Chaz Bono Is Skinny After Weight Loss — Looks Like Model

Nov 23, 2020

Chaz Bono, the only child of the old singing duo Sonny & Cher, has come a long way in making a name for himself that did not revolve around his superstar parents. Besides his acting work and activism in the LGBT community, Chaz’s issues with his body image and his health have been highly publicized. Here we take a look at how far he has come with his weight-loss journey. You won’t believe how slim he managed to get!

Chaz Bono, 54, is the son of the late Sonny Bono and Cher. He was born on March 4th, 1969, in Los Angeles, California, and his parents, in case you were not aware, made up the singing duo, Sonny & Cher. After his parents divorced, they went on to different(-ish) career paths: Cher, of course, made it big as a solo artist and became a decorated actress, while Sonny was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 before meeting his demise in a skiing accident.

Chaz was, as Infoplease describes, born the “cherubic daughter” of a “hippie-era couple.” Originally named Chastity Sun Bono, Chaz got his name legally changed to Chaz Salvatore Bono after he underwent a sex change which was completed in 2010. This came after decades of Chaz being a public advocate for LGBT causes. The actor even had the whole transition documented in a 2011 film titled Becoming Chaz and the documentary went on to clinch the top prize for the 2012 GLAAD Media Awards as well as no less than three Primetime Emmy nominations.

More recently, he starred in a film called Reboot Camp, which just earlier this month on November 2nd, 2020, Austin Film Festival announced, won the Audience Award. Chaz takes on the role of “Herbie,” a character which The Austin Chronicle describes “isn’t too far off” of his character in American Horror Story: Cult, Gary Longstreet. Reboot Camp is a comedy that follows two brothers who create a fake self-help group that unexpectedly becomes really successful.

"Herbie just seemed like, in a strange way, an extension of the character that I played in American Horror Story,” Chaz reiterated to The Austin Chronicle. “Herbie was kind of silly and didn't, obviously, kill people, but I went into it with that kind of mindset of just getting completely ensnared and moved, just, you know, being so gung-ho in there."

Reboot Camp is a comedy that follows two brothers who create a fake self-help group that unexpectedly becomes really successful. Chaz went on to explain that his character in the movie goes through a “rebirth”, and it is something which he could probably relate to in his real life. Aside from his journey to transitioning into male, the path to weight-loss has not been easy for the actor.

Of his ongoing struggle with his weight, the actor told Dr. Travis Stork, The Doctors co-host and an ER physician that being skinny was “prized above all else” in his family when he was growing up. 

Explaining that even though he “wasn’t an overweight child,” he was still “put on diets all the time.”

“There was a lot of pressure to be underweight growing up,” Chaz, who stands at 5 ft. 5½ in. said. “I hope the pressure of doing something publicly will give me more incentive [to lose weight].” [getty]

According to ABC News, Chaz vowed to start losing weight when he tipped the scales at 250 pounds back in November 2012. And he succeeded: By May 2013, he was down to 190 pounds. He had even expressed interest to do Dancing with the Stars for a second time, saying that he would “do it so much better now” than he did the first time in 2011 for its 13th season. 

"I really feel very satisfied and comfortable with the way I eat now, which is amazing, and for me, kind of a miracle," the then 44-year-old said. "I never thought I'd be that kind of a person!" The star noted that eating healthier and exercising also gave him “a lot more confidence,” and he started to “really like what [he sees] in the mirror.” 

In March 2015, Chaz took to Facebook to post a black-and-white picture of himself dressed in a leather jacket and boots. Fans were quick to comment on how good he looked and many congratulated him on the weight loss. One comment read: “Great job on the weight loss! Looking spectacular!” while another read “You look happy and you look awesome. We are so happy you are doing so well. Great job on the weight loss. So handsome! We are all proud of you.” 

Just last month, Chaz posted a picture on his Instagram of a still from Reboot Camp which shows his character Herbie topless and covered in plastic wrap. We don’t know what that is all about but from the looks of it, it looks like Chaz has managed to maintain his weight so far. Congrats, Chaz! 

If Chaz's weight loss journey has inspired you, let us know in the comments and pass it along to someone who you think could use a boost.