Soldier-turned-beauty queen who was once commended for punching an Iraqi insurgent in the face claims competing in Miss Great Britain after becoming a mother is scarier than war

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A soldier-turned-beauty queen commended for punching an Iraqi insurgent in the face has claimed the prospect of competing in the upcoming Miss Great Britain competition after becoming a mother is much scarier.

Katrina Hodge, 33, who now lives in Brighton, earned the nickname 'Combat Barbie' after being crowned Miss England whilst serving as a soldier.

But 11 years - and two children - later, despite her beauty pageant titles, she admits even she dodges appearing in photos with her daughters, or uploading snaps to Facebook.

She said since becoming a mother her confidence has been knocked and she constantly compares herself to photos from her Miss England days.

Katrina Hodge, 33, who now lives in Brighton, claims the prospect of competing in the upcoming Miss Great Britain competition after becoming a mother is much scarier than war

Katrina earned the nickname 'Combat Barbie' after being crowned Miss England whilst serving as a soldier (pictured)

And in a bid to shake off her hang ups and inspire other mums, she's preparing to compete for the Miss Great Britain competition next year.

But she said doing it as a mother - and a decade after her last time on stage - is scarier for her than being a soldier in the British Army.

Katrina, who now works for a bank in financial services, said: 'It is massively scary, I am feeling nervous about going back on stage.

'In the Army, I was trained to fight as a solider in Afghanistan and Iraq. I never felt scared or brave as I was just doing my job.

'But getting on stage in heels - that is brave. Putting yourself out there for people to judge you is scary and I think women who can do that are incredibly brave.

Katrina, pictured competing in a beauty contest in her twenties. She is preparing to do it again after becoming a mother - a decade after her last time on stage

Despite her beauty pageant titles (pictured in the bikini round in a previous beauty contest), Katrina admits now even she dodges appearing in photos with her daughters, or uploading snaps to Facebook. Katrina successfully campaigned to have the bikini round removed from the Miss England competition after believing winners should be judged less on looks and who they are as a person and a role model

While in the Army Katrina saved the lives of five comrades when she disarmed an Iraqi insurgent, punching the rebel in the face after he lunged at their vehicle holding two rifles. Keen to promote the Armed Forces as a career choice for women, Katrina competed in the Miss England beauty pageant (pictured) and was crowned the winner in 2009

'It's been over 10 years since I was crowned Miss England. In that time, I've left the Army so have been doing less fitness and I've had two children.

'I feel like I'm constantly competing with my former self. I've definitely punished myself before when friends introduce me as a former Miss England as I don't look like I did then.

'I'll never be a size 6 again but I want to compete to find myself again and show other women that it's OK to not look like you did when you were younger.'

Katrina joined the Army as a teenager on a dare after being labelled 'too girly' to become a soldier and was deployed to Iraq two days after her 18th birthday in 2005.

Incredibly, Katrina saved the lives of five comrades when she disarmed an Iraqi insurgent, punching the rebel in the face after he lunged at their vehicle holding two rifles.

Katrina went on to model for brands whilst still serving in the military before she left the forces in 2015 to pursue a career in the financial services

Katrina has since welcomed two daughters - Phoenix, eight, and Eden, six - and has struggled to accept how her appearance has changed over the past decade (pictured in her beauty queen heyday)

She was commended for bravery upon her return to the UK by her commanding officer and was promoted to lance corporal.

Keen to promote the Armed Forces as a career choice for women, Katrina competed in the Miss England beauty pageant and was crowned the winner in 2009.

She went on to model for La Senza whilst still serving in the military before she left the forces in 2015 to pursue a career in the financial services.

Katrina has since welcomed two daughters - Phoenix, eight, and Eden, six - and has struggled to accept how her appearance has changed over the past decade.

She said: 'For a long time, I have been mentally competing with my former self - I have hated myself and who I've become.

Katrina has always been an advocate for body positivity, making it her mission as Miss England to change the way the beauty pageants were judged

Katrina described herself these days as a 'mum in a hoodie with her hair scraped back most days'

'Women in their 30s and 40s should stop comparing themselves to their younger self, which in truth is something I've done for a long time.

'I'm sure nobody else has noticed but I rarely post pictures of myself. This is because I've become embarrassed of the person I am now - which is madness!

'I should be present in pictures with my daughters, because they don't care what I look like, but sadly too often I'm not.

'I'm a mum in a hoodie with her hair scraped back most days and I have lost myself a bit along the journey that is motherhood.'

Katrina has always been an advocate for body positivity, making it her mission as Miss England to change the way the beauty pageants were judged.

She successfully campaigned to have the bikini round removed from the Miss England competition after believing winners should be judged less on looks and who they are as a person and a role model.

The mother-of-two said she has 'lost herself a bit along the journey that is motherhood' and is keen to get her confidence back

Eleven years after being crowned Miss England, Katrina is now taking to the stage again to compete for Miss Great Britain next year to encourage body positivity for older women.

Katrina said: '2020 has very much taught me that you shouldn't give a damn what anyone thinks of you, or your life choices. People are always going to talk, so you may as well give them something to talk about!

'I was laughed at when I said I was joining the Army, I was laughed at when I was a soldier and said I wanted to be Miss England and I'm sure many people will laugh at my decision to do Ms Great Britain. But guess what - I don't care!

'I think it's incredible that a competition has opened up to celebrate women of all ages, backgrounds, dress sizes and everything in between. I cannot wait to meet all the other ladies and have a whale of a time once more.

Katrina said she can't wait to walk on stage again and feel the 'unreal buzz' of competing in the beauty contest. She added: 'More than anything, I want to show that women my age don't need to try to regain who they were in their early twenties'

'I need a focus to stop eating pizza and cake and I need a goal with an end date. It's time to get rid of "Dave" my double chin.

'Ms Great Britain is the perfect opportunity to work towards a goal, getting to a point physically and mentally where I am proud, confident and unapologetically myself.

'I'm doing this so I can find "Kat" again as I think I've lost myself a bit. Win or lose, I can't wait for that moment when you walk on stage - the buzz is unreal and like no other!

'I am so far from the glamorous queen I once was - I hardly wear make-up or even do my hair and I live in leggings and hoodies. I just want to feel fabulous and like me again!

'More than anything, I want to show that women my age don't need to try to regain who they were in their early twenties, which is why this competition is so fabulous - we can be proud of ourselves and the journeys we have been on.

'I'm not in my twenties anymore, I've had two kids, I'm covered in stretch marks, but I am me and know that I have a lot more to offer than just how I look.

'I joke that most of my body might have gone south but my heart is still in the same place and I know I can give this my all!'