Ali Vincent is the first female Biggest Loser and what a transformation.

Stunning!

It just goes to show what perseverance combined with proper diet and exercise can do. Oh, and her mom, Bette-Sue Burkland, lost 75 pounds herself. How cool is that!

In four prior seasons no woman had won. Why? “Maybe women’s hormones conspire to hold on to fat for procreation,” says the show’s doctor, Robert Huizenga. “Women come in with higher body-fat percentage and less fat-burning capability,” he says.

But that doesn’t factor in Vincent’s off-the-charts determination. For six weeks before the finale, Ali followed a balanced diet and ran, swam, hiked and biked up to eight hours a day. “She’ll do anything to win,” says runner-up Roger Shultz. “I love that about her and I hate that about her!”

Vincent says, “I did it! I’m so amazed! That confetti felt like magic.” But the best reward may be her killer biceps (”I wear tank tops to cut hair and the arm is moving but no fat is!”) and renewed confidence. “I don’t know when I forgot I was a strong, capable woman,” says the 5′5″ Ali. “I awoke the athlete in me. I feel alive again,” she says.

Ali Vincent’s diet tips “I always have almonds, string cheese or an apple so I do not feel desperate and hit a fast-food restaurant,” says Ali. [source: People]