'Loser' wins heart of contestant
A BLOSSOMING romance between Redbank Plains Biggest Loser contender Hamish Elliott and fellow contestant Michelle Cortesao was upset by Hamish's elimination last night.
Over the course of the competition, Hamish lost 24.7kg off of his 148.7kg frame, and gained Michelle as a girlfriend.
Twenty-year-old Hamish said a heart-wrenching goodbye to 24-year-old Michelle, his other housemates and Biggest Loser trainers before leaving the camp.
But Hamish vowed to pursue the romance and said sharing the experience of The Biggest Loser had set his relationship with Michelle off to a strong start.
"I can't say much but we're definitely keen to continue things," Hamish said.
"We'd spent 24/7 together in the Biggest Loser house, and as weird as it was forming a relationship in that environment, it was an intense start and we really got to know one another.
"It's encouraging to know we're both on the same journey, we both started it as people who had the same struggles in life."
The relationship had been a first for both Hamish and Michelle, who shared a lack of dating experience.
Once-shy Michelle memorably admitted in an early episode to having never been kissed.
"I won't even make eye contact with a cute boy, I don't want to waste their time," Michelle said.
Hamish said his closeness with Michelle and the friendships he struck up with other housemates had changed his life.
"Before coming into the house, it was difficult to socialise and be myself, or to be open about my feelings and talk to girls," he said.
"It was something I was desperately missing out on."
Hamish said he was enjoying other changes to his life post-Biggest Loser, including healthier meals and the chance to shop at "normal clothes stores".
He said he could not have made such a big change without the show.
"I tried to lose weight before coming into the house, but I've made so many mental changes and I don't think I could have done that by myself," Hamish said.
"I went into the house as a boy and I came out a man."
Hamish's elimination followed Michelle spending a week away from the house when she was banished to the bush.
Hamish stepped off the Biggest Loser podium of the weigh-in room to embrace Michelle when she returned.
