The 39-year-old wife and mother of two took out the masters figure title - one of four classifications in her body building federation - at the Australian titles in Sydney last Sunday.

"I was absolutely shocked," Flint said.

"I only started training one year ago."

It was by chance Irish-born Flint, previously a personal trainer, was introduced to the eye-opening world of body building when a friend took her along to a competition.

"I thought, 'I could do this'," she said, and began lifting weights.

While Flint is at the gym six days a week, she said the sport is really about nutrition and diet control.

"It's not the exercise at all," she said. "It's the eating. You do have to work hard at it."

Meals, usually five a day, are scheduled in accordance to how Flint needs her body to look and respond as competition day draws closer.

"The week before it is really scientific," she said.

"You have to deplete the body of carbs but two days before a competition you carb overload.

"You put carbs back in and trick your body, fill the muscles out."

Twenty-four hours before a competition, covered in three layers of tan to enhance the muscles, Flint said there is no drinking and very little eating until you come off stage, - which can be a long process.

Overcoming health battles - her left forearm is made of titanium, which restricts her movements - Flint said body building has helped her grow into a stronger, healthier, happier person.

"Every single person standing there on stage is on a journey," she said.

"I've never completed something I've set out to do and I said at the beginning I would do it until I felt done."

And she's not done yet.

"I've got a title to defend next year."