Detroit native Anna has been writing songs professionally for years for artists such as Toni Braxton, Dru Hill and Ginuwine, and also works as an administrative assistant. She was raised with seven older half-siblings in Detroit and Cleveland, and studied sociology at Cleveland State University. She started gaining weight in 1999, after the devastating loss of her three-year-old son to cancer. Shortly after, she lost her father to lung cancer. She coped by eating, and soon found herself overweight and struggling just to care for her older son. Now 330 pounds and pre-diabetic with high cholesterol and high blood pressure, 39-year-old Anna wants to enjoy life again and get healthy physically, mentally and emotionally for herself and for her son. She was inspired by Season 8 contestant Abby Rike, who also experienced the loss of her children. Anna looks forward to running and shopping in any fashion store, and hopes to pay it forward by becoming a motivational speaker.