Athletes, reality stars, local news anchors and model fundraisers walked the catwalk with their pups at the annual Fashion for Paws charity runway show on Saturday night at the National Building Museum.
The nonprofit Fashion for Paws raises money for the Washington Humane Society's animal shelter. Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis and "Real Housewives of D.C." cast members Lynda Erkiletian and Paul Wharton were among some the strutters.
"I wanted to participate because this event raises enough money to feed stray animals and prevent them from being euthanized," Wharton told Yeas & Nays.
Wharton adopted his dog, Oscar, a Wheaten Terrier mix, from WHS five years ago and has walked in the show every year since. We'll be seeing more of Wharton this fall when his new reality show, "Model Intervention," debuts.
"The show is about me stepping in to help struggling models that have been trying to make it in the industry and haven't gotten anywhere," he said."I'm not trying to knock Tyra [Banks], but her show is on its 17th cycle and they're still selling the dream of becoming 'America's Next Top Model,' " Wharton said, "but where are they? I don't see the winners anywhere."
"My show is the reality of modeling," he said.
Models at this year's show wore threads from Nicole Miller, Saks Fifth Avenue, 7 For All Mankind and others.
When Fashion for Paws staged its first runway show in 2007, it raised $78,000, said Lisa LaTontaine, chief executive office of WHS. This year, nearly $500,000 was raised.
Contributed by Eddie Scarry
