Reporter to `Compete` for Miss Am

What's it like to walk the Miss America runway? Perform a talent routine? Wave to fans from the Boardwalk Hall stage?

Only former contestants know for sure. But this year, a journalist will find out.

Olivia Barker, a reporter for USA Today, will take part in two nights of preliminary competition leading up to the Miss America Pageant. She'll appear in the talent and evening wear competition, introduced as a representative of the newspaper, but not in the swimsuit competition.

Her talent: a dramatic monologue.

Barker, who is in her 20s, will be interviewed by judges _ like the other 51 contestants _ but will not appear onstage or compete for the title in the nationally televised Miss America Pageant, which airs Sept. 21 on ABC.

She'll have a separate dressing room from the contestants, according to George Bauer, acting chief executive officer of the Miss America Organization.

Bauer said the pageant hopes to shed light on its judging process.

"This is not a spoof. This is not a gimmick. This is not a trick on the public," he said. "She's not reporting on the contestants, she's merely reporting and writing on her experience. She's not taking away from the contestants."

The decision surprised Miss America 2000 Heather French Henry.

"Why are they letting her up there?" she said. "I'm not one to pass judgment, but I don't know why they're doing it. I just hope it doesn't take away from the scoring of anyone else."

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Author: 6 ABC-AP