If you spent any time watching reality TV in the early 2010s, you probably remember the "Purple Team." They were the sisters who took over Season 11 of The Biggest Loser. One was Olivia Ward, the eventual winner, and the other was her sister, Hannah Curlee. But if you’ve been searching for the biggest loser women last name buckingham from kennewick wa, you’re looking for Hannah.
She isn't a Buckingham by birth, and she didn't grow up in Kennewick, but life after a reality show is often a winding road of name changes, moves, and trying to stay healthy when the cameras stop rolling.
Honestly, the transition from being a reality star to a regular person is weird. One day you're at a ranch in California being yelled at by Jillian Michaels, and the next you’re trying to figure out how to order a salad at a restaurant in Tennessee or Washington without spiraling. Hannah’s journey didn't end at the season finale.
Who is Hannah Curlee Buckingham?
Hannah Curlee (now often known as Hannah Curlee Young, and sometimes associated with the Buckingham name through marriage or family ties in the Pacific Northwest) was the runner-up of The Biggest Loser Season 11. She started the show at 248 pounds. By the time the finale aired in 2011, she was down to 128 pounds.
That’s a 120-pound loss. In twenty-two weeks.
It sounds impossible, right? For many contestants, it actually was. We’ve seen the headlines about metabolism crashes and people gaining all the weight back plus some. But Hannah became one of the few who actually managed to keep a handle on it, though "keeping it off" is a bit of a misnomer. She’s been very open about the fact that her "finale weight" was essentially a product of dehydration and extreme circumstances. She eventually settled into a much more sustainable, healthy weight.
The Connection to Kennewick, WA
While Hannah is originally from the South—born in Mississippi and raised in Alabama—the search for "Buckingham" and "Kennewick" often pops up because of the family’s relocation and her life after the show. Reality TV fans are a dedicated bunch. They track where contestants move, who they marry, and what they do for work.
Kennewick, part of the Tri-Cities in Washington, became a landing spot for members of the family. If you’ve spotted a "Buckingham" from the show in the local grocery store or at a gym in the Tri-Cities, you aren't imagining things. The family has roots there now, far away from the humidity of the Gulf Coast.
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The Reality of Season 11
Season 11 was unique. It was the "Couples" season, and Hannah and Olivia were arguably the most dominant duo the show had ever seen. They were athletes. Hannah had been a star athlete in high school and played college sports before a back injury and emergency surgery sidelined her.
That injury was the catalyst. It’s a story a lot of former athletes can relate to. You go from burning 4,000 calories a day to being bedridden. The weight creeps up. Then it gallops. By the time Hannah was 32, she was ashamed to even go to her high school reunion.
"I was too ashamed to let everyone see what I'd become."
That quote from her early interviews hits hard because it’s so human. It wasn't just about the scale; it was about the loss of identity.
What the Cameras Didn't Show
The show liked to portray the weight loss as a result of pure "grit" and "willpower." But in recent years, Hannah and Olivia have been vocal about the behind-the-scenes reality. They’ve participated in documentaries like Fit for TV to talk about the things that got edited out:
- The sheer volume of medical tests (thousands of dollars worth) before even starting.
- The intense mental health struggles that weren't always addressed by a trainer's scream.
- The "wrestling-style" weigh-ins at the finale where contestants were dangerously dehydrated.
Life as a Buckingham/Young: Staying Healthy in the Real World
After the show, Hannah didn't just go back to her old job as an executive assistant. She pivoted hard into the wellness industry. She became a Director of Health Engagement for HCA (Hospital Corporation of America), traveling the country to talk to hospital staff about wellness.
She also found love. She married Pate Young in 2015. This is where the name confusion often starts for fans. Between maiden names, married names, and family names in Kennewick, keeping track of a "Biggest Loser" contestant's current legal name is like trying to solve a puzzle.
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The PCOS Struggle
One of the most significant parts of Hannah’s story—and her sister’s—is their battle with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). For women with PCOS, losing weight is statistically much harder due to insulin resistance.
Doctors told both sisters they would likely never have children. It was a primary motivator for them to get on the show. Fast forward to today, and that "impossible" hurdle has been cleared. Hannah is a mother now. She’s spoken about having children in her 40s, something she never thought would happen when she was at her heaviest.
How She Maintains Today
People always want the "secret sauce." Is it Keto? Is it CrossFit?
For Hannah, it seems to be a mix of radical self-honesty and lifestyle design. She’s admitted to being a "food addict" in the past and says she still has to manage those impulses every single day.
- The Backpack Strategy: She famously carries a backpack everywhere so she has healthy snacks on hand. No relying on airport fast food.
- The 90-Minute Rule: In her peak maintenance years, she was doing 45 minutes of cardio in the morning and 45 at night.
- Mini-Fridges: When traveling, she calls hotels ahead of time to ensure a fridge is in the room so she can eat rotisserie chicken and Greek yogurt rather than room service.
Common Misconceptions About the "Buckingham" Sisters
There's a lot of noise online. Let's clear some of it up.
Misconception 1: They used surgery.
Nope. The weight loss on the show was strictly diet and exercise, though the intensity was far beyond what is recommended for a normal person at home.
Misconception 2: They gained it all back.
While their weight has fluctuated (as all human bodies do, especially through pregnancies), they haven't "relapsed" to their starting weights. They’ve maintained a healthy, active lifestyle for over a decade.
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Misconception 3: The show was a healthy environment.
Even the winners now admit the show had major flaws. The caloric restriction was extreme, and the pressure was immense. Hannah has been very vocal about the need for better mental health support in weight loss journeys.
What You Can Learn From Her Journey
If you’re looking at Hannah’s story because you’re struggling with your own weight or health in Kennewick or anywhere else, there are some actually useful takeaways here.
First, stop trying to do it alone. Hannah’s biggest piece of advice is to "raise your hand." She spent years trying to white-knuckle her way through diets and failing. It wasn't until she had a partner (her sister) and a support system that it clicked.
Second, understand that your environment dictates your success. If you're living in a house full of "trigger foods," you're going to eat them. Hannah had to have a "hard conversation" with her parents during a Christmas break from the show to change how the whole family approached food. It worked—her parents ended up losing over 130 pounds combined.
Lastly, forget the "goal weight." The 128 pounds Hannah hit at the finale wasn't her real weight. It was a number for a TV show. Your real goal should be the weight where you feel strong, your hormones (like PCOS) are managed, and you can actually enjoy your life without being a "homebody" because of shame.
If you want to follow more of her current journey, she and Olivia still host a podcast called My CounterBalance where they talk about the reality of life after reality TV. It's a lot less "glamour" and a lot more "how do I stay healthy while raising kids and working."
To start your own version of this journey without the cameras, you might want to look into local support groups or find a "Purple Team" partner in your own life. You don't need a ranch in Malibu; you just need a starting point.
Identify one "environment" change you can make today—like clearing out a specific pantry shelf or scheduling a 15-minute walk with a friend—and do it before tomorrow morning. Consistent, small shifts are what actually last once the "Biggest Loser" hype fades away.