'The Biggest Loser' crowns Toma Dobrosavljevic winner, edging runner-up Sonya Jones loses by one pound

The Biggest Loser named Toma Dobrosavljevic its new sixteenth-season champion during Thursday night's live finale broadcast of the reality weight-loss competition on NBC. 


Toma, a 33-year-old senior project manager and former high school soccer, football, volleyball and baseball player from Addison, IL, began the competition at 336 pounds and weighed-in at only 165 pounds during the finale -- giving him a 171-pound weight-loss and 50.89% total weight-loss percentage that won him the show's $250,000 grand prize.

"I [am] just so proud of us -- everything we've accomplished," Toma said of the Final 3 contestants before stepping on The Biggest Loser scale for the last time.

"It's just been so amazing. It was difficult losing my father and I held onto that grieving process for a very long time. I didn't dream anymore. I didn't believe in myself and I had a really hard time seeing my future, and I feel absolutely amazing now. Going through this whole [journey], now I can dream and the world is mine! There is nothing I can't do... I'm ready for it."

Sonya Jones, a 40-year-old PE teacher/coach and former All American softball player from Springfield, IL, had been the biggest loser on the ranch since Week 5, but she lost to Toma by only one pound. Regardless, Sonya said she had already won based on her physical, mental and emotional transformation.


Finishing as the runner-up, Sonya started the competition weighing 283 pounds and currently weighs 139 pounds. She shed 144 pounds and posted a 50.88% weight-loss percentage.

Rob Guiry, a 26-year-old head rugby coach at Western New England University and former rugby player from Springfield, MA, came in third place. He began the competition weighing 483 pounds and dropped down to 245 pounds. He lost 238 pounds and posted a 49.28% weight-loss percentage.  

Jordan Alicandro, a 32-year-old regional sales manager and former high school baseball standout from Surrey, BC, Canada, won the weigh-in of The Biggest Loser's previously-eliminated sixteenth-season contestants and therefore claimed the $100,000 at-home consolation prize. He said his newborn son had inspired him to work hard the entire time.

Jordan dropped from 323 pounds to 180 pounds, losing 143 pounds. He posted a 44.27% weight-loss percentage as a result.

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:


John "JJ" O'Malley, a 22-year-old bouncer and former Arizona State University football player from Scottsdale, AZ, came in second place for the at-home $100,000 prize. He dropped from 392 to 225 pounds, losing 167 pounds and posting a 42.60% weight-loss percentage.

Matthew Miller, a 31-year-old business entrepreneur and former high school football standout from Grove, OK, fell from 386 to 231 pounds. He shed 155 pounds and therefore posted a 40.16% weight-loss percentage.

Blake Benge, an 18-year-old student and former high school soccer and track standout from San Clemente, CA, lost 97 pounds and posted a 38.65% weight-loss percentage after slimming down from 251 to 154 pounds.

Mike Murburg, a 58-year-old attorney and former Princeton University football player and wrestler from Darby, FL, ran close on Blake's heels with a weight-loss percentage of 37.59%. He fell from 399 to 249 pounds, losing 150 pounds.

Rondalee Beardslee, a 28-year-old nursing student and former high school basketball, football and softball player from New Lothrop, MI, dropped from 280 to 187 pounds. She shed 93 pounds and posted a 33.21% weight-loss percentage as a result.


Scott Mitchell, a 46-year-old bill collector and 12-year NFL veteran quarterback from Mapleton, UT, began The Biggest Loser weighing 366 pounds. After losing 120 pounds, Scott currently weighs 246 pounds. He posted a 32.79% weight-loss percentage.

Howard "Woody" Carter, a 46-year-old car salesman and former Arena League football player from Las Vegas, NV, lost 124 pounds and posted a 31.16 weight-loss percentage after dropping from 398 to 274 pounds.

Lori Harrigan-Mack, a 44-year-old director of hotel security and former three-time Olympic gold medal-winning softball player from Las Vegas, NV, fell from 301 to 219 pounds. She lost 91 pounds and posted a weight-loss percentage of 30.23%.

Andrea Wilamowski, a 43-year-old vice president of operations for the Detroit Pride Cheerleaders and former high school cheerleader from Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, started off the competition weighing 244 pounds. She now weighs 174 pounds after dropped 70 pounds and posting a 28.69% weight-loss percentage.

Gina Haddon, a 41-year-old makeup artist/photographer and former cheerleader from Rowlett, TX, lost 65 pounds and posted a 26.86% weight-loss percentage. She slimmed down from 242 to 177 pounds.


Damien Woody, a 36-year-old ESPN analyst and two-time Super Bowl champion from Mendham, NJ, fell from 388 to 296 pounds, losing 92 pounds and posting a 23.71% weight-loss percentage.

Jackie Pierson, a 36-year-old clinical care coordinator and former high school basketball MVP from Pacifica, CA, dropped from 291 to 225 pounds. She got rid of 66 pounds, making her weight-loss percentage 22.68%.

Chandra Maple, a 26-year-old optometric technician and former high school softball and basketball standout from Dodge City, KS, dropped from 341 to 270 pounds after losing 71 pounds. She posted a 20.82% weight-loss percentage.

Emmy Lou Munoz, a 32-year-old teacher and former high school softball, volleyball and track and field standout from Woodson, TX, lost a total of 48 pounds after falling from 260 to 212 pounds. She posted a 18.46% weight-loss percentage.

Vanessa Hayden, a 32-year-old child welfare specialist and former WNBA basketball player from Orlando, FL, fell from 366 to 299 pounds. She lost 67 pounds and posted a 18.31% weight-loss percentage.


Zina Garrison, a 50-year-old professional tennis coach and former gold medal-winning tennis player from Hyattsville, MD, managed to post a 14.07% weight-loss percentage after losing 37 pounds. She began The Biggest Loser at 263 pounds and currently weighs 226 pounds.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski