Celebrity hairdresser David Babaii lost 135 pounds in four months, and he attributed at least part of his weight-loss success to support from actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
Babaii told E! Online that he was 5’5” and 285 pounds at the start of his personal challenge to change.
"I was working a lot. I had a really bad breakup. It was like my first adult breakup," said Babaii, 40. "I looked at myself in the mirror and I wanted to start changing."
While working on Paltrow’s hair, Babaii said he told her, "'Listen, I really want to lose weight. I want to become better.' She looked at me and said, 'Sounds good, what do you want to do? How do you want to do this?' It was just very organic and not in a judgmental way."
Paltrow continued to support him, and Babaii told E! that he would email her when he was struggling and she would offer support whenever she could.
On his Instagram feed, Babaii posted before and after photos. “Ok I would never want anyone to see my before but I have a friend that has been fighting so hard to lose weight and I hope this can show him that if I can do it then really anyone can,” he wrote. “I did not love myself and food was my best friend till one day I looked at myself I mean really looked at myself and thought I need help and I want to love myself again so my dear friend @gwynethpaltrow helped me get myself to understand that I'm worth it and I am loved and that I should love myself. She did not look down at me or judge me but with love helped me lose 135lbs !”
Babaii also credited his trainer Will Castillo.
Related Stories:
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.