Anna Nicole Smith was an American actress, model and television personality who first rose to fame for modeling in Playboy magazine and winning Playmate of the Year in 1993. She is most remembered for her highly publicized legal battle over the estate of her late husband, billionaire J. Howard Marshall, and for her tragic passing in February 2007.
Born Vickie Lynn Hogan on Nov. 28, 1967, she took on the stage name Anna Nicole as she began to court fame. Her last name, Smith, was taken from her first husband, Billy Smith, whom she was married to from 1985 to 1993.
Anna Nicole’s biggest controversy was the accusation that she had only married her late husband, Marshall, for his money. This resulted in a huge legal dispute between her and Marshall’s family over who should inherit his vast fortune after his death. Anna Nicole claimed that Marshall had promised her half of his estate but that his family interfered, so the will was never changed.
The case made it all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, which ruled in Anna Nicole’s favor. However, another suit was filed and then brought before the Supreme Court once more, and this time, Anna Nicole lost her case.
Another case that brought more publicity to Anna Nicole and her family was the paternity case of her daughter, Dannielynn Birkhead, who was only five months old when Anna Nicole passed. Dannielynn enjoyed a childhood away from the limelight, a conscious decision made by her father. Read on to find out what Dannielynn is up to now that she is on the cusp of adulthood and see just how much her father has continued to cherish her after her mother’s untimely passing.
Anna Nicole revealed she was pregnant in 2006. At least four men, including photographer Larry Birkhead and attorney Howard K. Stern, argued they were the father. A subsequent paternity test ordered by the courts showed Larry to be the biological father. After Anna Nicole passed due to a drug overdose in 2007, Larry gained full custody of their daughter, Dannielynn, and retreated to Louisville, Kentucky, to keep her safe from the prying eyes of the media.
Since Anna Nicole’s passing when Dannielynn was only five months old, Larry did his level best to give her a normal childhood. Her younger years passed almost in obscurity as Larry kept their family life private, even on social media. However, in recent years, he has given rare glimpses into their lives and thrilled fans by revealing just how much Dannielynn has taken after her mother.
One event the father-daughter pair are always sure to attend is the Kentucky Derby. The doting dad told Fox News:
“Since I did meet her mom there, it started off just kind of me taking her back and showing her around… And then it came to kind of people look for my daughter there because I really don’t let her do any public events. And so, in all honesty, the Kentucky Derby is kind of the growth chart for Dannielynn.”
At the event in 2023, Dannielynn attended with her father and looked like the spitting image of her mom. The day before the derby, she wore a top that featured photos of her mom’s Guess campaign as well as her mother’s jewelry. With makeup on, it was clear the young Dannielynn was taking after her mother. For the derby the next day, Dannielynn looked resplendent in a sunflower-themed gown and more of her mother’s jewelry.
On June 1, 2023, Larry shared photos of him and Dannielynn as she finished the 11th grade and will soon prepare to enter her senior year of high school. The snaps showed Larry in the driver’s seat of a car as Dannielynn sat behind him, holding back laughter as she showed photos of her dad on her phone. The caption read:
“Nothing like trying to have a serious conversation with your kid and instead you get trolled with the worst pics of you ever taken on their cell phone. I can’t be the only parent with this issue! At any rate, onward and upward!”
The doting dad also lauded the teenager for her academic achievements and alongside a photo of a certificate marking her excellent grades, he wrote:
“Dannielynn finished 11th grade and maintained honor roll through some challenging times we had taking care of my Mom before she passed away. I am so proud!”
Schoolwork aside, Larry ended the post by stating he would share his own knowledge of photography with Dannielynn in a bid for more flattering photos of himself.
“Now, on to Summer break and then 12th grade….and in the meantime, hopefully she can take some better pictures of me. ? I think I am going to give her a photography class over the Summer,” he said.
It’s clear Larry loves to spend time with his beloved daughter, and Father’s Day 2023 was no different. On Instagram, Larry shared that the pair had spent the day rocking out at a Duran Duran concert and shared a sweet selfie of the two of them smiling at the venue.
The caption read:
“Having a great Father’s Day with Dannielynn at the @duranduran concert. I’ve been trying to school her on good music way back since she was a baby. Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there! Of course we had to get here first, well because I’m old. ?”
Despite Dannielynn being bare-faced and wearing only a basic t-shirt and glasses with her hair down in waves, the teenager appeared to be growing up to look so much like her mother. The photo showed that Dannielynn didn’t need excessive make-up or a blowout to highlight just how much of her mother’s good looks she had inherited. This included her mother’s golden locks, blue eyes and, most notably, her big, beautiful smile. Altogether, the teenager looked nothing short of a mirror image of Anna Nicole.
Fans were also thrilled to see Dannielynn growing into such a beautiful young woman. One comment read, “Thanks to you she’s turning into a wonderful young lady. Mom must be so happy knowing she’s in loving and safe hand,” while another wrote, “She’s amazingly gorgeous!! God bless the both of yous!! Anna will forever live thru her beautiful daughter.”
The Duran Duran concert wasn’t the first time Larry had treated Dannielynn to an old-school gig. In May 2022, Dannielynn and Larry were photographed meeting retro superstar Janet Jackson after her performance in Louisville, Kentucky. Dannielynn even dressed the part, emulating Jackson’s iconic look by wearing an oversized suit and black pageboy cap.
Larry appears to have settled into his role as a father. He told People in May 2023:
“I’m super protective of her. She’s a really good kid. And hope I had a little bit to do with that.”
Larry again proved just how much he doted on Dannielynn by sharing a touching video tribute for her on the occasion of her 17th birthday. On Sept. 7, 2023, he posted a clip that included many never-before-seen photos of Dannielynn from her childhood all the way into her teens. Many were of the sweet tot looking happy and healthy, with her stunning blue eyes and striking blond hair reminding everyone of just how much she resembled her late mother. In the caption, he wrote:
“Happy 17th Birthday Dannielynn! I am so proud of you in each and every way. Wishing you the best day ever ! You are funny, crazy smart, pretty and just about everything I could ever imagine.”
He went on to say that her late mother “would be so proud of you, I sure am” before wishing his little girl happy birthday again. Birkhead also added a sweet little postscript that read, “By the way, when you asked me if you could live in my basement forever. I said yes, but I didn’t have the heart to tell you there aren’t any basements in Florida ? ❤️”
Again, fans lauded Larry for the way in which he was raising Dannielynn. One comment read:
“This is the first time I’m seeing her since she was a baby. Spitting image of her mom. Looks like dad has doted and done a great job. You could tell when tragedy struck that he just wanted what was best for his daughter.”
Another user was just as taken by the video and wrote, “She is so very lucky to have you as her dad and I know Anna is watching over you both. She looks so much like Anna …so beautiful inside and out!”
What do you think of the low-key way Larry Birkhead is raising Dannielynn? If you liked hearing about their story, be sure to pass this on to family and friends who’d love to read about them too.
