Miss Tunbridge Wells, a serving soldier in the British Army, is hoping to be crowned Miss England tonight.

Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge, who was entered in the Miss Tunbridge Wells contest by a friend, thinks her Army experience may give her an edge over her rivals.

She said: “I think it’s the difference, the total flip side of being a beauty queen and being a soldier makes me stand out for being different.”

The 21-year-old has already won a commendation for bravery during a tour in Iraq.

Serving with the 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, in Basra, in 2005, she wrestled two rifles from an Iraqi prisoner, saving the lives of her colleagues.

She is aware that her lack of experience in the modelling and beauty queen world could also be a disadvantage.

Should she win the title, L Cpl Hodge said she would use it to raise awareness of soldiers and their charities