Miss England runner-up given crown

LONDON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The runner-up in this year's Miss England pageant, Lance Cpl. Katrina Hodge, has replaced winner Rachel Christie after an alleged barroom brawl, organizers say.

Christie, 21, gave up her crown following the alleged run-in with another beauty queen this week at a nightclub in Manchester, England, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

The encounter between Christie and Miss Manchester Sara Beverley Jones allegedly resulted in Jones being punched in the face. Christie was arrested on suspicion of assault.

Christie, the first black woman to be named Miss England, stepped down to focus on clearing her name, pageant organizers said in a release. Stepping down will also give Christie, a heptathlete, time to prepare for her participation in the 2012 Olympics, organizers said.

"Due to the media attention following the allegations against her, Rachel Christie has now decided to withdraw from the Miss World competition and relinquish her Miss England crown," the organizers said.

The Telegraph said Hodge will now represent England in the Miss World Final Dec. 12 in South Africa. The British army soldier has been given leave of her military duties to focus on the pageant.