‘Combat Barbie’ gives Miss England swimsuit round its marching orders

For the first time since it was founded more than 50 years ago, the Miss England competition will not include a swimwear round.

Instead, entrants to this year's event must take part in a sports challenge.

The driving force behind this change is last year's winner, an Army drill master dubbed "Combat Barbie".

Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge, 22, who represented England at the Miss World event in South Africa, is used to physically demanding work.

The soldier from Tunbridge Wells received a commendation for disarming an Iraqi prisoner with her bare hands while on a tour of duty.

Now she and the Miss England organisers have decided the swimwear section must go.

L/Cpl Hodge will put this year's competition recruits through their paces in the new sports round as drill master.

She said: "I think it's nerve-wracking enough for girls to get up on a stage and speak, let alone appear in a swimsuit. It's good the girls are being given a sports challenge in this year's competition."

Miss England national organiser Angie Beasley said: "Every year the girls take part in the various rounds of Miss England — we have a talent, charity, eco and now the sports round, which will replace the swimwear in the competition."

The Miss London City auditions are next Saturday and Sunday at Studio Valbonne in Kingly Street, Soho.

The winners qualify for the finals.