Buchanan spoke to us from California this week after becoming the first Australian woman to win a BMX World Cup in a thrilling come-from-behind win in Norway last weekend.

The 21-year-old happily took part in the edgy fashion shoot, this particular shot showing her with a bike chain as jewellery.

''The majority of the time I'm just in my team training clothes or work-out gear but whenever I'm killing time I always like to watch Project Runway or America's Next Top Model,'' she said.

''There are two other girls I travel with on the Australian team and they think I'm a bit weird, a bit girly in that respect.''

Not that she shows anything less than true grit on the track.

Buchanan is ranked first in the world for BMX as she looks to the world championships in Birmingham, England next month.

The Olympic team will be announced in June when two female riders are selected.

''So having that result in Norway, has taken a bit of stress off my shoulders,'' she said.

''It's not 100 per cent but it's pretty much secured me a spot.''

Buchanan was too young to compete at the Beijing Olympics, with the cut-off age 19 for BMX, so the London Olympics have been calling for a long time.

''I really want to win gold and do Australia proud,'' she said.

Buchanan's family lost their Duffy home in the 2003 Canberra bushfires when she was 12.

''I definitely think what happened with the fires and my brother breaking his neck in a similar timeframe and my grandma dying, just all these things that have happened in my life have strengthened me as an athlete and I've had to grow up pretty quick and realise what's important pretty fast,'' she said.

Buchanan, who attended Merici and Erindale College, will be racing again in Arizona this weekend.