Hawkins earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2002, graduating summa cum laude and with University and Foundation Honors. She read for her M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2005. She is currently working towards a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, also at Caltech.
Hawkins is currently studying chemical engineering in the area of metabolic engineering in yeast with an emphasis on inducible promoter systems and other strategies for fine-tuning expression of recombinant enzymes / proteins. She is primarily working to produce benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in S. cerevisiae, but has also constructed yeast strains which exhibit modified responses from the GAL promoter and is pursuing other RNA-based strategies for regulation by small molecules in vivo.
Kristy always struggled with her weight growing up and found her way into the weight room at a young age while her mother did aerobics. At age 15, she got her own gym membership and went every day after school/work. The owners were hosting a competition and taught her the basics of training, nutrition, and posing, and she has competed every year since age 17. She has twice placed in the top four at the NPC Nationals.
Contest history
* 1998 ANPPC Mississippi Open - 3rd (Novice Women Short Class)
* 1998 AAU Mr/Mrs Southwest America - 1st (Novice Women Medium Class) and Best Poser
* 1999 AAU Mr/Mrs Southwest America - 1st (Open Women Short Class) and Best Poser
* 2000 ANPPC Southwest USA Natural Bodybuilding Championships - 3rd (Novice Women Short Class)
* 2002 NPC Michigan Championships - 1st (LW)
* 2002 NPC Pittsburgh Open - 3rd (LW)
* 2003 NPC Ronnie Coleman Classic - 1st (MW)
* 2003 NPC Pittsburgh Open -1st (MW & Overall)
* 2003 NPC Lone Star Classic - 1st (HW & Overall)
* 2003 NPC Jr. Nationals - 4th (MW)
* 2004 NPC Jr. Nationals - 5th (LHW)
* 2004 IFBB North Americans - 4th (LHW)
* 2005 NPC Nationals - 4th (LHW)
* 2006 NPC Nationals - 3rd (LHW)
* 2007 NPC Nationals - 1st (LHW & Overall)
* 2008 IFBB Ms. International - 14th
* 2009 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 7th
Best lifts (for reps)
* Squat - 365 lb
* Deadlift - 335 lb
* Bench press - 225 lb
* Dumbbell curls - 50 lb
* Dumbbell rows - 140 lb
* Lat pulldown - 260 lb
