Katrina Hodge, centre, is now Miss England after Rachel Christie, right, lost her crown after being involved in a brawl with Miss Manchester Sara Beverley Jones, left, in a nightclubA statement from Miss England organisers said Miss Christie, 21, had stepped down as she wanted to concentrate on clearing her name.
It was later announced that L/Cpl Hodge, who was first runner-up in the 2009 national contest, has become the new Miss England.
She has been decorated for remaining calm under fire.
So Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge is the perfect choice to take on the embattled Miss England crown.
The 22-year-old soldier - nicknamed Combat Barbie - was handed the title after her predecessor Rachel Christie was forced to give it up following a nightclub brawl.
Lance Corporal Hodge, who has been decorated for her time in Iraq with the Royal Anglian Regiment, came runner-up to Miss Christie, niece of Olympic sprinter Linford Christie.
She will now represent the country in next month's Miss World contest in South Africa.
Miss Christie, 21, was accused of punching beauty queen Sara Beverley Jones in the face following a row over her boyfriend.
Trouble apparently flared after 24-year-old Miss Jones - the current Miss Manchester - showed Miss Christie an intimate text message, which she claimed had been sent by Miss Christie's boyfriend, David McIntosh.
Mr McIntosh - better known as Tornado on the TV's Gladiators - had previously dated Miss Jones.
After reading the message, Miss Christie, an athlete who hopes to compete in the heptathlon in the 2012 Games, is alleged to have 'flipped' and hit Miss Jones 'several times'.
Following the incident at Manchester's Mansion club, Miss Jones was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Miss Christie's spokesman said of the incident, which took place at around 1am on Monday: 'She can't go through to Miss World with this hanging over her. She is devastated by what has been alleged but we are supporting her.'
Miss Christie - the first black woman to be crowned Miss England - pledged to be a role model when she won the title last July.
She said at the time: 'My main focus in winning Miss England is to show black kids that they can be whatever they want to be.
'If they sit moaning and being negative, they won't get on.'
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