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KANYE WEST’s on/off girlfriend AMBER ROSE has received a career boost since posing with the rapper in a racy ad for his new sneaker line - she’s signed up to a top international modelling agency.
The music video star stripped off for a naked photoshoot with West in April (09) to promote his new shoe line with the high-end designer label Louis Vuitton.
According to the New York Post, the 26 year old has landed a contract after the hip-hop mogul introduced her to a former Ford Models executive.
Rose announced on Globalgrind.com, "(This is) proof that when you work hard, good things do happen." Ford agents have previously helmed the careers of Christie Brinkley, Courteney Cox, Rachel Hunter, Carol Alt, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.

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MICHAEL JACKSON’s mother KATHERINE has lost her fight to keep control of her son’s estate during a busy court session in Los Angeles on the day before the King of Pop’s memorial.
The Jackson family matriarch was awarded temporary administration of her son’s estate a week ago (beg29Jun09), but a will naming the singer’s business associates John Branca and John McClain co-executors of his fortune has since been filed.
In the will, which the Jackson family reportedly knew nothing about, the late star has left his estate to a family trust and to selected charities.
Lawyer Branca, Jackson’s attorney L. Londell McMillan and legal teams representing alleged creditors of the King of Pop all gathered for a probate hearing at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles on Monday morning (06Jul09).
A member of McMillan’s team told the court that the Jackson family has "concerns about turning over the keys to the kingdom just yet".
But a Los Angeles probate judge has ruled that Michael Jackson’s 2002 will is valid and that, per the late star’s wishes, attorney Branca and veteran music executive McClain, are executors of his estate.
Lawyers for Jackson’s mother asked Judge Mitchell Beckloff to delay the decision, but the judge stated, "Someone needs to be at the helm of the ship." Beckloff told the court he felt Branca and McClain would act in the best interests of the estate and be best equipped to sort through various complicated legal and financial problems.
The next hearing in the probate case is set for 3 August (09).

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MICHAEL JACKSON’s ex-wife DEBBIE ROWE will attend the pop legend’s memorial service on Tuesday (07Jul09), according to his former business associate.
The former couple, who divorced in 1999, share two children, Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11. Jackson was also father to Prince Michael ‘Blanket’ II, seven, who was born to an unnamed surrogate mother.
Millions of Jackson fans are expected to flood the streets of Los Angeles for the special ceremony at the city’s Staples Center stadium to pay tribute to the icon, who died on 25 June (09) after suffering a cardiac arrest.
According to Jackson’s former colleague, Marc Schaffel, Rowe is confirmed for VIP seats at the memorial.
He tells U.S. TV programme Good Morning America, "Debbie will attend. We just got confirmation last night from the people who are handling the VIP seats that they do have Debbie’s seats and she will be attending." Jackson’s mother Katherine was granted temporary guardianship of her son’s three children last week (begs29Jun09). The singer nominated her as guardian in a will dating back to 2002.
A hearing on Monday (06Jul09) to determine a more longterm custody agreement has been postponed until next week (13Jul09) at the request of attorneys for Katherine Jackson and Rowe.

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MICHAEL JACKSON was determined to electrify the stage for his comeback concerts so his children could finally witness the legacy he was preparing to leave behind, according to R&B singer/producer AKON.
The King of Pop had two children with his ex-wife Debbie Rowe - Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11 - in addition to their younger brother, seven-year-old Prince ‘Blanket’ Michael II, who was delivered by an unknown surrogate.
Jackson was scheduled to begin his 50-date This Is It concert series at London’s O2 Arena later this month (Jul09). The star has already silenced critics suggesting he wasn’t fit to take the stage, appearing in good form in a recently released rehearsal video shot just two days before his sudden death on 25 June (09).
And Akon, who teamed up with Jackson for an unreleased record entitled Hold My Hand, remembers the singer confiding how he hoped the performances would connect his family.
He says, "He was excited for his new tour. He didn’t realise how much people were into him when he sold out those tour dates… This is something he really wanted to do for them (his kids). He really wanted them to experience what they’d been hearing about and thinking about forever. He wanted them to be able to see the performance first hand. He motivated me to become a better father." Jackson’s mother Katherine was granted temporary guardianship of all three children last week (begs29Jun09).
A hearing on Monday (06Jul09) to determine a more longterm custody agreement has been postponed until next week (13Jul09) at the request of attorneys for Katherine Jackson and Rowe.

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BEN STILLER showed his support for pal LANCE ARMSTRONG on Monday (06Jul09) when he dropped in on the cycling champ to offer words of encouragement ahead of the latest stage of the Tour de France.
The actor and his wife Christine Taylor befriended Armstrong when the athlete made a cameo appearance in their 2004 movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.
They have remained in contact ever since, and the Stillers travelled to Marseille in France over the weekend to cheer on Armstrong as he competed for his eighth Tour de France title.
Stiller was even treated to a trip on Armstrong’s Astana team bus as the cyclist discussed strategy plans with his colleagues ahead of the third stage of the competition.
And the funnyman was thrilled with his visit: "I’m a big Lance fan. It’s my first time on the Tour. It’s the real deal here. I’m very excited. I tried to give him some pointers, but I don’t think it was very helpful. He is incredible."

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LIONEL RICHIE reunited his soul supergroup THE COMMODORES at the Essence Music Festival on Sunday night (05Jul09).
Richie played a two-hour set on the final day of the three-day New Orleans, Louisiana event, and thrilled fans by bringing his Commodores pals to the stage for renditions of Brick House and Just To Be Close to You.
The reunion has been planned for some time, with Richie announcing earlier this year (09), "Before the end of the year, for sure, you’ll hear a rumble. I think now might be the proper time (to do this)." The current Commodores line-up has been billed to headline Pennsylvania’s MusicFest on 31 July (09) and fans hope that show will be a reunion, featuring Richie, Ron La Pread and Thomas McClary. The trio have been working together in Los Angeles.
The Commodores weren’t the only group to make a comeback at Essence - En Vogue marked their 20th anniversary with a comeback set on Sunday.
The female quartet - comprising of Dawn Robinson, Terry Ellis, Cindy Heron-Bragg and Maxine Jones - entertained the audience with their popular 1990s hits Free Your Mind, My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It) and Don’t Let Go.
And they used the opportunity to pay tribute to the late Michael Jackson, who died on 25 June (09).
Ellis told the crowd, "He’s the reason why we stand here together. He was the most phenomenal entertainer ever."

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MARIAH CAREY will sing the JACKSON 5’s I’LL BE THERE at MICHAEL JACKSON’s memorial in Los Angeles on Tuesday (07Jul09), according to reports.
The pop superstar enjoyed success with the Berry Gordy-penned tune after she performed the song as part of her MTV Unplugged show in 1992.
Fans are waiting to hear if they’ve been lucky enough to land tickets for the memorial at the Staples Center as WENN went to press. More celebrities, including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Justin Timberlake and Usher, are reportedly set to perform at the event.

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Hollywood hardman SYLVESTER STALLONE can bank on a busy few years - movie bosses are already planning to turn his upcoming movie THE EXPENDABLES into a franchise.
The action man has lined up an all-star cast, including martial arts star Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham and Eric Roberts, for the forthcoming film, which revolves around a group of mercenaries who set out to overthrow a South American dictator.
The movie has yet to even produce a trailer - but that’s not stopped Millennium Films’ studio executives from plotting sequels to the project.
Millennium Films’ Avi Lerner says, "Definitely. We already have got some ideas about Expendables number two, number three. Definitely, it’s a franchise movie."

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Hip-hop star MOS DEF saved the day at the Rock The Bells festival in Toronto, Canada on Sunday (05Jul09) when he stepped in at the last minute to replace absent rapper COMMON.
Go hitmaker Common was forced to bow out of a headline slot at the event due to a scheduling conflict with his latest movie shoot.
But organisers at promoters Guerilla Union were able to keep fans entertained by landing Mos Def at late notice, flying the star in from Switzerland, where he had just performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Speaking before Sunday’s concert, Chang Weisberg of Guerilla Union said, "We are genuinely humbled that Mos Def would fly in all the way from Europe on short notice to fill in for Common.
"Toronto hip-hop heads are in for a real treat. He’s out promoting his new album and we were blessed enough to have him make it here to Canada. We know he is excited to showcase his new material." Mos Def performed tracks from his new disc The Ecstatic, sharing the line-up with artists including OutKast’s Big Boi, Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, and Nas and Damian Marley, who showcased songs from their upcoming collaborative album Distant Relatives.

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Actress ANNA PAQUIN plans to return to school one day - because she regrets not graduating from college.
The True Blood star, 26, enrolled at Columbia University in New York after earning her high school diploma, but quit after just one year to focus on her acting career.
Paquin insists she will go back to Columbia to complete her higher education eventually - even though she has no plans to leave showbusiness.
She tells AOL Television, "I did a year (of college) right after high school, because I was curious to see if there was anything else that made me as passionate… and all it really did was clarify that I was exactly where I wanted to be (acting).
"It was great, and at some point I do intend to go back and finish. (But) this is definitely my arena of jobs - either writing or directing and producing. I love storytelling. It’s what I feel passionate about."

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Songwriter and AMERICAN IDOL judge KARA DIOGUARDI had a very special Independence Day weekend - she got married.
The hitmaker wed general contractor Mike McCuddy in Maine on Sunday (05Jul09).
DioGuardi wore a Vera Wang gown for the intimate ceremony, according to In Touch magazine.
McCuddy proposed to DioGuardi in December (08) and they exchanged vows at the United Methodist Church, which is located just across the street from her house, in front of about 30 guests.
The songwriter, 38, tells the publication, "I feel great. What was most unbelievable about the experience was when I looked out at the church and saw all these people that were so important to me and Mike, who were there for us. It was pretty powerful. I was very emotional and I’m not somebody who breaks down and cries."

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American football star STEVE MCNAIR’s death has been ruled a homicide by Tennessee police.
The body of the former Tennessee Titans quarterback, 36, was found with two gunshot wounds to the head and chest on Saturday afternoon (04Jul09) in a downtown Nashville condominium.
Police reports indicate a semi-automatic pistol was found under the body of the married father-of-four’s mistress of six months - 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi - who was shot once in the head.
Kazemi’s death has yet to be classified, according to Nashville Metropolitan Police Department officials.
McNair was a seasoned celebrated athlete, who in 2003 split the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award with fellow football star Peyton Manning. A public memorial to the sports star will be held in Whites Creek, Tennessee on Thursday (09Jul09).
Reports suggest the sports star’s wife knew nothing of his romance with Kazemi at the time of his death.

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Actor KAL PENN has started his job as U.S. President BARACK OBAMA’s liaison officer between the White House and Asian communities.
The former House star, a longtime Obama fan, quit his job on the medical drama at the beginning of 2009 to concentrate on his new administration post.
Penn, who also starred in stoner comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, officially became an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison on Monday (06Jul09).

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MARIAH CAREY, JENNIFER HUDSON, USHER, LIONEL RICHIE and SMOKEY ROBINSON have been confirmed as participants in Tuesday’s (07Jul09) MICHAEL JACKSON memorial in Los Angeles.
The Staples Center tribute will also feature performances and speeches from basketball stars Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Martin Luther King III, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder and the King of Pop’s one-time ‘girlfriend’ Brooke Shields.
A statement from family publicist Ken Sunshine reads, "This list is preliminary and subject to change. There will be no further information regarding the program." Reports suggest Carey will perform I’ll Be There, the Jackson 5 hit she performed during her MTV Unplugged show in 1992. Her rendition of the Gordy-penned tune was a number one hit for her.

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KANYE WEST thrilled revellers in London on Sunday night (05Jul09) by turning up onstage at the Wireless Music Festival with a group of naked women.
The models, wearing nothing but gold-coloured ruffs around their necks and matching elbow-length bracelets, strutted onto the stage and crouched at West’s feet for the beginning of his headlining spot at Hyde Park.
It’s not the first time porn-loving West has shocked with naked women - last year (08) he hired several dozen nude models to introduce his new album 808s & Heartbreak at a Los Angeles listening party.
The rap star explained, "I like the idea of nudity because I realise it’s society that told us to wear clothes at a certain point."

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MICHAEL JACKSON’s ex-wife DEBBIE ROWE has pulled out of plans to attend the King of Pop’s memorial in Los Angeles on Tuesday (07Jul09) - because she fears her presence will be too much of a distraction.
Rowe, who is the mother of Jackson’s two eldest children, was planning to join Jackson family members, friends and fans at the Staples Center tribute after securing VIP seats, but she has now decided to stay away.
The former nurse’s attorney Marta Almli states, "Although Debbie had originally planned to attend tomorrow’s Staples Center memorial service, we have concluded with Debbie that she will not be attending.
"The onslaught of media attention has made it clear her attendance would be an unnecessary distraction to an event that should focus exclusively on Michael’s legacy. Debbie will continue to celebrate Michael’s memory privately." Jackson’s reclusive ex still hasn’t decided whether or not she’ll contest custody of her kids. The late singer’s mother has been granted temporary guardianship of Prince Michael and Paris and their brother Prince Michael II. Permanent custody will be decided next week (13Jul09).
The pop superstar insisted his mother should have custody of his kids in the event of his untimely death.
Meanwhile, the pressure of the media attention has taken its toll on Rowe - she lashed out at paparazzi who followed her to a grocery store.
As she waded through a scrum of photographers, one tapped her on the shoulder prompting Rowe to snap, "Do not touch me… You just did." And when the paparazzo asked her if she was ready to fight for her children, she scolded, "Are you ready to get your butt kicked?" The encounter was captured on video camera and offered to media networks.

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A second will signed by MICHAEL JACKSON has been lodged in Los Angeles.
The document, drawn up in 1997 - five years before what is believed to be the King of Pop’s final will and testament, had not been opened as WENN went to press.
At a probate hearing in Los Angeles on Monday (06Jul09), Jackson’s mother Katherine lost her fight to keep control of her son’s estate after she was awarded temporary administration a week ago (beg29Jun09).
Los Angeles probate judge Mitchell Beckloff ruled that Jackson’s 2002 will is valid and that, per the late star’s wishes, attorney John Branca and veteran music executive John McClain would serve as executors of the late pop star’s estate.
In the will, which the Jackson family reportedly knew nothing about, the late star has left his estate to a family trust and to selected charities.

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Movie mogul HARVEY WEINSTEIN is already preparing a sequel to QUENTIN TARANTINO’s forthcoming war movie INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, despite branding lead actor BRAD PITT’s work "the worst performance of his life".
Weinstein, one of the film’s executive producers, wasn’t impressed by Pitt’s portrayal of an American lieutenant who leads a team of Jewish soldiers in World War II.
And he insists the film is so odd and difficult to categorise that fans will either love or hate it.
In a bizarre rant with GQ magazine, Weinstein says, "It isn’t funny; it isn’t exciting; it isn’t a realistic war movie, yet neither is it an entertaining genre spoof or a clever counterfactual wartime yarn. It isn’t emotionally involving or deliciously ironic or a brilliant tissue of trash-pop references. Nothing like that.
"Brad Pitt gives the worst performance of his life, with a permanent smirk as if he’s had the left side of his jaw injected with cement, and which he must uncomfortably maintain for long scenes on camera without dialogue." But the film’s cast and Weinstein himself are so excited about the film’s release, the producer is already putting together plans for its sequel: "Brad wants to do Inglourious II. We all want to do it. And the movie hasn’t even come out yet."

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