“In an interview credited to a freelance contributor on Monday, this column quoted Miss USA Rachel Smith “dissing” Katie Couric during a red carpet interview. The Miss Universe organization later complained that her comment was taken out of context. After reviewing the taped interview I agree that Miss Smith used the word “credibility” in a context that could have been misinterpreted by the journalist. A pageant rep tells us: “Rachel is a huge fan of Katie Couric and would love nothing more than to have a career such as hers.”"

In case you couldn’t make any sense of that gobbledegook, here is Miss Smith’s version of what she told the Daily News reporter, essentially confirmed by the News:

“I was stopped by many journalists, one which included a young woman from the New York Daily News. Her questions covered a wide spectrum of material, but I was eagerly willing to supply her with material for her piece. One of her questions was something along the lines of, “What would you like to do after Miss USA?” My answer to her was something like this, “I have aspirations of pursuing journalism after my reign as Miss USA. I would like to do a little more entertainment-oriented, lighter news, unlike the news Katie Couric does, because I would like to still have the opportunity to do modeling jobs and endorsement opportunities. My credibility would be at risk if I tried to do those things while delivering hard news.”

In no way, shape or form was my comment a “diss” to Katie Couric. To the contrary, I am actually a HUGE fan of Ms. Couric’s, and I would love nothing more than to replicate a successful journalism career like hers.”

Now that your crowned the Misses of the US of A takin time out of your busy roca wear prancin and dancin to news report is SUCH a great contribution.. ho sit…