As one member in an intense trio of personal trainers, Dolvett Quince of NBC’s Biggest Loser has parlayed his self-made success into a budding lifestyle brand. Fans of the show, currently in its fourteenth season, might view the Stamford, Conn. native as a tough-as-nails character to a cast of vulnerable contestants. Yet a brief sit-down with the fitness pro reveals a uniquely different side.
UPTOWN caught up with Quince to discuss a range of topics from the humble beginnings of Body Sculptor Inc., the bittersweet story behind his adoption as a child, dating (ladies, he’s single!), his idea of being a renaissance man and more.
Trust us, this guy is just getting started.
Friends in High Places
The Atlanta-based personal trainer opened his doors to Body Sculptor Inc. in 2004 with the expectation of “changing lives one rep at a time.” Quince garnered a small following early on, but experienced a boom of new customers when mentioned by a local star. “I started Body Sculptor Gym because one of my close friends [Bert Weiss] who was the No. 1 radio personality in Atlanta, Georgia started talking about it on his show. It got bigger than me. The show was bigger than me,” he explained. “I didn’t realize the magnitude of the show—because I was averaging about two new clients a week—he brought about 60.” Quince later opened up his business of training other trainers at the ATL establishment, which eventually boasted a celebrity client list that included Angela Bassett, Justin Bieber, and a certain hot Hollywood couple, among others. “One of my first celebrity clients was Nicole Ari Parker. She started working out with me and was like, ‘you gotta meet this guy.’ Me and Boris [Kodjoe] hit it off immediately and we became friends,” he said. “I had a crush on Nicole, Boris had to slap me around a little bit and then we all became friends.”
The Rose That Grew From Concrete
Quince’s honest and down-to-earth persona quickly made him a fan favorite during his debut on season 12, specifically when opening up about his childhood in the foster care system. When his father ran out on the family, Quince says his mother spent so much time focused on getting him back that she neglected her children. He and his three siblings eventually found a home with a Jamaican couple, but all was not perfect. “My adoption was bittersweet, because I had parents who were loving enough to [adopt] four strangers,” he said. “That’s a beautiful story, however, they’re very old school with a ‘you spare the rod, you spoil the child’ sort of mentality. So they only knew what they knew– and that was to beat it out of me.” Quince revealed that while the physical and mental abuse destroyed him for several years, he was able to find strength within himself. “I’m only in the position that I’m in now because that experience gave me a voice at a very young age. […] And with that strength, I’m able to help the underdog. The weaker person, the woman, the child, the obese person, the athlete that can’t get all the way to the finish line because I understand,” he spoke in a soft tone. “I understand what it’s like to still believe in yourself when no one else believes in you and to push that out of someone.”
Single and Ready to Mingle
It’s damn near impossible to sit next this handsome gentleman and not notice his perfect smile. His gorgeous brown skin. His charm or incredible style. Which begs the question: Is he dating, single and/or looking? “I am single, I am looking. Yes to both,” he admitted with a chuckle. “I’m looking for a woman who loves being in love. Who has a good sense of family, like a family matters to her. She doesn’t have to be close to it, but she has to want it. […] I’m looking for a woman who’s confident, strong and sexy. She has to have swag and be sophisticated.”
Not Just “That Fitness Guy”
If you must know, Quince is more than just a health or fitness guy—he’s a lifestyle guy. “I’m a renaissance man. People don’t know that about me. Growing up I watched James Bond, I wanted to be Sean Connery. Denzel Washington. Billy Dee Williams. Because those guys spoke to me,” he said. “Those guys know art, they know nice cars, the right watch, the right suit. I’m not Rick Ross, I’m a classy guy. I believe in chivalry.” When asked about the image of young Black men today, Quince explained that there are not enough Black men teaching the youth to be real gentlemen. But under his roof, there’s a standard. “I say this to my son: be a gentleman. They’ll be girls in your life who will say, ‘What are you doing that for?’ It doesn’t matter, you do it for you. The young lady that appreciates it, she deserves it.”
Up Next
Want more of Dolvett Quince in 2013? He’s got you covered. “[A book] is definitely happening. I’m doing a multi-city tour I’m working on right now. I’m training people in many cities. I’m working on a motivational app for fans.” The self-described perfectionist is also working to revamp his personal website, Dolvett.com. Quince added, “I just want to say to fans, thank you. Thank you for believing in my brand. […] I’ve been on the show for three seasons, but for me it’s just the beginning.”
