By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

Kassidy Knowles' pursuit of the crown of National American Miss isn't about fame or beauty.

It's not about becoming the next Katie Couric.

It's about being a good role model for younger girls in the competition.

Knowles was named National American Miss Kansas in August and will compete for the national title in November in Anaheim, Calif.

"It basically reinforces girls that are the all-American girl as opposed to Miss USA, which is beauty, swimsuit and all that," Knowles said.

Knowles, a Fort Hays State University sophomore, has been competing in pageants since elementary school. However, not all pageants were right for her.

"My mom put me in one of those Jon Benet pageants, and my mom absolutely hated it," Knowles said. "We found out about this organization and ... my sister and I have been doing this for a few years now."

Knowles competes in the Miss division for women ages 19 and 20. The scores of the competitions are based on evening gown, interview, personal introduction and community service.

"They don't make us do anything," Knowles said in regards to the community service. "We do it all on our own. ... I do a lot of stuff with the Red Cross. I donated books and bears to the hospital."

Along with the required categories of the competition, there are four optional contests. Knowles won the spokesmodel and actress contests, though they did not affect her final score.

Knowles said her pageant experience has helped her on-air endeavor. Knowles is in her second year as an anchor for KFHS-TV, the FHSU television station.

"I had never done anything with anchoring or even done anything with news, but politics in the news has been a big thing since I was little," Knowles said. "My parents always said I was going to be an anchor on the news. So when I tried out for it, I kind of used my pageant experience."

Knowles said she and her mom joke about many pageant girls, saying they want to be the next Katie Couric. And while it might seem she's on that path, she wants to do it for herself, not just to be on TV.

"I don't think they really understand how hard it is," Knowles said. "I think they just really want to be on TV.

"For me, I like the news aspect and the TV just comes with it."

She said the TV experience also has helped with her composure on stage during the pageants.

This is her last year to compete in National American Miss, but she could go on to do such pageants as Miss America.

"If I want to do Miss America I can, but I'm really not into the swimsuit, I'm kind of against it," Knowles said. "I've won before, and I've been doing it for a while, so it's a good way to end."

Knowles is looking for sponsors for her trip to California at the end of November. More information can be obtained by e-mailing Knowles at miss kansas08@yahoo.com or visiting www.myspace.com/ kassidyknowles.

"It's been a really eye-opening experience," Knowles said. "It's a really humbling experience because you have to make sure you're a good role model, and it keeps you a good person -- which is what I've always strived to be."