Whatever Happened To Jenny Craig's 2000s Celebrity Spokespeople?

In a world full of fad diets and conflicting nutritional information, the Jenny Craig diet stood out as a simple solution to many. After all, it all but eliminated the need to think about meals. People who subscribed to the plan would get mostly frozen meals delivered to their doorstep, portioned out to fit their caloric goals. For a 7-day diet plan, a subscriber could expect to receive three meals, two snacks, and a dessert for each day. What arguably separated Jenny Craig from other meal delivery companies was that it offered subscribers the option to chat with an online coach for added support. 

Although the diet plan didn't explicitly call for exercising, it did encourage subscribers to get 30 minutes of movement five days a week. The truth about Jenny Craig is that while it is an undeniably convenient and straightforward means to meet your health goals, it isn't without its caveats. The meal plans could set a subscriber back anywhere from $550 to $800 per month, making it unsustainable for many. 

Moreover, the diet's heavy reliance on processed food meant some meals could be packed with sodium. Healthline notes that the level of support that online coaches could offer might not be up to scratch since the majority of them were previous users of the program rather than qualified health professionals. The website also noted that the Jenny Craig plan was overly focused on shedding pounds rather than overall well-being. Despite its pros and cons, the diet program became quite popular in the 2000s largely due to the celebrity buzz surrounding it.

While appearing in numerous print and TV ads for Jenny Craig in 2005, Kirstie Alley revealed that she had shed over 60 pounds using their diet plan. According to the New York Times, the "Cheers" alum shared that although numerous weight loss-promoting companies had been in touch with her for an endorsement, she had chosen to go with Jenny Craig because she had lost 17 pounds in 1989 by following their program. 

Then, in a 2009 interview with People, Alley revealed that she had gained 83 pounds after her spokesperson period ended. The "Look Who's Talking" star explained that the weight gain had occurred because she didn't feel as compelled to stick to her diet after she no longer had to have the weekly weigh-ins required for Jenny Craig spokespeople. However, Alley once again became a spokesperson for the company in 2015, telling Today that she had lost 50 pounds using the program. She also insisted that she had undergone a mindset shift and was determined to keep the weight off. 

In a 2017 People interview, Alley revealed that she continued to eat one Jenny Craig meal daily and remained in touch with her consultant from the program. When she had to whip her own meals, she preferred to practice volume eating, a method centered around consuming low-calorie foods in large quantities to help with satiety. Talking to People in 2016 (via Yahoo!), Alley shared that she wasn't a huge fan of hitting the gym and instead preferred to exercise through yoga, dancing, walking, and running.

From 1999 to early 2000, Monica Lewinsky appeared in ads promoting the Jenny Craig diet. In a television commercial, the former White House staffer claimed that after trying numerous diets, she had managed to shed 31 pounds using the Jenny Craig program. According to the New York Times, Lewinsky received an estimated $300,000 for her partnership with the company. Lewinsky notably told CNN's Larry King (via BBC) that she hoped people could empathize with her decision to appear as a spokesperson for the brand, even though she had previously said she longed for a life away from the public eye. 

"I hope that people don't see it as a double standard," Lewinsky said. "I'm in a position right now where I'm trying to support myself and pay my legal bills, and so I'm looking for kind of the best way to do that." The 5-week ad campaign caused quite the stir, with many criticizing Jenny Craig for having ties to someone as controversial as Lewinsky. In the years that followed, the mental health activist understandably stayed away from the complex world of diet culture as she quietly rebuilt her life.

However, in 2025, she did keep a food diary for Grub Street. Some days, lunch looked like a slice of pepperoni pizza with a salad at her favorite Los Angeles joint; on another day, she ordered buffalo cauliflower and an Asian chicken salad. With all this, it seems that balance, variety, and happiness are at the heart of Lewinsky's diet.

Valerie Bertinelli became a spokesperson for Jenny Craig in March 2007. During her years-long spokespersonship, she appeared in commercials alongside Kirstie Alley and even donned a bikini in another ad to give viewers a look at her weight loss transformation. During a 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the "One Day At A Time" alum shared that she particularly enjoyed the diet because it gave her specific meal options while also leaving room for her to enjoy meals of her choice. Bertinelli was also happy to share that she had lost 47 pounds on the program over two years. 

During a 2026 appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show" (via HuffPost), Bertinelli shared that an unnamed diet company had cut ties with her around 2012 because she regained part of the 50 pounds she had lost after becoming their spokesperson in 2007. She also explained that the weight gain had been triggered by her emotional and mental health issues. Although it wasn't easy, Bertinelli eventually managed to forge a healthy relationship with food and exercise. 

Speaking to Mashed in 2024, she shared that she had stopped categorizing food based on diet culture standards and started eating them for their nutritional benefits. During a 2024 People interview, the Golden Globe winner shared that she was no longer setting weekly goals for weight loss. Instead, she was focusing on how she could improve her emotional and mental well-being and trusting that the improvements would help her naturally achieve her health goals. As for exercise, the former Food Network host has made it abundantly clear that she loves Pilates in social media videos.

During a 2008 interview with the LA Sentinel, Queen Latifah confirmed that she was starting the Jenny Craig diet. However, she made it clear that she was following the program to feel healthier and not to achieve a dramatic weight loss transformation. Likewise, in a 2008 ad for the company, the rapper said that she had never been overly concerned about the number on the scale. 

However, her interest in trying the diet grew after she realized that even losing 5% to 10% of body weight and leading an active lifestyle could go a long way for health and help reduce the risk of diseases like diabetes. Overall, she hoped to feel more energized and healthy after the program. In a statement shared with People in 2009, Jenny Craig shared that Queen Latifah would continue to be their spokesperson throughout 2009. The statement also confirmed that the rap icon had lost 20 pounds through the program. By 2025, she had become a spokesperson for WeightWatchers' menopause wellness program. 

It seems that throughout the years, Queen Latifah's views on weight loss have remained the same. During a 2022 chat with Yahoo! Life, the Grammy winner once again stressed that she had no interest in achieving extreme weight loss. She went on to say that while she could empathize with those celebrities who felt pressured to lose weight around award season, she felt like the confidence she had would help her stand out amongst the crowd, regardless of what the number on the scale said. 

Sara Rue began to try out the Jenny Craig program in 2009. In a 2010 press release, the "Popular" star shared that she had shed 50 pounds in 31 weeks by following the program and working out. "I strongly believe that it's not about being thin; it's about being comfortable in my skin," Rue said. "I love my curves, and I don't want to lose them by overdoing it." 

Meanwhile, in a 2010 People interview, Rue shared that the diet had transformed her relationship with food and had taught her to eat healthy and practice portion control. Then, in a 2011 People interview, "The Big Bang Theory" guest star shared that she also didn't consume meat after 7:30 p.m. Still, Rue seemed to be a proponent of balanced eating. Instead of cutting pasta out, she included it in her diet by pairing it with large quantities of spinach (one of the best foods to eat if you struggle with belly fat), giving it more volume without bumping the calories. 

While her partnership with the brand eventually ended, she did retain the lessons she had learned from her time with it. Speaking to Yahoo! Celebrity in 2015, Rue stated that she remained "very conscious" of her food choices without being overly critical because she still wanted to derive joy from eating. Moreover, in a 2026 Woman's World interview, the "Less Than Perfect" star shared that she preferred to get movement in through DIY home renovation projects rather than gym workouts, incorporating functional training exercises into her routine in the process.