'Biggest Loser' happy to 'join the party again'

Mesa's Ali Vincent has been on a nonstop ride since she became the first woman to win "The Biggest Loser."

Mesa woman a big winner on 'Biggest Loser'

Since the show's finale Tuesday, she's appeared on the "Today" show and will film "Ellen" after she finishes a photo shoot for In Touch magazine, where she called from the set. Her "Got Milk?" ad, featuring a flexing and beaming Vincent, appears in People magazine's issue that hit stands today.

"I think that this body is a direct example of how I feel on the inside," Vincent said. "I'm proud and I'm happy and I feel beautiful and strong and confident. I forgot what it felt like and it feels good!"

Vincent and her mother, Bette Sue Burkland, were eliminated during the fourth week of the couples edition, but Ali was brought back midseason during a surprise twist.

While Burkland slimmed down from 261 pounds to 186 pounds, losing more than 28 percent of her weight, Vincent went from 234 pounds to 122 pounds, shedding 47.86 percent of her body weight.

"I was so heavy physically and emotionally. No wonder I wasn't having all that I wanted in my life," Vincent said. "I really took a look at it so I could change my life, and that's what I've done. I've really changed every aspect of who I am in my life and just allowed myself to shine through and believe in myself again."

And as for how she'll spend the $250,000 prize money, Vincent says she's not sure.

"It was never about the money for me, so I haven't really thought of that," she said. "I definitely want to pay off my bills to lift the weight of financial burden. With that done, 'Biggest Loser' will have changed every aspect of my life - physically, mentality, spiritually and now financially."

Vincent said she's thinking about buying a house, but is excited to go swimsuit shopping first.

"Everybody has like a barbecue that people end up swimming at, or they go to a lake," she said of living in the East Valley. "You want to go, but then as the fat girl, I don't ever bring a swimsuit because then that's the excuse ... but then you become more of the spectacle for being the only one not swimming.

"I quit having those experiences that were fun with my friends and family, so I'm excited to join the party again."

Other E.V. residents on reality TV

"American Idol"

Former Mesa cosmetology student Brooke White is still in the running in the singing competition. (Airs 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays on Fox.)

"The Real World: Hollywood"

Sarah, a 21-year-old recent graduate from ASU and budding broadcast journalist, is one of the seven strangers who live in a house and have their lives videotaped on the 20th season of the reality show. (Airs 10 p.m. Wednesdays on MTV.)

"Beauty and the Geek"

While geek John English of Tempe, a recovering Microsoft addict, got the boot on the season premiere of the fifth season of "Beauty and the Geek," the show still features two E.V. residents: Scottsdale's Cara Goldberg, an aspiring soap star, and Queen Creek's Amanda Corey, a Hawaiian Tropic model. (Airs 7 p.m. Mondays on CW.)

"A Shot at Love 2 With Tila Tequila"

Scottsdale residents Samantha, an exotic dancer, and Vanessa, a poet known as V, and Gilbert resident Serenity, a former army private, try to win bisexual beauty Tila Tequila's heart on the second season of the reality show. (Season debut 10 p.m. Tuesday on MTV.) Read Kelly Wilson's interviews with the East Valley "Shot at Love" girls at evtrib.com coming Saturday.

"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"

Lisa Sedlak, a Dobson High School graduate who now lives in Tempe, will vie for two days in a quest to win - yes, $1 million. (Episodes air 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday on NBC.

"Wife Swap"

Joy Sundstrom, a Gilbert woman and drag racing daredevil, trades places with an affluent Massachusetts mother. (Episode airs 7 p.m. April 30 on ABC.)

Trainer to visit

Bob Harper, one of the trainers on "The Biggest Loser," will promote his new weight-loss book, "Are You Ready!" (Broadway, $22.95), 6 p.m. today at Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe. Information: (480) 730-0205 or changinghands.com.