The Top Model Castings were awesome, Potomac Mills and Pentagon City were filled with beautiful Top Model hopefuls. Check back on www.dc50tv.com on Monday to vote for your favorite DC model.

All my best,

Paul Wharton

The casting at Potomac Mills was a huge success. You still have a shot! Pentagon City Mall 10am-2pm. Arrive early and look fabulous!

I’ll see you on the runway…

Paul Wharton xx

Get ready to have your time on the runway. If you have what it takes to be America’s Next Top Model, come out this afternoon from 3-7pm at Potomac Mills Mall or tomorrow @ Pentagon City Mall from 10am-2pm.

I look forward to seeing you all there!

Paul Wharton xx

If you think you have what it takes, join us this Friday at Potomac Mills Mall and Saturday at Pentagon City Mall. To get full rules and details go to www.dc50tv.com.

I’m your judge and I can’t wait to see you all of your fabulous faces!

xxoo

Paul Wharton

The question of whether Michael Jackson had a valid will at the time of his death just got a little more complicated.

Yesterday, parents Joe and Katherine Jackson sought control of Michael’s estate, claiming in court documents that the King of Pop died without a will. Hours later, one drafted in 2002 surfaced.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the document—which will no doubt be the centerpiece of a lengthy and ferocious legal battle in months to come—divides the superstar’s estate among his mother, his three children (Prince Michael, Paris and Prince Michael II) and at least one charity.

It’s unclear what custody arrangements, if any, Jackson made for his three children. But a court ruling yesterday gave temporary guardianship to Katherine.

At least one aspect of the will does appear to be clear: Joe Jackson wasn’t named as an heir.

The will, drafted by Jackson’s longtime attorney John Branca, may be filed in probate court as early as Thursday.

So far, the family is mum on the document.

“No will has been presented to family or us,” Joe and Katherine’s lawyer, L. Londell McMillan, told the Journal. “We will review any will when we see it.”

Branca represented the singer from 1980 to 2006, and was rehired by Jackson just one week before his sudden death. Branca and music exec John McClain, a longtime friend of Jackson, are named as executors.

According to the Journal, while the pop icon died with roughly $500 million in debt, his assets are believed to dwarf that staggering figure by $200 million.

However, a report of Jackson’s finances prepared by Washington D.C.-based accounting firm Thompson, Cobb, Bazilio & Associatesin March 2007 claimed that the pop star had $567.6 million in assets, and a net worth of $236 million.

The five-page report said Jackson’s debts totaled $331 million and made the star out to be relatively strapped for actual funds, claiming he had just $668,215 in cash.

Among his more prized assets, meanwhile, are a 50 percent stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which includes the bulk of the Beatles’ canon, as well as those of Lady Gaga, the Jonas Brothers, Bob Dylan and Neil Diamond, and Mijac, which controls Jackson’s song rights.

As Liza said the other day, “All hell is about to break loose”. I believe her. A family friend said close relatives felt confused and ­upset by the lack of information as a bitter billion-dollar court ­battle over the star’s children and assets erupted.

The source warned a ­“legion of creeps” will crawl from the woodwork making claims on what’s left after his creditors have slugged it out over debts, estimated at $500million.

Last night it emerged the family, who were not close to the eccentric superstar, had called for a second and independent autopsy and were demanding answers from Dr Conrad ­Murray, Jackson’s personal physician, who was with him when he died.

They were particularly keen to find out whether the financially troubled cardiologist was appointed by AEG, the company promoting Jackson’s controversial ­comeback concerts which were due to start in London’s O2 arena next month.

In a day of furious ­speculation following the shock death, British doctors claimed they could have saved the singer, Los Angeles police revealed they want to question a second private doctor, and doubts were cast over whether Jackson had left a will.

His sister Janet arrived at his rented Holmby Hills home in a Bentley after ­a fleet of removal vans. Wearing dark glasses, she went directly into the property.

Meanwhile as Debbie Rowe, the star’s ex wife and mother to two of his children, vowed to fight for ­custody of son Prince Michael I, 12, and daughter Paris, 11, the Jackson family said the children wanted to remain with his parents, Katherine and Joe, both 79. Jackson’s youngest child, Prince Michael II, whose surrogate mother has never been named, also wants to stay at the family home in Encino, LA.

The older children have no relationship with Rowe, who signed over parental rights for a $4.2million payout a decade ago.

Why step back in now? For more money? It’s all so sad.

Paul Wharton xx

One of the most memorable pop culture figures from my childhood, Michael Jackson has been said to have died this afternoon in Los Angeles. Michael Jackson has been rushed to the hospital, a fire department official told the Los Angeles Times. Capt. Steve Ruda said Thursday that Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m.

The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper.

L. Londell McMillan, a lawyer for Jackson, did not have any information. Messages left for other Jackson associates were not immediately returned.

The hospitalization was first reported by the Web site TMZ, which is reporting that Jackson has died.

The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Center, which is near Jackson’s rented home, was roped off Thursday with police tape.

News trucks were gathered, helicopters flew overhead, and orange cones were laid out to redirect traffic.

“We have no statements as far as transporting Michael Jackson,” Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Devin Gales said.

Soul Day Spa in Bowie Town Center is officially open for business. As you all know, I had the pleasure of hosting the grand opening last Friday. Nicole, Gennifer and the Soul Day Spa staff showed up looking positively flawless and ready to take on the challenge of making this new business a success. As the owner Nicole said during the event “this is your business… I had the vision but this place was created for women in our community as a refuge. A safe, beautiful place where they can look and feel fabulous.”

I’d like to thank my friends Jamie Foster Brown from Sister 2 Sister Magazine, Author Zane, my publicist Charlotte Reid, Angel Elliott from BET, Michelle Wright from WPGC 95.5 and XM and several others for coming out to support me and this fabulous new venture.

Cheers,

Paul Wharton

Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault on pop star Rihanna. Brown entered his plea before a preliminary hearing was scheduled to start in Los Angeles on Monday. Rihanna had been on standby to testify.

Brown will be sentenced on Aug. 5, but the terms of the plea deal call for him to serve five years of formal probation and six months — roughly 1,400 hours — of community labor. Brown will be able to complete his probation in his home state of Virginia; he will have to do either graffiti removal or roadside cleanup for his service.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said the terms were in line with what others receive when they’re charged with similar crimes and who have no prior criminal history.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg also ordered the singer to stay away from Rihanna.

After Brown entered his plea and left the courtroom, Rihanna entered and was addressed by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg, who explained to the Barbados-born singer that she had issued a stay-away order.

Rihanna, 21, had not been seeking a stay-away order, but the judge imposed one. The order requires that Brown and Rihanna stay at least 50 yards from each, except at industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards.

The judge also told Rihanna it’s not a one-way order and she will be in violation if she gets closer to Brown than the order allows

Last weekend my friend George Chopivsky married his beautiful bride, my friend Clara Brillembourg at her family’s home in Easton, Maryland. This Midsummer Night’s Dream wedding was the most spectacular and glamorous event I’ve ever been to in my life. The bride was gracious, thoughtful, loving and stunningly gorgeous. The groom held back his tears during the heart wrenching ceremony.

(George and Clara share a tender embrace, left. The stunning reception tent, right).

I sat next to the Colombian Ambassador, we held each other and shed a few tears as the couple read their vows. The guests sipped on Veuve Cliquot and munched on freshly made sushi at the sushi bar and plump juicy shrimp and mussels at the raw bar.

Finally, we were all ushered into the reception tent… Nothing could’ve prepared us for the fabulousness that awaited us. Words cannot describe the glamour. But maybe these pictures will give you a little idea.

(Grace, Trishia and others enjoy the cocktail hour to the left. Charles Rockefeller and I enjoy a cocktail in the reception tent, right).

I’d like to wish the happy couple all the love and luck their hearts can hold. And for the rest of us, there’s hope. Treat yourself well and never stop dreaming, wishing and hoping for a better life. For a better tomorrow.

With Love,

Paul Wharton xx