THREE years ago Diba Heinrich had no idea her chosen sport of powerlifting existed or that it welcomed women but a chance encounter at the gym changed that.

"I started taking a few classes (at the gym) but I never went upstairs to the gym equipment,” MrsHeinrich said.

"I thought I'd go up and have a look and I saw a couple of people lifting weights and thought that was something I'd like to do.”

Now a new photography competition run by Women's Sport Australia aims to inspire more women to try new sports and it's calling for amateur and profession shutterbugs to get involved.

Today Mrs Heinrich is a regular on the powerlifting circuit and said women shouldn't be put off by sport.

"Not all women look the same, we're not all perceived the same, but there is that image that we have to be the same way,” she said.

"That's why I love powerlifting, there are women from all different age and weight categories, you go and do your best.”

She said she found the sight of women performing at any level inspiring because it showed their unique strength.

At a recent meet, MrsHeinrich watched a woman with a prosthetic limb compete.

"She didn't go there to break a record, she went there to see what she could achieve.”

Mrs Heinrich's training has already inspired one young girl - her five-year-old daughter, Ayisha.

"She prances around with my medals when she can, and she does come to the gym with me,” she said.

The Women in Sport Photo Action Awards are open to all photographers.

The winner of the professional category will receive a $5000 Nikon voucher while the amateur winner will get a $3000 voucher.

Valid entries include any photos of female athletes, aged over 18, taken between May30, 2018 and April1, 2019.

They must also have been published in traditional, digital or social media during that period.

For more details and to enter, visit wispaa.com.au.