Underscoring this season's theme of "second chances" is last season's heaviest contestant and fan favorite Daniel Wright, returning for a second chance to finish the weight loss journey he started in season seven, going from 454 to 312 lbs. Also getting a second chance will be the show's new heaviest contestant ever, a female social worker (Shay Sorrells) who spent much of her childhood in foster care and now weighs 476 lbs. Other contestants include a youth pastor (Sean Algaier) hoping to help himself so he can better help others, a college student (Amanda Arlauskas) who missed the prom she had dreamed of attending because she was so unhappy with her weight, and a remarkable teacher (Abby Rike) who lost her family in a tragic accident and wants to restart her life.