ianstone
10-01-2010, 03:00 PM
Combat Barbie goes back to the Army
The outgoing Miss England, nicknamed Combat Barbie, is donning her uniform again and returning to the Army after a year out as a beauty queen.
Published: 7:30AM BST 30 Sep 2010
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01728/hodge_1728161c.jpg Lance Corporal Hodge is heading back to the front line after a year as a beauty queen Photo: EDDIE MULHOLAND
Katrina Hodge, 23, is going back to work as a corporal after handing over the Miss England crown to new winner Jessica Linley.
But Miss Hodge, who recently married her soldier partner, said she had always planned to return, despite enjoying the past year of glitz and glamour on the international stage.
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Miss Hodge, who won a bravery award in 2005 while serving in Iraq with the Royal Anglian Regiment, said: "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. 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.''
While the former Miss England gets to grips with life in the Army again, her successor, Nottingham law student Miss Linley, is jetting off to China for the month-long Miss World event.
The 21-year-old, who hopes to become a solicitor one day, has taken a year out from her studies to be Miss England and compete in Miss World.
She will take part in rounds including: the talent round; the sportswoman round; a touch fitness round; the beauty-with-a-purpose round and the beachwear round.
Her predecessor said she had been helping Miss Linley prepare for her trip, offering her own hints and tips.
''I've been helping her prepare for the Miss World contest this week during my last week off before returning to the Army on Thursday,'' she said.
''I've just been helping her out with the outfits, what to do in the interview round, her talent round – just putting her mind at rest because it's quite nerve-racking.
''Jessica is a really beautiful girl and intelligent too, and she's got all the qualities it takes to be Miss World. I think she could bring the crown back.''
She said she hoped Miss Linley would continue her legacy of changing opinions of the beauty pageant – Hodge got rid of the bikini round during her time as Miss England.
''It was really important to me when I handed over the crown that Miss England was someone who would carry on with the legacy,'' she said.
''It's not about being the most beautiful girl in England, it's about being an ambassador.
''You're never going to win over the whole of the British public but hopefully we can raise the awareness of the other things involved like charity work.''
She said part of raising that awareness could involve seeing the contest back on mainstream TV. This year, Miss England was shown on The Active Channel – the first time on TV after 22 years.
''It would be nice to see it like X Factor, where people actually get involved and vote,'' she added.
''When someone is crowned Miss England everyone has an opinion, so it would be nice if they could get involved in choosing that person.''
The outgoing Miss England, nicknamed Combat Barbie, is donning her uniform again and returning to the Army after a year out as a beauty queen.
Published: 7:30AM BST 30 Sep 2010
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01728/hodge_1728161c.jpg Lance Corporal Hodge is heading back to the front line after a year as a beauty queen Photo: EDDIE MULHOLAND
Katrina Hodge, 23, is going back to work as a corporal after handing over the Miss England crown to new winner Jessica Linley.
But Miss Hodge, who recently married her soldier partner, said she had always planned to return, despite enjoying the past year of glitz and glamour on the international stage.
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Miss Hodge, who won a bravery award in 2005 while serving in Iraq with the Royal Anglian Regiment, said: "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. 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.''
While the former Miss England gets to grips with life in the Army again, her successor, Nottingham law student Miss Linley, is jetting off to China for the month-long Miss World event.
The 21-year-old, who hopes to become a solicitor one day, has taken a year out from her studies to be Miss England and compete in Miss World.
She will take part in rounds including: the talent round; the sportswoman round; a touch fitness round; the beauty-with-a-purpose round and the beachwear round.
Her predecessor said she had been helping Miss Linley prepare for her trip, offering her own hints and tips.
''I've been helping her prepare for the Miss World contest this week during my last week off before returning to the Army on Thursday,'' she said.
''I've just been helping her out with the outfits, what to do in the interview round, her talent round – just putting her mind at rest because it's quite nerve-racking.
''Jessica is a really beautiful girl and intelligent too, and she's got all the qualities it takes to be Miss World. I think she could bring the crown back.''
She said she hoped Miss Linley would continue her legacy of changing opinions of the beauty pageant – Hodge got rid of the bikini round during her time as Miss England.
''It was really important to me when I handed over the crown that Miss England was someone who would carry on with the legacy,'' she said.
''It's not about being the most beautiful girl in England, it's about being an ambassador.
''You're never going to win over the whole of the British public but hopefully we can raise the awareness of the other things involved like charity work.''
She said part of raising that awareness could involve seeing the contest back on mainstream TV. This year, Miss England was shown on The Active Channel – the first time on TV after 22 years.
''It would be nice to see it like X Factor, where people actually get involved and vote,'' she added.
''When someone is crowned Miss England everyone has an opinion, so it would be nice if they could get involved in choosing that person.''