I have never "blogged" on any site before, but Shayla, I had to write and tell you that I was so disappointed that you didn't win. You danced beautifully each week. What I think made you stand out from the other contestants was your ability to bring emotion into each dance that you did, whether it was the "strip tease," hip hop, or lyrical.. I actually cried during one of your performances on the finale; it was so majestic and beautiful!

UR JUS SUPER SEXY AND FILLED WITH SO MUCH SEX APPEAL I LOOKED FORWARD TO SEEING YOU EVERY MONDAY...

you kick a** on dance you a** of

good job keep it going i wich you won your very good hope you be on dance your a** off again and hope you have a good life your the best dancer and we hope we see you on dance your a** off again and you ore very nice and how is leg felling and im sorry you did not win but you won 5000 dollars so that good.good job shely for doning dance your a** of

how manny pound did you lose

Shayla, I just love you the best. Your style is so great. You could model if you wanted to or just be on TV. You have such a commanding presence on screen. Great energy. So glad to hear you are keeping up the great work. You go girl!!!

just was wondering can i have sum tips on how u started working out u know da beginning stages bcuz dats exactly where i am and i am having so much trouble!

This message is to mom, I the best thing that you can do is plan out your meals. I have crazy hours as well and I am always on the go. Pick a day in the week that you have off to make your lunches and or dinners for the week. You should alwasy have fruit that you can just grab. I know it can be expensive but I coupon clip myself. I alwasy make sure to get the coupon paper at the store before I buy my food. If you plan your food out it will be easire to eat right. Another thing to do on our day off is to make sure you do something active for 60 minutes and work your way up from there. I hope this helps let me know how it goes!!

I loved you & the show and wonder how we can make a suggest on another similar show for older adult with weigh problems. I am a mom of three and a grandmother of three. And would love to be able to continue to see them grow. I have type 2 diabetes, work 3rd shift, which causes crazy eatting habits, because I have to eat to feed the insulin and then I go the bed which also help with the weigh gain. I need help with a schedule flip flop and trainning on what to eat and when. My doctors have not been any help. Please send help or suggestion send comment back.

Shayla you were my favorite since the beginning... i was so happy u got so far! you look amazing!!!

Shayla, you rocked, everyone did an awesome job. You all look great, but I have to say you are my favorite. You are beautiful, inside and out. I enjoyed watching DYAO every week, I watched the reunion and I was amazed. Brought tears.

Hi Shayla, da first thing i want 2 say is OMG... u are so beautiful and secondly i would like 2 congradulate you on ur success! Now... i am just curious about how u came across this show or casting and was it hard to become apart of it! i'm asking because im 21 and struggling with my weight! i try and try but i need help and i don't know what else 2 do! My body type is very similiar 2 how urs use to be and i was wondering if u could even give me sum pointers! But anyway Shayla thx 4 being my inspiration... u make me want to try harder now know its possible if i do! Thx Again

Im sorry petals I fogot to tell you what age group I do. I teach kids from 5 to 17 mondays at 6pm and the 8 week program is for the adults (18 and up)xoxo Shayla from DYAO

Hi Petals!!! I am running a 8 week program in Riverside at the Premire Academy off of Clay street in riverside. The address is 6515 Clay St Suite B Riverside CA 92509 you can also call 951-685-9338 I teach Mondays at 8pm, Wednesdays at 6pm and Satudays at 8am. You have to be there 2 times a week you can choose whatever works for you! It starts this monday but come in whenever you get this! Let all your friends know we are going to cover hip hop, swing, tango, cha cha, jazz, 70's and 80's all kinds of fun stuff!!! I hope to see you there!xoxo Shayla from DYAO

Shayla me and my family enjoyed watching you and i agree you should have won! I seen you in the paper and me and some of the girls at work would love to attend your class and learn some hip hop dancing what age group do you work with and what studio do you work out of? I live in Riverside

was a sheer pleasure watching you dance i will miss wou

I wasn't even going to watch the show, I wasn't fond of the title. But after a couple of times watching, I was actually hooked, and I can't stand Reality TV. I voted for you as my favorite, you are an absolute doll, beautiful beyond words both inside and out, and well, there is just something really special about you. I was thrilled to hear you won fan favorite, although to be honest I was certain you would. You've got something baby. That certain something that "stars" have. You either have it, or you don't, and baby girl, you've got it in spades. May the Lord bless you and yours and may all of your dreams come true. I know your career is just beginning, and be prepared, you are headed towards true stardom. You will absolutely be in the "biz" from now on, and that is a true observation. Don't let them eat you alive, they will if given the chance. It will seem to become overwhelming, but keep to your beliefs and your family. They are all that matter. The fans, the producers, all of them, it can all seem like a fantasy but once the "flash" has worn off, be prepared for what comes next and it isn't always pleasant. The reporters, fans, papperatzi (spl?lol), producers, agents, all of it, can become frightening and dizzying. You just be yourself, keep on dancing and keep on smiling that beautiful smile of yours. You really are a star. God Bless you.

I didn't know to come to Oxygen.com to vote for you, but throughout, you were my favorite. The one thing I was surprised about is the well-known fact that men lose faster then women, and they did not have a sliding curve to make it fair. Had they done that, I believe you would have won (not that I have anything against Ruben, and I am happy for him). Much happiness to you!

I CANNOT REMEMBER HOW MANY TIMES THAT I VOTED FOR U TO WIN,BUT I AM ELATED THAT I WAS A PART OF U WINNING. U ARE THE BEST DANCER THAT GRACED THE OXYGEN STAGE OF A PREMIERE SHOW AND I AM VERY PROUD OF U. U LOOK FABULOUS AND I WISH U WELL. U R THE WINNER AND I PRIBABLY WILL NOT SUPPORT THE SHOW ANYMORE BECAUSE U SHOULD HAVE WON,UR SCORES WERE PREDETERMINED,IN MY OPINION,SO THAT THE "QUEER" COULD WIN. THERE IS NOT ANY PREJUDICE BECAUSE I LOVE MY SAME GENDER,BUT I AM A REALIST FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!! U AND MARA WERE THE REASON THAT I TUNED IN,GOD BLESS U AND CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO UR DANCE CLASS :)

I THINK YOU DID GREAT

All of r just wrong & disrespectful. Instead of bashing one another just go to my shopping cart and buy some weight loss products for those, you think they need to lose weight. Oh yeah! you have no money, it figures.

All of r just wrong & disrespectful. Instead of bashing one another just go to my shopping cart and buy some weight loss products for those, you think they need to lose weight. Oh yeah! you have no money, it figures.

All of r just wrong & disrespectful. Instead of bashing one another just go to my shopping cart and buy some weight loss products for those, you think they need to lose weight. Oh yeah! you have no money, it figures.

All of r just wrong & disrespectful. Instead of bashing one another just go my shopping cart and buy some weight loss products for those, you think they need to lose weight. Oh yeah! you have no money, it figures.

Hey Shayla I loved you you did great in all the dances and you look great. It comes to show that anyone can do it show that body off cause it looks great. I think you should have won your final dance was awsome. You are the realy WINNER!!

Shayla, You were my fav. I too think that the judges robbed you of the win. You were way better than reuben. Okay he lost more weight, so what, men lose weight faster and easier than women anyway. Way to Go on the weight loss.

Shayla is my fav! You have a wonderful attitude & outlook on life! Your transformation is stunning! I wish the world was filled with people like you!

Shayla..you are beautiful...you did good the whole time...only Ruben lost weight faster and that helped him but u should have won cos you nailed each week...all the same congrats you hav lost weight and did i say you look HOT?....hopefully i can shed my excess too....way to go girl

SHAYLA YOU HAD THE SHOW FROM THE START. RUBEN WAS GOOD BUT I THINK YOU WAS THE ONE THAT PUSHED HIM. I WAS SO MAD WHEN YOU DIDNT WIN. GIRL IN MY BOOK YOU ARE THE REAL WINNER KEPP UP THE GOOD WORK. WATCH YOU ON TV HAS PUSHED ME TO GET UP AND START LOSING TO. I LOVE YU GIRL

Shayla You look and looked absolutly fabulous throughout the entire show.i really feel that in the end they didnt give you the scores you deserved. I really pray that you know you are a true winner.

I think that you were the real winner on the show. I just want you to know that you and some of the other contestants are real motivators for me. Whenever I don't feel like working out, I just go to one of the episodes and look at you and Mario. As a black female, I think that you represented us well. Good luck with keeping the weight off and keep dancing.

Wow thats all I can really say. I felt so connected to you the whole show and you have really inspired me to get back into working out and dancing. I am 20 and my whole life i was a dancer I just quit dancing about 3 years ago and I have gained 35lbs since then I hope I can be as successful as you were on the show. Thank you for making me believe again in dancing and god bless you can good luck in life.

SHAYLA YOU DEFITNITELY SHOULD HAVE WON. THE JUDGES ROBBED YOU ESPECIALLY THAT STUPID LISA ANN WALTER WHO SEEMED TO PURPOSELY GIVE YOU LOWER SCORES THAN THE OTHER JUDGES EACH WEEK. YOU LOOK FANTASTIC. (MY HUSBAND HAS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH YOU TOO). KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK LOVE YOU AND STAY STRONG

shayla u shouldve won because u rock u never fail one of ur dances, u never give up, ur pretty u lost weight and reuben should have been the first one to leave i think that scale breaks when rueben gets on it and makes the weight less u shouldve one u look great and u shouldve got 15,000 dollars cuz u realy inspired people! i might take my cuz and me to one of ur dances ps. im only 10

LOVE YOU SHAYLA!!! INDEED YOU ARE THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AND YOU DANCED YOUR WAY INTO OUR HEARTS. WE LOVE YOU. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU AND MARIO CREATE MORE MAGIC. MILES LOOKED AWESOME AND MARS AND PINKY TOO. KEEP ROCKING GIRL YOU ARE THE WHOLE PACKAGE. THE JUDGES SHOULD BE ASHAMED AT THEIR LAME RESPONSE TO MARA...SPEAK YOUR MIND GIRL,,GOD DONT LIKE UGLY AND WHAT THEY DID WAS UGLY

Shayla, your man is fine. Brendon...good lawd.

I thought that you were really great! Keep up the good work.

Shayla you were my fav! I loved the way you represented for the thick madames!

hey shalay, i am so proud of you you was my favorite contestant. i just love the way you and your partner vibed with one another. I also liked the way your body glided with each dance move you were great girl. i honestly thought you were going to win. Now dont get me wrong ruben was good the both of yall were the best but i really feel that you should have won. You had great energy and you was just so motivated. I just loved the way you moved you actually remind me of myself. But you did get the 5,000 so i was happy for that. I know you were also. I also love the fact that your dad was such a great inspiration to you that is really special and dont take that for granted. Keep up the good work cause you look great girl you really do. I am soooooooo proud of you and i dont even know you. You touched my spirit you have a great spirit. You may didnt win but you are the true winner to me. You was a beautiful woman in the first place but you are even more beautiful now because you truely feel it from inside out. I know the struggles that you go through with body image and no matter how pretty someone says you are it means nothing if you dont believe it and now you do. I can see the confidence in your face in your spirit. Live your life. Keep it up girl and always put yourself first. Self-love is the key to live the life you want so always put shalay first. Also i feel the judges didnt always judge you correctly it was many times when you should have gotten a 10 a perfect score but thats okay you got your body the way you wanted it so thats all that matter thats far greater than 100,000. Peace

Shayla , you were amazing. When you didnt win I nearly lost it but in all reality you did win. You won your life back. Love ya girl.... U WERE AWESOME

Hi sha im so glad for you. Im in the diamond bar area not to far from you. Im a nurse and i weight 275 i recently loss 20 pounds just cutting back on food. Im like a yo yo i will loose and then gain 10 back. I use to be a modern dancer a in elm, jr high and college.Also drill team in los angeles. Once i stop the pound started to come on. Now its out of control. i know for sure you could loss weight by dancing. But could you give me some tips for choices of food. Thank you and you look great.

Your presentations were very graceful and elegant..You represent every plus size woman that wants to shed pounds. I wish you the very best...and I do hope that there will be a reality show that will do the right thing by choosing the right person due to hard work not color. I'm not saying Reuben didn't loose weight (great job!) but I am saying his last presentation was only adequate and not worthy of $100,000.

CONGATS ON YOUR 5G

Shayla. Shayla, Shayla girl you definitely were robbed. I can't remember one of your dance routines that was not absolutely great. The courage you had dancing with a bad ankle, the willpower you had to put through to continue on, your bright bubbly smile and the grace you shown, girl if even though you didn't win.... you are and alway will be a 10. Congrats to shayla

SHAYLA YOU ARE AWESOME!!!! I AGREE WITH EVERYONE ELSE YOU SHOULD HAVE WON.I THINK YOU DANCE AMAZING AND YOU SHOWED WHAT PUTTING YOUR HEART IN SOMETHING REALLY MEANS.I THINK YOU DESERVED A PERFECT 10 THE WHOLE SHOW.I LOVE YA GIRL!

Love you Shayla!! Congratulations on your weight loss - you look AMAZING!!

REUBEN IS A GREAT DANCER. I LOVED HIS WALTZ.BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE WON. YOU WERE GREAT. YOU AND YOUR PARTNER WERE A PERFECT MATCH WHEN IT COMES TO DANCING. I LOVED ALL YOUR DANCES. EVEN MY FRIENDS AND DAUGHTER THOUGH YOU SHOULD HAVE WON. OH WELL. YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL AND KEEP IT UP.GOING TO MISS SEEING THAT BEAUTIFUL FACE OF YOUR.

That sucks that you didn't win.

Lady, you are every bit the FULL PACKAGE - elegant, graceful, humble, charming, pleasant, caring, hard working, dedicated, determined, focused, honest (and on and on), but most especially you are a truly BEAUTIFUL young woman. I won't go so far as to say the judges were biased (in Ruben's favor), but I honestly do feel that the scores they gave you in no way reflected your talents & ability; most especially (and quite sadly) at the finale. You most certainly deserved much higher scores than what the judges awarded. I have followed DYAO faithfully since week 1, plus watched the reruns & re-reruns almost daily. Without a doubt, it was plain to see that you progressed, outshone and danced circles around the "winner" from week to week. Millions of viewers (like myself) felt you were short changed in the scores, however, I was SO elated to see that you were chosen the "true winner" by viewers (versus 3 lone judges) who voted you the "fan favorite." You more than deserved it!!! And had the fans been able to vote on the "winner" there would have been a much different outcome. Ruben has tons of comments in his blog, however, almost every other one states that YOU were the real winner. Hmmmmmm... that alone says a lot. It was so amazing to see 12 people (and most especially you and Pinky) blossom and become more beautiful before our eyes. In that respect, the judges were right on target. This was a contest, but in the end you were ALL winners. You brought such joy and so much pleasure to watch from every week, and most especially at the Reunion show where you all looked SO GORGEOUS!!! I was so moved that I just had to cry because you all did SO good! P.S. Hubby & I had a disagreement about you & Pinky on who had the most "killer" smile. He chose you & I said Pinky. Well, after debating it for weeks, I'm in a deadlock but he still says you. Both your smiles could light up an arena, honest! We're both 57, he's a white guy, & I'm latina so you have a wide fan base of at least 2 in this household. Shayla, we wish you the very, very, very best in life - you are simply an exquisite young lady! Oh, and one last thing. Said you still keep in touch with your dance partner Mario??? None of my business, but........hmmmmmmmmm........y'all REALLY do compliment and look awesome together....happily ever after and all that....(really don't mean to upset your boyfriend)..... :)

Shayla you were the best and if you didn t feel cheated than so be it. All I've read so far is low scores, cheated you, haters etc. Honey, I think everyone had their fair share of critics and yes I expected you to win but the most important thing is you learned a different life style, you feel good about yourself and this will be an experience you will never forget and also something to tell your grandchildren. Love you Ms. Shayla. Oh yea, Take care of your dad and visit with him as much as possible. Time goes by so fast. Keep it up. You look great.

Hi Shayla. Congrats on your weight loss, but more importantly for your new outlook and living healthly. I am a fan of the show but particularly followed you as my stepdaughter is your same bust size and only 11 pounds from your original weight at 13. Her mom is pushing for reduction surgery and her dad is for healthly eating and exercise. It's good to see you were able to lose the weight without going under the knife.

SHAYLA, SHAYLA SHAYLA.. YOU deserve it girl. You were the best and finally now you know that you are loved and have touch the lives of those that routed for you. You have inspired me to Start to become healthy.

I am so sorry that you did not win. You really did deserve it. The judges were so unfair to you and I do not understand why. They gave everyone a ten and they did things that everyday people would be able to do. Yod did great and I love the freestyle dance. I just started watching the show about 3 weeks ago and you were so exciting to watch. I was truly hurt when I heard the scores they were giving you compared to the other two. I have not had a dance class in my life and I can do every move that the other two did but you can tell that your dances needed practice & skills. You know that you won right? The fans thought so. I hate to say this but it seem as if African Americans are still having the same problems. And I also notice that Pinky really never had a low score from the man judge. Sorry I do not know his name. He usually gives scores that are lower than the other 2 judges but when it came to her. OMG! But I still hate that you did not win and I can not imagine how you're feeling. But keep your head up and do not let 3 people get you down. I do not know if they were jealous because you were more and more beautiful everytime week you hit the stage. I do not know what they were judging but they were so wrong to do you like that Shayla. I did not see anything that Ruben did. He was just walking with her. That is the only thing that I saw. I am looking to blog the judges also but I do not konw their names. But Shayla you look great and you did a great job. My grandmother thinks you should hav won also. I am just so upset because you did your THANG (YES THANG) :) EVERY time I watched you. Your finale was great and I can not tell you how sorry I am that you were cheated. I hate to say it but it seem as if they wanted a white MAN to win. SORRY but I do not care about color when it comes to judging but to some it may not be the same. And this time I feel as if it was something about you that they did not like. But you did win in the fans eyes and that is what matter. I wish you could had received more than you did for the fans loving you. I just hate that you did not let the judges know how you felt. You were cheated throughout the show. You were doing things that people would not dare do. But YOU WON! YOU WON!!

shayla there are some struggles that others will never understand I do what you have accomplished has not been easy people expect african women to be volumptious even when we feel too heavy but you have made our children all colors feel great about being healthy by just dancing they don't even realize they are builing self-esteen as well asgetting/staying in shape aside from your dad I hope that all of us are truly your role models' let our happiness for you be your motivation to keep moving forward despit what's taken from you because your are my dancin' your a** off champion

Hey girl you are the stuff! You look so good! I am gonna buy that tape so that maybe I can lose to I have been a thick girl all my life and never really got down to where I thought I looked or felt good. Seeing you do it and how great you look really has made me want to and I think maybe I can this time!

You were great you have ispired me to live a healthier life thanks and I so wanted you to win!!!

Shayla - you kick butt girl. I was very proud of you and your ability to rock it!!!

Shayla, You are a beautiful lady. You were very entertaining. You should have won. I agree with all your other fans. You have a beautiful smile that goes with you beautiful body. You are Hot..

shayla you are the best on the show and also my name is shayla.

if all you haters haven't notice,shayla did the most flipping and tricks in her performances..which should of won her no lower than a ten...

i loved you sooo much, you danced very well. i wanted you to win!!!

You looke GREAT!!!!

the judges weren't being fair with your scores!!! you should of won!!!

i love you, you should have won, you representing for all the thick and sexy ladies out there, keep it up

Love you girl.