A FEMALE solider who won a prestigious military award for her bravery in Iraq is celebrating a very different kind of prize after reaching the final five in a beauty contest.

Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge, a military clerk serving at Frimley Park Hospital and currently living in Aldershot, grabbed fifth place in the Miss England competition and was also named Miss Eco Girl.

The 21-year-old, nicknamed Combat Barbie after receiving a bravery commendation for punching a suspected Iraqi insurgent in Basra, won the Miss Tunbridge Wells regional award back in March.

She won the Miss England eco award at the national ceremony on Friday for dressing to highlight the importance of recycling.

“I was very shocked,” she said.

“I’d never done any modelling before all this started, so it was a complete and utter shock.”

"Lifelong friends"

L/Cpl Hodge said she would use the publicity around her modelling to highlight the importance of the armed forces in society, something she mentioned during her speech on Friday.

“I spoke about how I wasn’t just doing it for myself, I wanted to represent the whole of the British Army,” she said.

“I want to raise more awareness of the army, they work very hard and don’t get enough appreciation.

“I am the first ever member of the forces to enter a competition like this, and my colleagues were fully behind me, everybody wanted me to win."

Miss England has a unique history of entrants winning second time around, and L/Cpl Hodge said she was hoping to continue that trend.

“I’ll be back next year,” she said.

“I’ve had a great time getting to know all the girls, we’ve become really good friends and I think we’ll be lifelong friends because we’ve experienced it all together."

Hard work

She insisted that the competition was hard work, and said she had poured all of her energy into the contest over the past four months.

“It is a lot harder than people think,” she said.

“It’s much more than a beauty contest.

“Juggling it with a full time career is tough, I’m breathing a sigh of relief that it’s over and I’ve got a free weekend coming up!”

The squaddie has now returned to her post at Frimley Park, but said she had not given up her modelling dreams just yet.

“I’m enjoying my career with the army but I would definitely like to do a bit more modelling part-time,” she said.

“I think I’ve got what it takes - they’re looking for confidence, personality and charm as well as looks.”