Embarking on a weight loss journey is a deeply personal and often challenging endeavor. For many female celebrities, the spotlight magnifies every triumph and setback along the way. Despite facing immense pressure from Hollywood’s unforgiving standards, these 21 talented women have inspired millions with their dedication, resilience, and transformations. From shedding pounds to adopting healthier lifestyles, their journeys serve as powerful reminders of the strength and courage it takes to rewrite one’s own narrative amidst the glare of fame.
Adele
In recent years, Adele garnered attention for her significant weight loss, reportedly shedding around 100 pounds. She credits her transformation to a combination of dietary changes, including reducing sugar and processed foods, and incorporating regular workouts with a personal trainer. Adele’s commitment to a healthier lifestyle has sparked widespread admiration, especially since she’s been able to maintain her figure for nearly a decade since her weight loss journey began.
Rebel Wilson
In 2020, Australian actress and producer Rebel Wilson embarked on a health journey focused on overall well-being, not just weight loss. Through a high protein diet, portion control and exercise (including daily walks and workouts), she shed around 80 pounds. She has stated in multiple interviews that she takes a sustainable approach and maintains her weight through healthy habits, inspiring fans with her dedication and focus on feeling strong.
Ariel Winter
Ariel Winter’s weight loss journey began with a medication switch for depression, a decision that inadvertently jumpstarted her transformation. Despite years of struggling to shed pounds on previous medications, the new regimen unexpectedly boosted her metabolism, resulting in noticeable weight loss. While not her initial intention, Winter embraces the change and prioritizes overall health over achieving a specific weight. Her focus remains on maintaining muscle strength and cultivating a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
Gabby Sidibe
After enduring years of bullying over her appearance and struggling to lose weight naturally, Gabourey Sidibe opted for laparoscopic bariatric surgery. She admitted it took her a long time to decide on the surgery because she was determined to lose weight on her own. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t maintain the weight loss and felt she had given it her all.
Gabourey realized that choosing surgery wasn’t an easy way out or a form of cheating. She acknowledged that without the surgery, she wouldn’t have been able to achieve the weight loss she had. Even after the surgery, Gabourey confessed that she still obsessed over food, weight, and her body, just as she had before. However, she now had a greater sense of trust in herself and her decisions.
Kim Kardashian
After welcoming her son Saint in 2016, Kim Kardashian reportedly shed 60 pounds through a rigorous adherence to the Atkins diet, drastically reducing her daily carbohydrate intake and ratcheting up the amount of meat-based protein and heart-healthy fats. She further attributes her weight loss success to early morning gym sessions along with maintaining a “militant diet” regimen. However, some critics have voiced apprehensions regarding the long-term viability of such a restrictive approach to nutrition and fitness.
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson’s remarkable 100-pound weight loss post-third child resulted from sheer dedication, steering clear of fad diets and diet pills, a past habit. Instead, she sought professional guidance, crediting Harley Pasternak’s Body Reset Diet. This regimen, designed by the Canadian nutrition expert, emphasizes three balanced meals and two snacks daily, prioritizing nutrient-dense foods and regular physical activity to promote overall health and wellness. Simpson’s commitment not only transformed her physique but also revitalized her energy and confidence, redefining her sense of self-assurance.
Lena Dunham
Actress and writer Lena Dunham experienced dramatic weight loss as she mourned her breakup with longtime boyfriend Jack Antonoff, going from 200 lb to as low as 138. Of course, she believes strongly in body positivity and is often quick to stress that in an age when women feel pressure from society to be as skinny as possible, weight gains should receive just as much praise.
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore’s weight loss journey has been open and relatable. In early 2025 the one-time vegan lost around 20 pounds through diet and exercise, following a flexitarian approach that is heavy on vegetables but also includes fish and chicken from time to time. While she’s admitted to weight fluctuations, Drew emphasizes feeling healthy and strong, not fitting a specific size.
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey’s weight loss journey has been shrouded in some secrecy. Rumors swirled about gastric sleeve surgery in 2017, which she’s never confirmed. According to one insider, she follows a low-carb, low-sugar diet, ditching processed foods and sugary drinks that were once a mainstay of her diet. While her exact methods remain unclear, she has spoken about her journey in general terms, crediting a post-pregnancy weight loss of 70 pounds to diet and exercise, with the first 40 pounds attributed to water weight reduction.
Lauren Alaina
Country singer Lauren Alaina embarked on a transformative weight loss journey, shedding over 25 pounds. Inspired by her desire for a healthier lifestyle, she adopted a rigorous exercise routine and has said in interviews that she is a strong believer in the benefits of the Atkins Diet. Alaina’s commitment to her well-being is evident in her social media posts, where she is known to share workout routines and even healthy recipes.
Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson prioritizes a sustainable approach to health over quick fixes. Following childbirth, she adopted this by starting mornings with intermittent fasting. Black coffee, celery juice, or tea fuel her until 11 am, when she has her first meal. Partnering with WW, she utilizes their point system for mindful eating, creating a balanced routine for long-term well-being. Hudson’s commitment to long-term well-being has won her a lot of praise. In various interviews on the topic, she has stressed the importance of holistic health strategies that prioritize both physical and mental wellness for sustained vitality and happiness.
Christina Aguilara
Christina Aguilera’s weight loss journey has had its ups and downs. After years of body image struggles and a pregnancy that saw her gain 40 pounds, she focused on a healthier lifestyle for her Las Vegas residency. Her aim is to find an equilibrium that allows her to embrace her curves without becoming, as she put it, “super skinny.” She reportedly restricted her calorie intake to 1600 per day and followed the Rainbow Diet, which involves eating a variety of plant-based foods of different colors.
Janet Jackson
Legendary pop star Janet Jackson has achieved a notable weight loss transformation over the years. Following her struggles with weight fluctuations – exacerbated by her pregnancy in 2016 – she adopted better eating habits that includes getting enough complex carbs, healthy fats, and plenty of protein. She also allows herself to snack throughout the day when she’s feeling hungry. Her transformation serves as a testament to perseverance and determination in achieving personal wellness goals.
Melissa Joan Hart
Melissa Joan Hart, known for her roles in Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Clarissa Explains It All, underwent a notable weight loss transformation. She lost around 40 pounds through Nutrisystem, a program she credits for helping her achieve her dietary goals. In an interview with People, she also stated that her husband Mark is a workout buff, and training by his side has helped her maintain her current fitness levels.
Mo’Nique
Back in 2013, actress and comedian Mo’Nique weighed as much as 300 lb. After she decided she wanted to get back in shape for the sake of her husband and children, she managed to drop 80 lb, and more than a decade later she has kept it off. The secret is a “hectic workout routine” along with healthy eating.
Kelly Osborne
Kelly Osbourne’s weight loss has been significant and public. After having a baby, she shed 85 pounds due to gestational diabetes concerns. She cut out sugar and carbs for rapid weight loss, but emphasizes this wasn’t easy and isn’t for everyone. Open about past gastric sleeve surgery, Kelly has said the most important key is to focus on healthy habits, but don’t obsess over a specific number on the scale.
Snooki
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi underwent a notable weight loss transformation, shedding over 40 pounds after giving birth to her second child. She has attributed this to 4-day-a-week workouts that feature one hour of cardio and a second hour of resistance training. In a February 2024 interview with People, the former Jersey Shore star noted that given her short stature, any time she gains or loses weight, it’s going to appear more noticeable compared to those of a more average height, and therefore she opens herself up to unwarranted scrutiny that she has no control over.
Miranda Lambert
When discussing her weight loss journey, Miranda Lambert, has stressed that there aren’t any easy fixes or miracle diets. Instead, she shed pounds “the healthy and old fashion” way, which involved embracing portion control and using a personal trainer to guide her through her workouts. Cardio, circuit training, and bodyweight exercises are some of the workout methods she’s identified as helping her stay slim. Though tight-lipped about exact pounds lost, looser jeans were her victory marker. As she said in an October 2023 interview with Life & Style, “it’s not about the scale, it’s about how you feel.”
Melissa McCarthy
The comedic actress Melissa McCarthy has shed weight by focusing on sustainable changes. No crazy restrictions here! Her approach involves listening to her body and prioritizing sleep – sometimes bedtime is at 7:30! But she has also stated that when she’s succeeded at losing weight, she has done so the “boring way,” which involves avoiding junk food, practicing portion control, and a lot of walking. She’s confessed that her lifelong struggle with her weight will never go away, but that she has gradually learned to accept who she is and gives her husband all the credit for making her feel beautiful.
Briana Culberson
Briana Culberson, daughter of “Real Housewives of Orange County” star Vicki Gunvalson, embarked on a remarkable weight loss journey fueled by resilience and determination. Despite battling lupus and thyroid issues, she embraced a ketogenic diet and rigorous exercise regimen. Through unwavering dedication, Culberson achieved a remarkable transformation, shedding a significant amount of weight. Her journey serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for others grappling with chronic health conditions, demonstrating the power of perseverance in overcoming adversity.
Daphne Oz
Health expert Daphne Oz openly shared her postpartum weight loss journey, documenting her impressive 50-pound transformation. Emphasizing long-term health over quick fixes, she prioritized cultivating sustainable eating habits tailored to her lifestyle. Oz attributes her success to the structure and support provided by the WW program (formerly Weight Watchers). Her story highlights the importance of personalized approaches and ongoing support systems in achieving and maintaining healthy weight loss goals.
