The Insider: Coworkers get behind their 'Pink Ninja' on TV

Ashley Johnston

Ashley Johnston

Around Natural Alternatives in Bearden, she’s now known as “the Pink Ninja.”

Ashley Johnston, who is competing with her mother, Sherry, on NBC’s “Biggest Loser,” is getting some of her biggest support from the staff of where she worked. Her coworkers even made small pink buttons with a white mask and two black eyes to represent Johnston, who they are calling the Pink Ninja for a couple of reasons.

Johnston has declared jokingly that she was “going to sneak up on (the other contestants) like a ninja,” recalls coworker Leigh Norris.

The button is done in pink to represent Johnston’s team color on the show.

So far on the series, Johnston has lost more than 65 pounds. Her mother has lost more than 40. They have worked together as a team for most of the season. Recently, though, the series has made it an “every-man-for-himself” contest.

Even before her “Loser” days, coworker Subarcha Lime says Johnston was not one to indulge in unhealthy meals. “I’ve only seen her eat healthy things,” she says.

“It’s not like she would go to Burger King three times a day,” Norris says.

Before “Loser,” Johnston experimented with different ways to shed her weight — from fad diets to going vegan, her coworkers say. Nothing worked.

When she applied to be on the show, “she was excited, but she was nervous,” Norris says.

“She has a great personality, and I think that’s what won (producers) over,” Lime says. “I want to see her (now). I want to see what they looks like now.”

Her coworkers are faithful viewers each week and are pulling for her. They says they are confident she’ll do well on the show.

On recent episodes, Ashley has done well, but her mother, who is also a Knoxville resident, has come close to elimination a couple of times because her percentage of weight lost was not high enough.

Ashley is not currently working at Natural Alternatives, and the staff says they have not seen or heard from her since she left last fall to shoot the show.

Management is not sure if she is returning to the shop or not.

“It looks like she’s doing well on the show,” Lime says.

Norris agrees that Johnston is helping others with their weight battles just by being on the show.

“A lot of women watching the show have started (paying attention to) what they eat,” Norris says, “because she is an inspiration.”

“The Biggest Loser” airs Tuesdays on WBIR, Channel 10.

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