Soldier crowned Miss England back to Army life

LONDON - The soldier, who served in Iraq and was crowned Miss England, has announced that she will be returning to her Army life.

L/Cpl Katrina Hodge, 23, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, a part-time model, who was nicknamed Combat Barbie after being commended for bravery in Iraq, has handed over her crown to new winner Jessica Linley.

“Obviously I’m a little bit nervous because I’ve lived a different life for a year, but I’m looking forward to it because I have missed my job. I am a bit apprehensive but excited too,” the BBC quoted L/Cpl Hodge as saying.

“I’m going to a new place with new people so they didn’t know me before. I don’t think I’ve changed at all though, I think I’ve stayed quite grounded.

“Everyone has an opinion initially but people will realise I’m just a normal Army girl.

“I’ve always said I was going to go back, I really enjoyed my job in the Army before I became Miss England.

“I’ve had a year of glitz and glamour but that sort of stuff doesn’t last - the Army is a career for me,” she added. (ANI)