Kristy Hawkins

Background

Kristy Hakwins was born and raised in Longview, Texas in 1980.

Education

In 1998, she graduated from high school and started attending Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University that same year. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University in 2002, graduating summa cum laude and with University and Foundation Honors. She earned a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2005.

She graduated from Caltech in 2008 with a Doctor of Philosophy in chemical engineering.

Career

In 1994, she started attending Longview High School. In 1999, Kristy worked as an intern for the Eastman Chemical Company and from 2000 to 2002 she worked again as an intern for the Solutia Incorporated. From November 2008 to August 8, 2013, she moved to Emeryville, California where she got a job as scientist for metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at Amyris Incorporated.

Since August 19, 2013, she has working as director of yeast engineering for the company Lygos.

Amateur

In elementary school, Kristy described herself as very heavy. She took dance lessons and became a twirler, but she said she wasn"t active enough and didn"t have proper eating habits.

She suffered from anorexia nervosa, which led her to starve herself. She eventually got into the gym to burn calories.

At first she started with cardio and than weight training.

At the age of 15 years, she got her own gym membership and went every day after school and work. The owners were hosting a competition and taught her the basics of training, nutrition, and posing. At the age of 17, she traveled with some people from her gym to Mississippi for an ANPPC show and placed 3rd in the novice women's short class.

She has twice placed in the top four at the Non-Player Character Nationals.

Professional

After turning professional, she attended her first professional competition, the 2008 Mississippi International, where she placed 14th.

In 2009, she attended her first Mississippi Olympia, which she placed 7th.

Retirement

Since 2011, she has semi-retired from professional bodybuilding, but still maintains her bodybuilding physique.

Contest history

1998 ANPPC Mississippi Open - 3rd (Novice Women Short Class)

1998 Amateur Athletic Union Mr/Mrs Southwest America - 1st (Novice Women Medium Class) and Best Poser

1999 Amateur Athletic Union Mr/Mrs Southwest America - 1st (Open Women Short Class) and Best Poser

2000 ANPPC Southwest United States of America Natural Bodybuilding Championships - 3rd (Novice Women Short Class)

2002 Non-Player Character Michigan Championships - 1st (LW)

2002 Non-Player Character Pittsburgh Open - 3rd (LW)

2003 Non-Player Character Ronnie Coleman Classic - 1st (MW)

2003 Non-Player Character Pittsburgh Open -1st (MW & Overall)

2003 Non-Player Character Lone Star Classic - 1st (HW & Overall)

2003 Non-Player Character Junior. Nationals - 4th (MW)

2004 Non-Player Character Junior. Nationals - 5th (LHW)

2004 IFBB North Americans - 4th (LHW)

2005 Non-Player Character Nationals - 4th (LHW)

2006 Non-Player Character Nationals - 3rd (LHW)

2007 Non-Player Character Nationals - 1st (LHW & Overall)

2008 IFBB Mississippi

International - 14th

2009 IFBB Atlantic City Pro - 2nd

2009 IFBB Mississippi

Olympia - 7th

2010 IFBB New York Pro - 10th

Best lifts

Squat - 457 lb

Deadlift - 537 lb

Bench press - 308 lb

She was for a time in a serious relationship with bodybuilder Branden Ray, but is now single. She currently lives in Emeryville, California.

She currently plays CrossFit for the CrossFit Oakland team (Chief Financial Officer).

Achievements

• In November 2007, she won the light-heavyweight and overall at the Non-Player Character Nationals and received her IFBB pro card.