Some people sometimes find themselves watching half-naked women bounce around in cliff-hanging heels for an evening. That's what happens when you're Billy Zane, at least. Zane is best known as the very bad guy in the movie Titanic, but he's also a Broadway actor.

He was in town for a few meetings Sunday. After hearing about Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim, he ended up in the front row at the Pistol Panties show. He could have done worse.

''If I can pick one night to be in Miami, bikini fashion night is probably the night you want,'' said Zane, he of shaved head, deep purple suit, handsome brow and kind disposition.

``I'm thrilled.''

This year, the swimwear fashion shows were all about swimwear. That's because almost no celebrities showed up, other than Dennis Rodman, who put in a brief appearance, and model Cindy Taylor, who put in an extended one.

So Zane's arrival caused quite a stir. After Pistol Panties' gem-laden swimsuit run, Zane was hustled into the next show, Luli Fama. The show was already under way, but organizers managed to find a seat for him, front-and-center.

Zane turned a critical eye to the runway.

''I think it's smoking,'' he pronounced a black-and-white number. ''It looks like something out of Thunderball -- really classic,'' he said, referring to an early James Bond movie.

A few colorful paisley prints sauntered by. Then came the mixed solids. One of those caught Zane's fancy.

''I like it because it's simple,'' he volunteered. ``I mean, it's blue and orange -- my favorite colors!''

We thought it fair by that time to find out what he thought of the models themselves. He paused.

``They're healthy, you know?''

-- KATHRYN WEXLER

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