KRISTEN Lonie, who featured on these pages a few weeks ago after being invited to compete against the top body-shapers in the world at the annual Fitness America Weekend in Las Vegas, has returned home with a bit of extra baggage.

She claimed a trophy for winning one of the most prestigious titles at the body fest.

The Pottsville beauty's main ambition was to rate highly in the Ms America Bikini Classic and she also decided to take on all-comers - and there were 47 of them from around the globe - in the main event, Model America.

Such was her form, Lonie was all the judges' favourite in the Ms America Bikini Classic, and she won the title easily.

"I pretty much entered the Model America class for fun, considering I had travelled all that way from Australia to compete," she said.

"Not by any stretch of the imagination was I expecting to be placed in the Model America but I thought 'what the heck, let's give it a go'."

The only person in the auditorium who was surprised when Lonie finished only a few points off the podium in fifth place was the Aussie herself.

Those judges rated Lonie highly, even though she was competing against women who have been shaping their bodies for many years.

The statuesque Australian took up body-shaping only a year ago.

However, since then her hard work and dedication has resulted in her winning a swag of medals on state, national and international stages.