Miss England Katrina Hodge wants to serve in Afghanistan

Katrina Hodge, a soldier in the British army and the recently crowned Miss England, hopes to serve in Afghanistan someday, alongside her colleagues.

Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge, 22, called "Combat Barbie" by her Army colleagues, has already served in the war-torn Iraq and wants to be in the fore of action in Afghanistan after her reign as Miss England ends in July 2010.

Taking about Remembrance Sunday she said she thought of "everybody involved" in the Afghanistan conflict as she observed the two-minute silence.

"People just do not appreciate the Army enough," Sky News quoted Hodge, as saying.

Hodge, who serves with the Royal Anglian Regiment, said her looks did not matter when she was working for the Armed Forces.

She explained: "We are taught in training that we are first and foremost a soldier.

"When I am a soldier I have my hair scraped back and no make-up.

"I hope it bodes well that I am seen as a more natural beauty. Me having one day to get ready for this role shows that," she added.

Hodge, who has earlier worked with lingerie chain La Senza on its Face of the Armed Forces campaign, is now all set to compete for the Miss World 2009 crown.