Non-meat eaters are a rarity in the sport, but that hasn't stopped the petite personal trainer from Middleton, Leeds, heading straight to the top of the winners' podium as a vegetarian.

Because protein is so important for building muscle, competitors eat plenty of protein-packed chicken and turkey. But Heather has to rely on egg whites – nine a day – for hers.

Clearly it's no yolking matter as the 28-year-old recently posed her way into pole position to be crowned Natural Physique Association Yorkshire Champion at Batley Frontier.

She said: "I've only met one other vegetarian bodybuilder. But there are people more amazing by far – like a blind bodybuilder I saw compete."

Heather was picked for the British bodybuilding team in the European Championships in Barcelona, where she came second. She now hopes to muscle her way to the top in the British Championships at Leamington Spa in October.

She's delighted with her rapid success – she first competed in 2006, then took a year off to return "all guns blazing."

Shows involve several coats of fake-tan, bikinis, high heels, set poses and a dance routine to show off gymnastic ability.

It's a pastime many find hard to understand and Heather said it was difficult to change people's minds.

"The hardest thing is explaining. As soon as people hear the word bodybuilder they say it's horrible.

"Sometimes I just say I've done a fitness show."

But she explained its appeal by comparing it to the day many women dream about.

"Getting ready for a big show, for a female, is like getting ready for a wedding – you lose loads of weight, look your best for the day, get your outfit specially made, get your hair done, your nails done.

"There's loads of glitter and glamour, everybody's looking at you and it's all about you."

She competes in the "natural" competitions where everyone is drug tested.

Standing at 5ft 4ins, and weighing 8st 7lbs, with a 23.5in waist, she's not what many might expect when they think of a female bodybuilder.

Heather teaches 20 hours of fitness classes a week, then trains for a further six hours, lifting weights of up to 200kg with her legs and 26kg in each hand.

She's teetotal all year and follows a strict diet 16 weeks before a show, but said she simply ensures all her calories are good calories.

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