; Mike Morelli, 18, student (father/son)
Estella Hayes, 63, retired nurse; Gerald "Jerry" Hayes, 63, retired engineer (married grandparents)
Helen Phillips, 47, retired retail manager; Shanon Thomas, 29, massage therapist (mother/daughter)
Cathy Skell, 48, real estate closing agent; Kristin Steede, 28, business owner (mother/daughter)
Amanda Kramer, 30, cosmetologist; Aubrey Cheney, 28, information and education specialist (sisters)