The Untold Story Of Jillian Michaels' 'First Wife': What Happened To Heidi Rhoades And Where She Is Now
The question of who was Jillian Michaels’ "first wife" is a common one, but the answer is more nuanced than a simple name. As of December 2025, the fitness mogul is legally married to fashion designer DeShanna Marie Minuto, whom she wed in a series of lavish ceremonies. However, the woman often—and incorrectly—referred to as her first wife is Heidi Rhoades, Michaels’ long-term domestic partner and fiancée with whom she shares two children, a relationship that defined a decade of the star's personal life.
The relationship between Jillian Michaels and Heidi Rhoades was a significant, nine-year partnership that included an engagement and the raising of their two children, Lukensia and Phoenix. While they were never legally married, their commitment was formalized as a domestic partnership, the dissolution of which was finalized in early 2020. This article dives deep into the profile of Heidi Rhoades, the details of their split, and the latest updates on both women's lives.
Who is Heidi Rhoades? A Complete Profile
Heidi Rhoades is a figure who maintained a relatively private life despite her high-profile relationship with the celebrity trainer and television personality, Jillian Michaels. Her career and background are rooted in professional fields outside of the fitness spotlight.
- Full Name: Heidi Rhoades
- Occupation: Yoga Instructor, Former Talent Manager/Promoter
- Known For: Former fiancée and domestic partner of Jillian Michaels.
- Children: Lukensia Michaels Rhoades (adopted from Haiti) and Phoenix Michaels Rhoades (biological son, carried by Rhoades).
- Relationship with Michaels: Dated from 2009 to 2018; engaged in 2016; domestic partnership dissolved in 2020.
- Current Status: Co-parents with Jillian Michaels, maintaining a private life focused on her career and family.
Before her relationship with Michaels, Rhoades worked in the music sphere as a promoting manager, leveraging her professional experience for future endeavors. Following the split, she has been noted for her work as a world-renowned yoga instructor, a career path that aligns with wellness but remains distinct from Michaels' high-intensity training brand.
The Domestic Partnership: Engagement, Family, and Split
Jillian Michaels and Heidi Rhoades first met through a mutual friend and began dating casually around 2009. Their relationship quickly deepened as they began the process of building a family. Michaels adopted their daughter, Lukensia, from Haiti in 2012, and Rhoades gave birth to their son, Phoenix, just days later.
The couple became engaged in 2016, a moment famously captured on the finale of their reality show, Just Jillian. Despite the engagement, they never formally tied the knot, instead entering into a domestic partnership. This arrangement provided them with legal protections similar to marriage, particularly concerning their family and assets. Entities like "domestic partnership," "same-sex marriage laws," and "co-parenting" are central to understanding this period of their lives.
The Decision to Separate and Co-Parenting
In June 2018, Michaels announced that she and Rhoades had split "awhile now" but emphasized their continued love and commitment to their children. The legal process to dissolve their domestic partnership was finalized in early 2020.
The dissolution involved a detailed settlement that addressed the financial and custodial aspects of their shared life. Michaels agreed to pay over $2 million upfront and $2,000 monthly in child support. Crucially, the former couple agreed to joint physical and legal custody of Lukensia and Phoenix, maintaining a stable co-parenting dynamic. This arrangement highlights their shared dedication to their children's well-being post-separation, a key element of their story.
Heidi Rhoades’ Life Now and Jillian Michaels’ New Marriage
Since the finalization of the split, Heidi Rhoades has retreated further from the public eye, focusing on her career as a yoga instructor and her primary role as a mother. Her commitment to her children, Lukensia and Phoenix, remains her central focus, with the co-parenting relationship with Michaels appearing amicable and functional. Rhoades' current life is a testament to her dedication to privacy and wellness, away from the intense media scrutiny that often accompanies celebrity relationships.
Meanwhile, Jillian Michaels has moved on and found a new partner, DeShanna Marie Minuto, who is now her legal wife.
Jillian Michaels and DeShanna Marie Minuto: A Series of Weddings
Jillian Michaels and fashion designer DeShanna Marie Minuto began dating in 2018 and became engaged in 2021. Their commitment was celebrated not once, but three times in lavish ceremonies across the globe, a major update in Michaels' personal life since her split from Rhoades.
Their first legal wedding took place on July 11, 2022, at a Miami courthouse. The couple then held a second, more intimate ceremony in Namibia, Africa. The final, most public celebration was a stunning affair in June 2023, where they tied the knot for a third time at the Aman hotel in Venice, Italy. Minuto, a former Division 1 athlete, is known for her work in the New York fashion world, a career that provides a distinct professional entity from Michaels' fitness empire.
The children, Lukensia and Phoenix, were present at the initial Miami ceremony, signifying their integration into Michaels' new family unit. The relationship between Michaels, Minuto, and Rhoades is a modern example of successful blended family dynamics and respectful co-parenting.
Key Takeaways on Jillian Michaels' Relationship History
The term "Jillian Michaels first wife" is a misnomer, but it correctly identifies Heidi Rhoades as the most significant partner in Michaels' life before her current marriage. Their nine-year relationship, engagement, and shared children established a foundational family unit. The legal dissolution of their domestic partnership in 2020, along with the detailed joint custody agreement, was the final chapter in that relationship.
Today, Michaels is legally married to DeShanna Marie Minuto, while Heidi Rhoades continues her career as a yoga instructor and focuses on co-parenting their children. This complex, modern family structure—involving entities like "domestic partnership," "joint custody," "adoption," and "multiple wedding ceremonies"—is a testament to the evolving nature of celebrity relationships and family life in the public eye.
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