Table of Biography
Early Life and Education
On February 18, 1955, Gwen Shamblin Lara was born in Memphis Tennessee, US. Thus, she was raised in a Church of Christ family.
Similarly, she attended the University of Tennessee. Later, she attended Memphis State University, for her master’s degree.
She, he husband, Joe Lara, and 5 others died after their private plane crashed into a lake near Nashville. Thus, the aircraft was headed to the town International Airport.
Death
During the time, it slammed into Percy Priest Lake in Smyrna, Tennessee. It was about 12 miles east of Nashville. Additionally, she took her last breath on May 29, 2021, at the age of 66.
Gwen Shamblin – Net Worth 2024
The net worth of Gwen Shamblin is not yet disclosed.
Personal Life
Previously, Gwen Shamblin was married to David Shamblin, in 1978. Unfortunately, due to unknown reasons, they divorced in 2018.
Together they have children named Michael Shamblin and Elizabeth Hannah. Later, in 2018 she married an actor named Joe Lara.
And, they were together until May 29, 2021, when they passed away in a jet plane crash.
Caption: Gwen Shamblin with her husband. Source: Instagram
Career and Professional Life
Gwen Shamblin Lara had previously faced a lot of problems due to her weight. Later, she founded the Weigh Down Workshop, in 1986.
It is a weight loss program with no food restrictions, exercise regimens weigh-ins, or calorie counting.
When she was pursuing her master’s degree, she developed Weigh Down Workshop. Thus, she hosted the first class in a mall in Memphis, Tennessee, as part of a counseling center.
Additionally, the program was offered as small classes in retail and non-religious settings. In the 1990s, at Bellevue Baptist Church, she began hosting the program.
Caption: Gwen during a show. Source: Instagram
Through video and audio tapes featuring Lara, the program consisted 12-week seminar guided.
In about 600 churches in 35 US started by 1994, the program was offered. Moreover, by July 1996, the program had grown to about 5,000 churches.
In December 1996, about 8 churches in Britain were hosting workshops. In addition, some participants in the U.S. hosted meetings in their homes.
Eventually, Weigh Down Workshop had a staff of 40, in 1996. Likewise, it also built a headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee.
By August 1998, the workshop hosted more than 21,000 classes with more than 250,000 participants worldwide. Point to be noted, classes were hosted in every U.S. state, Canada, and Europe.
Moving on, she was criticized for using the Christian label while building her business. Nashville CBS affiliate WTVF investigated how Weigh Down Workshop leaders spent money, in 2001.
She said half the proceeds from the Workshop were paid as taxes. Thus, the other half was put back into the program.
Career highlight
In 1999, Shamblin founded the Remnant Fellowship Church in Franklin, Tennessee.
Finally, in 2004, the church’s building was completed on 40 acres. Later, it was found that Shamblin’s will left none of her multimillion-dollar fortunes to the church.
In addition, Shamblin published The Weigh Down Diet, in 19997. Therefore, it is a book that advises readers to use spirituality to avoid overeating.
The love of food should be transferred to a love of God, and cutting food portions in half and eating only when hungry, is taught by diet.
Moving on, in 2000 and 2002, Shamblin wrote Rise Above and Exodus Devotional respectively.
In response, Thomas Nelson Publishers canceled the publication of her next book. Unfortunately, she was removed from the Women of Faith website and some employees left her staff.
Later on, she appeared on television programs such as BBC, A Current Affair, The View, and Dateline (Australia).
Furthermore, she appeared in magazines such as Family Circle, Good Housekeeping, and Woman’s Day.
Further, she was featured on The Today Show, CNN’s Larry King Live, DaySide, and The Early Show.
Body Measurements
Gwen Shamblin stood 5 feet 3 inches tall and her body weight is still not known. Also, she had blue pairs of eyes and blonde hair color.
Gwen Shamblin – Social Media
She has an Instagram account named @GwenShamblin, with 4341 followers. And, according to the sources, her Twitter account is deactivated.