If you still picture Jillian Michaels as the drill-sergeant trainer from The Biggest Loser who lives for burpees and tough love, you’ve missed a pretty major chapter of her life. Honestly, most people still associate her with her former partner Heidi Rhoades. They were together for nearly a decade, after all. But that's old news.
The woman who actually holds the title of Jillian Michaels wife is DeShanna Marie Michaels (formerly Minuto).
They didn't just have one wedding. They had three. It’s a story that involves a celebrity dating app, a 7-carat diamond, and a literal African tribe. If you're looking for the scoop on who DeShanna is and how she managed to get the world’s toughest trainer to finally say "I do" for the first time at age 48, you’re in the right place.
Meet DeShanna Marie Minuto: More Than Just a "Plus One"
DeShanna isn't just someone who shows up on Jillian’s Instagram feed. She’s a powerhouse in her own right. Born in New York City, she’s a fashion designer who founded the label Letterino.
The brand is actually pretty cool—she reconstructs vintage jackets, giving them a high-fashion second life. It started as a hobby. She took her grandfather’s WWII bomber jacket and her father’s 1960s biker gear and turned them into something new. People noticed. Soon, it was a full-blown business.
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But here’s the kicker: she’s also a former Division 1 college athlete.
You’d think being a D1 athlete would make working out with Jillian Michaels a breeze, right? Not exactly. Jillian once joked in an interview that when they first started training together, DeShanna was "zombified." Even a top-tier athlete found the "Jillian treatment" to be a total wake-up call. Apparently, after a few weeks, she was crushing 7-minute miles, so the competitive spirit is definitely there.
The Raya Connection: How They Actually Met
Forget meeting at a gym or through mutual Hollywood friends. They met on Raya.
For the uninitiated, Raya is basically "Tinder for the elite." You have to be referred, and there’s a massive waiting list. It’s where actors, influencers, and high-profile designers like DeShanna hang out.
They started dating in 2018, shortly after Jillian confirmed her split from Heidi Rhoades. It wasn't a "rebound" situation that fizzled out. By Christmas of that year, they were Instagram official, laughing over wine in black-and-white photos.
Jillian has been very open about why this relationship felt different. She’s 51 now (as of early 2026), and she had never been married before DeShanna. Not once. Despite the long-term relationship with Heidi, the "I do" part never happened.
"I just didn’t believe that there was a human I could do that with until DeShanna," Jillian told People.
Three Weddings and a 7-Carat Ring
When Jillian proposed in November 2021, she didn't go small. She used a 7-carat emerald-cut diamond designed by H&H Jewels. DeShanna said yes, and then the marathon of weddings began.
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1. The Courthouse "I Do"
The first one was low-key. They legally tied the knot at a Miami courthouse on July 11, 2022. It was small, intimate, and mostly just to get the paperwork out of the way before their bigger adventures. Jillian’s kids, Lukensia and Phoenix, were there to witness it.
2. The African Elopement
Later that same month, they flew to Namibia. This wasn't a typical "resort wedding." They eloped in the desert and had a ceremony with the Himba tribe.
Jillian has a deep connection to Africa, and they wanted something "magical and transformative." They were married under the stars, with the tribe's chief officiating. It sounds like something out of a movie, honestly.
3. The Venetian Extravaganza
If the first two were for them, the third one was for the party. In June 2023, they headed to Venice, Italy.
This was a three-day event at the Aman hotel, a 16th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal. Think mahogany boats, Aperol spritzes, and a masquerade-themed after-party in a historic church turned nightclub.
The Fashion Choices:
- Jillian: She wore a black sequin mermaid gown. Yes, black. It was a "spin on the traditional," and honestly, it fit her brand perfectly.
- DeShanna: She went traditional with a white Zuhair Murad gown that apparently took over a year to make.
Why This Relationship Works (The Actionable Part)
Looking at the Jillian Michaels wife dynamic, there’s actually a lot to learn about long-term compatibility. They’ve been together for about eight years now, and they seem more solid than ever.
Jillian often talks about how DeShanna pushes her out of her comfort zone. DeShanna once wrote about how Jillian encouraged her to overcome a fear of the ocean by scuba diving with sharks in Belize.
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That’s the secret sauce:
- Shared Fitness Values: You don't have to be a pro, but you have to value health.
- Mutual Growth: They challenge each other’s fears (like the sharks or the marriage itself).
- Blending Families: DeShanna stepped into a "bonus mom" role with Lukensia and Phoenix, which Jillian has praised repeatedly.
If you want to keep up with them, DeShanna is fairly active on Instagram under @deshannamarie. She shares a lot of their travels—Japan, Uganda, Aspen—and plenty of behind-the-scenes looks at their life with their dogs and their cat (which DeShanna famously rescued from a highway in Miami).
Basically, the "tough" Jillian Michaels found her match in a fashion designer who is just as adventurous and gritty as she is. It’s less about the "celebrity" of it all and more about two people who actually like traveling the world together.
Next Steps for You:
If you’re inspired by their story of finding love later in life or blending a family, start by focusing on shared activities. Whether it's a new workout routine or planning a trip that scares you a little bit, the "Michaels approach" is all about growth. You can check out Jillian’s fitness app for the same routines she used to "zombify" DeShanna, or follow DeShanna’s label, Letterino, if you're more into the sustainable fashion side of things.