The Biggest Loser named Rachel Frederickson its fifteenth-season champion during Tuesday night's live finale broadcast of the reality weight-loss competition on NBC.

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Rachel, a 24-year-old voice-over artist from Los Angeles, CA, began the competition at 260 pounds and weighed-in at only 105 pounds during the finale -- giving her a 155-pound weight-loss and 59.62% total weight-loss percentage that won her the show's $250,000 grand prize. Her margin of loss was the highest percentage ever posted by any contestant in the history of The Biggest Loser.

"I finally came out of hiding and shared my story and then it's that moment where I had to say, 'I'm going to embrace being me and being different and just choosing to own my path and to move forward in this life and know that I can take control and do anything that I want. It's just been amazing. It's okay to ask for help. It's okay to follow your own path," Rachel said prior to weighing-in for the last time.

David Brown, a 43-year-old construction company project manager and phone company social commerce leader from Edmond, OK, finished as the runner-up. He started the competition weighing 409 pounds and currently weighs 187 pounds. He shed 222 pounds and posted a 54.28% weight-loss percentage.

"I'm just thankful to God for this moment, for my family -- for the love and support they've always given me no matter what size I was. And the one thing I would say here tonight is whether it's me or whether it's Rachel, the confetti is going to fall on all of us because we win," David said before learning he had finished in second place.

Bobby Saleem, a 28-year-old attorney from Chicago, IL, came in third place. He had previously been eliminated from the competition but won his way back in. Bobby began the competition weighing 358 pounds and dropped down to 170 pounds. He lost 188 pounds and posted a 52.51% weight-loss percentage.

"I am so surprised. I had no idea I did that. I wish I had gone into the 160s. No I'm kidding, I'm kidding, I'm kidding! I'm sorry. I'm really happy with that. I love 170. That was amazing and I'm really proud of my effort," Bobby explained.

Tumi Oguntala, a 41-year-old brand strategist from Clifton Park, NY, won the weigh-in of The Biggest Loser's previously-eliminated fifteenth-season contestants by a large margin and therefore claimed the $100,000 at-home consolation prize.

Tumi dropped from 319 pounds to 144 pounds, losing 175 pounds. She posted a whopping 54.86% weight-loss percentage as a result.

"When I got home, I met a wonderful friend who helped me run. We run 5Ks, half marathons, 15K's together. And after this show, I'm looking forward to my first marathon," Tumi noted.

The start and finish weights and final weight-loss percentages of the other previously-eliminated contestants -- who hoped but failed to win the consolation prize -- are as follows.

Jennifer Messer, a 42-year-old clerk and bookkeeper from Abingdon, VA, whose starting weight was 266 pounds, shed 104 pounds. She dropped to 162 pounds, posting a 39.10% weight-loss percentage.

Fernanda Abarca, a 32-year-old 3D animation artist and cake sugar artist from Montrose, CA, who started her The Biggest Loser journey weighing 250 pounds, slimmed down to 163, losing 87 pounds for a 34.80% weight-loss percentage.

Hap Holmstead, a 26-year-old sales consultant and entrepreneur from Pleasant Grove, UT, whose starting weight was 403 pounds, shed 81 pounds, dropping to 322 pounds and posting a 20.10% weight-loss percentage.

Matt Hooper, a 38-year-old retail manager from Georgetown, MA, whose starting weight was 356 pounds, lost 133 pounds and slimmed down to a weight of 223 for a 37.36% weight-loss percentage. Matt had previously been saved in the competition by Bob Harper.

Chelsea Arthurs, a 28-year-old clinical research professional and event planner from Raleigh, NC, started off the competition weighing 241 pounds. She fell to 146 after losing 95 pounds, posting a 39.42% weight-loss percentage.

Holley Mangold, a 24-year-old Olympic weightlifter and caterer from Columbus, OH, started off the competition weighing 351 pounds. She fell to 255 after losing 96 pounds, posting a 27.35% weight-loss percentage.

Tanya Winfield, a 41-year-old restaurant franchise chief operating officer from Plainfield, IL, shed 87 pounds and posted a 33.21% weight-loss percentage. She started out the show weighing 262 pounds and dropped to 175 pounds. Tanya had been saved this season by Dolvett Quince.

Craig Arrington, a 30-year-old pharmaceutical company warehouse supervisor from Wilson, NC, whose starting weight was 385 pounds, fell to 223 pounds and shed 162 pounds for a 42.08% weight-loss percentage. Jillian Michaels had used her one "trainer's save" of the season on Craig.

Ruben Studdard, a 35-year-old singer and former American Idol winner from Birmingham, AL, fell from 462 to 343 pounds after losing 119 pounds over the course of the season. He therefore posted a 25.76% weight-loss percentage.

Jay Sheets, a 38-year-old food company marketing associate from Farmington, MO, shed 114 and posted a 38.38% weight-loss percentage. He began the show weighing 297 pounds and fell to 183 pounds.

Marie Pearl, a 30-year-old senior staff accountant at a community college from Springfield, MO, started off the competition weighing 249 pounds, lost 111 pounds and dropped to 138 pounds for a 44.58% weight-loss percentage. Marie came in second place for the $100,000 behind Tumi, the consolation prize winner.


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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