Dannielynn Birkhead, the daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith, paid tribute to her mother by channeling one of her iconic styles.
The 18-year-old attended the annual Barnstable Brown Gala during the Kentucky Derby, sporting the same dress her mother wore to the event back in 2004.
“Dannielynn chose an Anna Nicole dress from 21 years ago—that’s what we call a ‘Full Circle’ moment,” shared her father, Larry Birkhead, who posted the heartfelt moment on Instagram.
She mentioned she picked the dress because it was special to her mother and, well, “super cool.”
The elegant black gown features a sheer neckline, crystal-embellished straps, and a striking waistline.
While making her way down the red carpet, Dannielynn commented to reporters, “This is the closest to the hug I can get from her.”
Before the event, Larry shared he had kept the dress “for years” but still felt a wave of emotions seeing his daughter in it.
“The last time I saw that dress on Anna, it was a very emotional moment,” Larry reflected, recalling his encounter with the late actress at the Barnstable Gala in 2003.
Larry reminisced about how Dannielynn would once walk around “putting her hands on the dress” when she was little.
“And now she’s finally old enough to wear it; it’s surreal, really,” he reflected.
Admitting that the dress might be a bit more daring than what she typically wears, Larry suggested that it also served as a “fashion experiment” for his daughter.
“It makes sense for her to wear it. After all, she could choose something different every day and never repeat a look,” he added.
Larry intends to keep Anna’s belongings organized in hopes that one day, Dannielynn will appreciate them.
“I really hope she finds some value in these things one day,” he shared.
“When someone passes away, you start thinking, ‘I’m not getting rid of anything.’ You may question what’s truly necessary, but then you realize one item can hold so much connection.”
Anna Nicole Smith tragically passed away on February 8, 2007, at 39 due to an accidental overdose.
After a highly publicized custody battle, Larry was awarded custody of Dannielynn just a few months later.
