Baxter (27), who has only been doing bodybuilding for 14 months, is one of five New Zealanders picked to attend the International Universe Bodybuilding championships in Hamburg at the end of this month.
Baxter, who is a PhD candidate at the University of Otago, studying in the field of health psychology, is lining up in the shape section at the bodybuilding championships, and has been training hard for the event.
''I'm doing six days a week, sometimes two sessions a day, although I always have a rest day. I have been doing lots of combined lifts and some big reps,'' she said.
''I'm trying to throw around about twice my body weight, so I do get a few looks in the gym.''
The shape competition was judged 50% on a dance routine and 50% on aesthetics, such as symmetry and overall look.
She said the competition was bound to be white hot in Germany.
It was a fine line to get the right look for the event. Too much training could impact on recovery and the look of muscles, but the work had to be done to maintain body shape.
Baxter, who is 1.59m tall and declined to give her weight, took up bodybuilding only early last year and had already picked up many placings in competitions.
She won the shape category at the New Zealand championships this year and also the South Island championships. Before entering bodybuilding, she was a fitness trainer.
Baxter is originally from Ireland but moved to New Zealand in 2005 to attend university and has never looked back.
Her diet was strict - having seven meals a day, and a lot of protein - though after every competition she helped herself to a kebab and a piece of cheesecake.
Her aim was to make the top six at the championships. She has had to raise $5000 to get to Hamburg and find accommodation, but was not too upset about having to pay her way, pointing out that was a reality for a minority sport.
