Last night 28-year old paramedic
Sharon Haarhoff of East London was crowned South Africa’s first winner of the
Biggest Loser SA in the show's Grand Finale weighdown.
A culmination of seven months of dieting, exercising and changing her lifestyle, she lost a cool 61.8kg in total - a massive 45.74% of her body-weight.
Her original weight at the start of the show was 135.1kg and her new weight is 73.3kg.
Her fellow finalists,
Asanda Siloti and
John Dokos also lost remarkable amounts of weight. Asanda lost a total of 54.7kg's and John lost 44.6kg's.
Collectively all 14 of the contestants across the show lost 546.3 kg (just over half a ton) and 413.67% in body weight.
The Finale began with a look at what happened when Sharon, Asanda and John returned home to their families and friends. Inserts followed their progress while they worked at losing more weight - alone, in a real world context.
Each of them spoke about the positive changes they've experienced in their lives as well as the challenges they faced trying to balance a healthy diet and exercise with their work and social commitments.
After the wrap up, each of them arrived at the finale by bursting through a Before photograph of themselves and the final weigh-in took place.
Dressed in an understated tight-fitting black cocktail dress and glowing with health, Sharon received a standing ovation from the audience for her win, as well as a cash price worth R250 000 and an added R10 000 gift voucher from Truworths.
“Of course it feels great to win," she says, "But more than that, I feel so proud of myself for accomplishing my dream. All the other 13 competitors were worthy and for me to have beaten them took a lot of blood, sweat and tears.
“My whole focus and aim right from day one was to win. I had to have a winner’s mindset. I never want to get back to 135kg! Living a healthy lifestyle is no longer something I have to painstakingly do, it is now a part of me.”
Zanele Mthembu, Head: Local Productions of e.tv, says: “We are extremely proud of Sharon’s achievement. She’s South Africa’s first Biggest Loser and not only does she look amazing, but she’s healthier and has decreased - if not eliminated - her risks of hypertension and diabetes. In fact, she has prolonged her lifespan.
“She’s an inspiration to many women, especially young women in her age group, who are battling with weight-loss. Yes, it does take a lot of hard work but it can be done.
“This is why e.tv embarked on this program: to say to the nation, we can lose weight and be healthy. We wish her all of the best for her future endeavors particularly in keeping the weight off.”
Here are the overall statistics for each of the 14 contestants across the show, in order of The Biggest Losers at the end:
| FINAL SHOW WEIGHTS |
| Contestant |
Original |
Final |
Diff |
% Lost |
| Adil |
152.3 |
140.8 |
-11.5 |
-7.55% |
| Khanyi |
137.5 |
126.8 |
-10.7 |
-7.78% |
| Noori |
102.7 |
88.8 |
-13.9 |
-13.53% |
| Mpho |
112.5 |
87 |
-25.5 |
-22.67% |
| Rosemary |
124 |
93.9 |
-30.1 |
-24.27% |
| Louis |
165.3 |
115.5 |
-49.8 |
-30.13% |
| Gerna |
142.2 |
95.3 |
-46.9 |
-32.98% |
| Sarah |
127.8 |
84.8 |
-43 |
-33.65% |
| Shakeel |
134.1 |
84.6 |
-49.5 |
-36.91% |
| Phoebe |
117.9 |
73.5 |
-44.4 |
-37.66% |
| John |
117.6
|
73
|
-44.6
|
-37.93%
|
| Jacques |
149.5 |
89.6 |
-59.9 |
-40.07% |
| Asanda |
127.8
|
73.1
|
-54.7
|
-42.80%
|
| Sharon |
135.1
|
73.3
|
-61.8
|
-45.74%
|
|