In the 1990s , few wellness personalities were more recognisable than Susan Powter, the fitness firebrand whose "Stop the Insanity!" catchphrase became a cultural phenomenon. With her platinum crop, no-nonsense delivery and bestselling books, she was everywhere: on TV screens, talk shows, workout tapes and magazine covers. Susan wasn't just a fitness expert; she was a pop-culture moment, and at one point had a multi-million dollar empire.

© NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Susan with Jay Leno in 1993

But behind the fame, her story took a very different turn. In 1995, due to a series of bad business deals and lawsuits, she was forced to declare bankruptcy and ended up on welfare, delivering food orders to make ends meet. After years out of the public eye, she now says she’s final

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