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Small town Texas girl Anna Nicole Smith (born Vickie Lynn Hogan in 1967) first appeared on the scene in 1992 as the poster girl for Guess Jeans.

Her blond bombshell image made her a natural for a Playboy photo spread in 1993 and soon afterwards she was named Playboy's Playmate of the Year.

She later earned dubious fame in 1994 with the controversy surrounding her marriage to Texas millionaire, J. Howard Marshall, who was almost 60 years her senior. Upon his death shortly afterward, the epic lawsuit that Smith filed (in an effort to collect her share in his estate) made national headlines.

Anna Nicole, TV & Web Celeb

That same year, Smith appeared in the Hollywood movie, Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult and in a bit part as Za-Za in The Hudsucker Proxy. However, it was on the small screen where the actress made her mark in the reality series, The Anna Nicole Show, one of the E! Entertainment Network's highest-rated programs.

Smith also has been an active spokesperson for TrimSpa, promoting their weight-loss program.

As an Internet search term, the name Anna Nicole Smith has appeared on all major search engine's Top 100 lists as she continued to be one of the most cyber-stalked 'Web celebs'.

Web buzz continued well into 2004, when Smith made a much-gossiped about appearance on the American Music Awards as a presenter, but only managed to grab the spotlight for herself with the now infamous line that may forever define her, "Do you like my body?"

Smith ended the year stripped of her considerable fortune, when a final judgement was handed down by a US federal appeals court after nine years of litigation. The decision completely reversed an earlier judgment that had awarded the blonde bombshell $88 million from the estate of her late billionaire husband.

Once again making headlines in March 2005 as a presenter at the Australian MTV Awards (baring it all for a live TV audience, Smith continued her legal battle to retrieve the fortune of her late husband.

Fevered tabloid coverage ensued when the former Playboy Playmate took her fight over the billion-dollar estate to the Supreme Court in February 2006, and it appeared that she would have had another opportunity to pursue her claims following a decision in her favor handed down in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May 2006.

Anna Nicole Welcomes Baby, Loses Son

Meanwhile, Anna Nicole had announced news of an impending birth on her Web site, annanicole.com.

She gave no indication of who the father might be, although rumors swirled that friend and photographer Larry Birkhead was the biological father.

Anna Nicole gave birth to Dannielynn, a baby girl, on September 7, 2006.

In a bizarre twist of fate, three days later Smith's 20 year-old son, Daniel Smith suddenly died from a suspected heart attack while visiting his mother in the Bahamas hospital where she gave birth.

Early coroner's statements suggest "unnatural causes" while later evidence pointed to evidence of antidepressants found during the subsequent autopsy.

As a result of Daniel's loss, a simple tale of a ditzy blonde bombshell's rise to fame was beginning to take on all the elements of a Greek tragedy.

The Short, Tragic Life of Anna Nicole Smith

On February 8, 2007 Anna Nichole's sudden death from unknown causes was reported by news organizations worldwide.

Her passing occurred a a Seminole Hard Rock Hotel room in Hollywood, Florida where she apparently collapsed and remained unconscious until pronounced DOA at a local hospital.

Adding to her personal misfortunes right up until her death, Smith had been embroiled in a paternity case brought by 31-year-old photojournalist Larry Birkhead claiming that he was the biological father of Dannielynn.

However, Smith's lawyer and close friend, Howard K. Stern, countered Birkhead's claims with those of his own, and subsequently wed Anna Nicole in a "commitment" ceremony in the Bahamas in late September 2006.

In even more stranger-than-fiction developments, the day after Anna Nicole's death, another man came forth to claim fatherhood. He is Prince Frederick von Anhalt, the husband of actress Zza Zza Gabor who insists he had a 10-year affair with Smith. He now plans to file a lawsuit if the baby is turned over to either Stern or Birkhead.

The prospect of three-way legal battle centers on control of Dannielynn's care, as well as the considerable fortune she may one day inherit. Millions of dollars are up for grabs if the lawsuit against the estate of millionaire J. Howard Marshal rules posthumously in Anna Nicole's favor.

Anna Nicole's Funeral

Jurisdiction of the body was awarded to daughter Dannielynn's legal guardian, lawyer Richard Milstein, who gave the go-ahead for funeral plans to take place on Friday, March 2, 2007. This, despite legal challenges put forth by Virgie Arthur, Anna Nicole's estranged mother, who fought for the funeral to take place in her native Texas.

Anna Nicole's final resting place is now beside her beloved son Daniel, at Lakeview Memorial Gardens & Mausoleums in the Bahamas.

The service featured dozens of pink flowers and a performance by Anna Nicole's favorite country singer, Joe Nichols, who sang his hit, "I'll Wait for You," and Dolly Parton's "Wings of a Dove," said to be Anna's favorite country song. Even in death, "it was over the top", one funeral organizer disclosed, "because it's Anna Nicole."

Accidental Overdose

Autopsy results were to be released in early March, but the report had been delayed pending the police investigation centering on Anna Nicole's bodyguard," Big Moe", who had given testimony intimating possible suspicious circumstances.

However, full disclosure of the autopsy findings released on March 26 indicated no foul play, but rather an accidental overdose of prescription drugs including sleeping pills, Valium, Ativan (an anti-anxiety medication) Methadone and several other medications.

The full autopsy report was released a day before an inquest was to begin into the death of Anna Nicole's son, Daniel, (whose death in September 2006 may also point to an accidental drug overdose). That inquest was delayed until November and is now underway in the Bahamas where over 30 witnesses will be called for questioning about the sudden death of the 20-year-old.

Who's the Daddy? It's Larry Birkhead

In later developments in the Dannielyn paternity case, Howard K. Stern dropped his challenge against the release of DNA test reports when it became apparent that a Bahamas court was going to reject it out of hand.

The child's DNA was tested March 21, and the results were revealed in a Nassau court on April 10. As many suspected, tests showed positive proof of a DNA match between former boyfriend Larry Birkhead and daughter Dannielynn.

Anna Nicole, the Movie

Dancer-singer Willa Ford has signed to star as Anna Nicole Smith in an independent movie which began shooting in April 2007.

"Anna Nicole," will chronicle Smith's life from her late teens to her rise from Guess jeans model to Playboy centerfold, her marriage to oil tycoon Howard Marshall, the death of her son and her own death five months after giving birth to a baby girl, Dannielynn.

Willa Ford, herself a former Playboy model, is most famous for her hit single "I Wanna Be Bad". She also appeared as a celebrity dancer on the third season of the TV hit, Dancing with the Stars.

Dannielynn Declared Sole Heir

In the latest development in the Anna Nicole inheritance case, a judge declared in March 2008 that daughter Dannielynn would be the sole heir in inheriting Smith's millions — a ruling which in years to come is sure to touch-off legal wranglings among the cast of characters involved in her life.

AnnaNicole.com - The Official Site - In memoriam ...

People Late & Great - Anna Nicole Smith - Comprehensive report from CBS News covering the late star's life, tragic death, funeral and legal battles plus photos, video clips, interviews, analysis.

TMZ.com - Anna Nicole Smith - Digging beneath the headlines with mostly on-the-mark gossip and rumors including links to related legal documents, photos, video clips.

Anna Nicole Smith News - All Anna Nicole, all the time, from Topix.com.

Anna Nicole Smith Current Month TV Schedule - Regularly scheduled appearances on U.S. network & cable stations.

TV and Movie Trivia Tribute: Anne Nicole Smith - Photo archive, including a clickable thumbnail gallery, vital stats, and related links.

PETA: Anna Nicole Smith Says "Gentlemen Prefer Fur-Free Blondes" - The spotlight for Smith's role as spokesperson for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, with quotes and promo photo.

HELLO! Profiles - Anna Nicole Smith - And yet more photos together with an archived profile of the TV star detailing her rags-to-riches fame.

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