'Dancing' host Samantha Harris picks top contender

[February 14, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The new season of "Dancing With the Stars" hasn't even begun, but host Samantha Harris already has an idea who could be a top contender.

Harris has her eye on Olympic gold-medal gymnast Shawn Johnson, who's among the 13 celebrities vying for the mirror-ball trophy when the ABC dance competition returns March 9.

Olympians have a good track record on the show, with past "Dancing" champs like figures skater Kristi Yamaguchi and speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno.

"As we saw with Kristi, that Olympian mentality translates very well to the competitive sport of ballroom dance. ... I'm sure Shawn will be a front-runner, but I'm sure the judges will also be very hard on her right out of the gate," Harris said Friday, before walking the runway at the Heart Truth fashion show during New York Fashion Week.

Harris joined 19 other celebs - among them, "Dancing" alums Yamaguchi and Vivica A. Fox - to strut the catwalk for the annual event in which stars wear red dresses created for them by famous designers. Heart Truth is a campaign to raise awareness about heart disease in women.

A smiling Harris stepped out in a one-shoulder gown by David Meister, receiving generous applause from actor Gerard Butler sitting in the front row.

"She looked amazing and her dress was out of this world.She was having a great time. That's the other thing. It's amazing: the ones that look relaxed and like they're having fun, have much more (fun)," Butler said after the show.

[Associated Press; By ERIN CARLSON]

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