Anna Nicole Smith’s lookalike daughter, Dannielynn Birkhead, was the epitome of her late mother as she wore the star’s iconic dress this week.
The 18-year-old went to the 2025 Barnstable Brown Gala in a halter-style black gown that was previously worn by Smith 21 years ago at the same event.
The fitted outfit features a deep neckline and a small slit at the front. Shiny silver decorations add a glamorous touch to both the front and back of the gown.
Dannielynn wore her blonde hair in a messy updo, with side bangs framing her face similar to Anna’s hairstyle at the gala in 2004.
Her father Larry Birkhead accompanied his daughter to the festivities on Friday in Kentucky – and uploaded photos to Instagram.
While posing with the teenager as she wore her late mother’s gown, the photographer called the moment ‘full circle.’
Anna Nicole Smith’s lookalike daughter Dannielynn Birkhead, 18, was the epitome of her late mother as she wore the star’s iconic dress this week
Her father Larry Birkhead accompanied his daughter to the festivities on Friday in Kentucky – and uploaded photos to his Instagram page
In the caption of the post, he penned: ‘Kicking off @kentuckyderby weekend with Dannielynn. First up, The Barnstable-Brown Gala.
‘Dannielynn is wearing Anna Nicole’s dress that she wore 21 years ago to this same event. Life full circle. She said she chose the dress because it was her Mom’s and “super cool.”‘
He added, ‘Next up the Kentucky Derby races. We are glad to spend time with my niece Chloe (pictured). I am going to try not an embarrass them with my dance moves.’
And while walking the red carpet, Dannielynn revealed why she opted to wear her mother’s iconic dress for the night and expressed to reporters: ‘This is the closest to a hug I can get from her.’
Before attending the gala on Friday, Larry told People that it was ’emotional’ to see his daughter wearing her late mother’s gown.
Anna Nicole passed away at the age of 39 in February 2007 – and her death was later ruled as an accidental drug overdose.
‘It was emotional because the last time I saw that dress was on Anna,’ Birkhead explained to the outlet, before recalling how Dannielynn ‘walked over and she put her hand on the dress’ when she was younger.
‘And now that she’s actually old enough to wear it, it just seems surreal that we’re at this moment.’
Dannielynn pulled her blonde locks up into a messy up do, allowing her side bangs to border the sides of her face – which was similar to Anna’s hairstyle when she made an appearance at the gala in 2004
‘It was emotional because the last time I saw that dress was on Anna,’ Birkhead explained to the outlet, before recalling how Dannielynn ‘walked over and she put her hand on the dress’ when she was younger
Anna Nicole passed away at the age of 39 in February 2007 – and her death was later ruled as an accidental drug overdose; Smith seen in 1993 in Beverly Hills
The teen picked out her mother’s dress to wear to the event and her father believes that ‘she’s doing a fashion experiment for herself. Also, I think it’s really meaningful for her to wear.’
Larry continued, ‘I’m just glad she’s going through and starting to wear some of [Smith’s clothes] because she could literally pick out an outfit a day for the rest of her life and never wear the same thing twice with everything.’
He currently is storing clothes that belonged to Anna in case his daughter wants them in the future.
‘She’s just now starting to get into the curiosity of some of the fashion and things in her mom’s world.’
Dannielynn has attended the Barnstable Brown Gala with her father since she was a little girl.
Last year, the pair flashed cheerful smiles while stopping by the event – and the teen donned a stylish Gianfranco Ferre dress which had previously been worn by Janet Jackson.
And in 2023, Anna’s daughter sweetly paid homage to the model by wearing a Guess shirt that had black and white images of the late star.
She additionally wore a black, layered tulle skirt as well as a thick belt with a shimmering silver bow embellishment on the front.
During a past interview with DailyMail.com in 2019, Larry opened up about raising his daughter after Anna lived a life in the spotlight.
Last year, the pair flashed cheerful smiles while stopping by the event – and the teen donned a stylish Gianfranco Ferre dress which had previously been worn by Janet Jackson
Smith welcomed her daughter to the world in September 2006 – less than one year before her tragic passing.
After her death, multiple individuals stepped forward to claim that they were Dannielynn’s father – including Larry. Following DNA tests, it was revealed that Birkhead was the biological father.
‘People always say, “Is she going to be an actress? Is she going to be a model?” And I never push her in a certain direction,’ he stated.
‘Actually, I get calls all the time and I say “no she’s not interested in doing that kind of stuff.” Right now she’s just being a kid.’
Larry – who resides in the state of Kentucky with his daughter – also shared at the time, ‘She surprised me because last year she took an acting class.
‘I got an email from a teacher and she said Dannielynn gave one of the most believable performances of the whole, whole entire school. So, if she wants to do something like that when she’s older…we’ll see when we get there.’
Anna also welcomed a son named Daniel in 1986 with ex-husband Billy Wayne Smith.
‘People always say, “Is she going to be an actress? Is she going to be a model?” And I never push her in a certain direction,’ he stated
‘We try to talk about him and I shared a birthday with him, so we always celebrated together,’ Larry said; Anna seen with son Daniel in 1994 in L.A.
However, at the age of 20 in September 2006 – Daniel passed away in Anna’s hospital room due to an accidental drug overdose. Days earlier, Smith had given birth to daughter Dannielynn.
Larry explained, ‘[Dannielynn] knows just really that her mom was famous and she knows about Daniel. I try to incorporate both of them because sometimes Daniel gets forgotten.
‘We try to talk about him and I shared a birthday with him, so we always celebrated together.’
He added, ‘You know, I tell her stories about them and I try to not make it heavy, because she’s just now becoming a teenager and I think some of that stuff will come…’
And while also speaking with DailyMail.com in 2023, Birkhead was asked if his daughter did anything that reminded him of Anna – whom he first met in 2003.
And while also speaking with DailyMail.com in 2023, Birkhead was asked if his daughter did anything that reminded him of Anna – whom he first met in 2003; the pair seen in 2023 in Kentucky
‘Yeah she can spend my money like her mom. And she loves to do that,’ he humorously stated.
He later expressed, ‘I’ve created such a foundation for that I’ve given the tools to say, look, this. Life is normal now.
‘I’m very picky and selective. She’s very grounded and very humble. She is not one of these entitled celebrity kids. She’s gone to a public school all her life. That’s what she chose. She said I want to go to public school and not to private.’
Birkhead further gushed, ‘Dannielynn is on the honor roll and she makes great grades. She is taking college level classes. Anna would be very, very proud of her. I know I am.’
