Athletes, actors see 'dancing' stars

NEW YORK, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Three U.S. athletes, a minefield cleanup activist and a former boy band member will compete in this year's "Dancing with the Stars."

The fourth season of "Dancing with the Stars" premieres Monday March 19. It is hosted by Tom Bergeron of "America's Funniest Home Videos" and Samantha Harris from "E! Entertainment."

This year's competitors are Laila Ali, undefeated world champion female boxer and youngest daughter of sports icon Muhammad Ali; Billy Ray Cyrus, singer-songwriter-actor and star of Disney Channel's hit series "Hannah Montana; Clyde Drexler, a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team; Joey Fatone, musician-actor-star and a member boy band *NSYNC; and Shandi Finnessey, Miss USA 2004.

The other celebrity contestants include Leeza Gibbons, host of radio's "Hollywood Confidential;" Heather Mills, activist for Adopt-a-Minefield, animal rights advocate and separated wife of Beatles' Paul McCartney, the first contestant to compete with an artificial limb; Apolo Anton Ohno, two-time Olympic gold medal winner; Vincent Pastore, star of movies such as "Goodfellas" and "Revolver" and TV shows such as "The Sopranos;" Paulina Porizkova, supermodel and former "face" of Estee Lauder; and Ian Ziering, a former "Beverly Hills 90210" resident.