BY REON CARTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
To bare the tummy or not to bare the tummy?
That was the nagging question facing last year's Miss America contestants who had to decide whether to don a one- or two-piece suit for the swimsuit competition.
In an effort to shed the cookie-cutter beauty queen image, Miss America organizers have added another dilemma disguised as an opportunity for self expression: What to wear during the opening number?
The Miss America Pageant, which airs from Atlantic City, N.J. at 9 p.m. Saturday on Channels 9, 2, will be hosted by Boomer Esiason, former Bengals quarterback turned Monday Night Football sportscaster, and Meredith Vieira, moderator of ABC's The View.
For the first time, contestants will wear outfits of their choosing for the show's opening production number rather than costumes selected by the show's producers.
"We have always encouraged the contestants to compete as the individuals they are, and this year's show features that individuality center stage," says Leonard Horn, pageant executive producer and CEO. In another first, the show will feature brief personal videos of all 51 contestants. These segments, taped in each contestant's hometown, will air throughout the program.
Contestants representing the Tristate are:
Miss Ohio, Cheya Watkins, 21, of Evendale. The 1995 graduate of Princeton High School is the daughter of Preston and Renee Watkins. She hopes to obtain a master's degree in computer science and eventually own a management information systems firm.
She has worked as an administrative assistant in the advertising department at Procter & Gamble. She's also a member of P&G's Volunteer Support System and 1,000 Hands community project.
Her pageant platform issue: mentoring.
Talent: She will sing a gospel medley.
Miss Kentucky, Chera-Lyn Cook, 21, of London. The 1998 Eastern Kentucky University honors graduate earned a bachelor's degree in psychology. She's the daughter of David and Gail Cook. She plans to obtain a doctorate in psychology and open a family counseling practice.
She's the academic supervisor of education for the Richmond Live and Learn Center. She also is assistant chair for Children's Miracle Network Telethon.
Pageant platform: Children's Miracle Network.
Talent: pop vocal performance.
Miss Indiana, Julianne Marie Hackney, 20, of Vincennes. The Butler University junior is majoring in sociology and criminal justice. She's the daughter of Gary and Linda Hackney. She's worked as an administrative assistant and intake counselor for Knox County Drug and Alcohol Referral Program. In addition to drug prevention counseling, she plans to pursue a juvenile law career and motivational speaking.
Platform: youth motivation.
Talent: Pop vocal performance.
There are two panels of judges for the competition, which begins tonight with preliminaries. Contestants are separated into three groups and compete on a rotating basis over three nights in swimsuit, talent, evening gown and interview.
From the preliminaries, 10 semifinalists will be announced during the nationally televised finals Saturday night.
Scores from the preliminaries will count for 40 percent of the contestants' overall scores. To determine the new Miss America, these scores will be added to the finals scores -- talent (20 percent), evening gown (15 percent), swimsuit (15 percent) and interview (10 percent) -- which will be provided by a panel of celebrity judges.
