"How did I get this fat?"
The former MediaWorks employee said she had been a consistent weight most of her life, but had recently noticed an increase.
She wondered if she was becoming "a fat old woman".
That thought was the only motivation she needed to apply for the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival Lindauer Ladies Fitness and Fashion Challenge.
It meant three months pumping iron and sweating it out at the gym, a place Mrs Beaumont (58) had never dedicated time to before.
"I was always a good walker [but] I've never been a gym person.
"I thought 'I have got to do this'."
Mrs Beaumont sent off her letter of application and explained she did not want to be "old and fat".
The day she was accepted for the challenge was when her life turned around, she said.
"As soon as I started it, I started feeling empowered and I could see it was going to work.
"My husband was away and came back after two weeks. He was amazed at the results."
Mrs Beaumont said after six weeks she was back to her previous weight.
By the end of the challenge, she had lost 12kg.
"That was just so amazing.
"It just made me think 'I did that' and I thought if I could do that, I could do anything.
"People say 'I'm too old', but you absolutely can do whatever you want, whenever you want, you have just got to have the passion, desire and determination.
"That's a great feeling to have, that empowerment."
As soon as the challenge was over, Mrs Beaumont resigned from her job and booked a ticket to Europe, where she travelled on her own to countries where she did not speak the language, returning to work at the Art Bay gallery in the Mountaineer.
"I'm just excited about my life, the opportunities and the potential."
She has some advice for others thinking of applying for a spot in the 2010 challenge.
"If you've got the drive and you want do it . . . you will love it and it will change your life.
"Feeling good is great, to feel strong is fantastic."
"Just to feel your body can do what you need it to do is empowering."
• Any woman who wants to apply for the 2010 fitness and fashion challenge can do so by stating in about 100 words why they should be chosen to participate.
Entries are due by noon on Thursday and can be emailed to info@winterfestival.co.nz; posted to the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival, PO Box 1975, Queenstown; or dropped in to the festival offices, Level 1, Chester Suites, corner Camp and Shotover Sts.
The event will cost $575 for Alpine Health & Fitness members or $750 for non-members.
