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Anna Nicole Smith was born Vickie Lynn Hogan, on November 28th 1967. During her rollercoaster life, Anna was a successful American model, actress and celebrity.
Born and raised in Texas, Smith dropped out of high school and married ‘Jim’s Krispy Fried Chicken’ co-worker Billy Wayne Smith, at the tender age of 17. The next year Vickie gave birth to their son, Daniel Wayne Smith, but in 1987 the couple separated & she and Daniel moved to Houston.
Anna's career took off after she entered her photos in a search contest. She was chosen by Hugh Hefner to appear on the cover of the March 1992 issue of Playboy wearing a low-cut evening gown. She famously announced she planned to be "the next Marilyn Monroe". Becoming one of Playboy's most popular models, Anna began a trend for a more voluptuous woman, and in 1993 was chosen to be Playmate of the Year.
Appeaing on the cover for the June 1993 issue of Playboy secured Anna a contract to replace supermodel Claudia Schiffer in the Guess jeans ad campaign in a series of sultry black and white photographs. Guess capitalized on her strong resemblance to sex symbol Jayne Mansfield inspiring the photo shoot. Later that year, she also modelled underwear for the Swedish clothing company H&M.
While performing at a Houston strip club, in October 1991, Anna struck up a relationship, with elderly oil billionaire J. Howard Marshall. During their two-year relationship, he reportedly lavished gifts on her and asked her to marry him on several occasions. Anna divorced her husband Billy on February 3rd 1993, in Houston. On June 27th 1994, Anna then aged 26, married 89 year old Marshall. The marriage got her branded by the media as a gold digger. Though she reportedly never lived with him, Anna remained adamant she loved her husband and that age did not matter to her. Thirteen months after their marriage Marshall died on August 4th 1995. Following his death, Anna began a lengthy legal battle over a share of his estate; her case, Marshall v. Marshall, reached the U.S. Supreme Court on a question of federal jurisdiction. After Anna’s death the New York Times reported that the case over the Marshall fortune “is likely to continue in the name of Ms. Smith’s infant daughter.â€
Anna during her career starred in numerous movies as well as her own reality TV show, The Anna Nicole Show which was a reality tv show of her private life, similar to The Osbournes.
Anna announced on June 1st 2006, that she was expecting her second child, with new partner Harold K. Stern. On September 7th 2006 Dannielynn Hope Marshall Stern, was born into a paternity battle. A judge ordered that DNA tests be performed to determine who is the biological father of Dannielynn, at this stage it is still unclear as to whom, her real father is.
Tragically, just 3 days after the birth of his baby sister, whilst at his mothers bedside, Anna’s 20 year old son Daniel died from a lethal combination of Zoloft, Lexapro and methadone. In the months before her death, Anna was the focus of renewed press coverage surrounding his sudden death.
September 28th 2006, Smith and Howard K. Stern exchanged vows and rings in an informal commitment ceremony aboard a 41-foot catamaran off the coast of the Bahamas. Although they pledged their love and made a commitment to be there for one another before a Baptist minister, no marriage certificate was issued and the ceremony was not legally binding.
February 8th 2007, aged 39 Anna Nicole Smith tragically died under similar circumstances as her idol Marilyn Monroe. Anna’s private nurse called 911 after finding her unresponsive in her sixth-floor room at the hotel she was currently staying at. Anna’s bodyguard is said to have administered CPR, but she was declared dead upon arrival at hospital.
The police chief has said that there is no indication that a crime occurred in Anna's death. There were no illegal drugs found in the hotel room, only prescription drugs. Preliminary results of the autopsy found no drugs in Smith's stomach. It is still unconfirmed as to the cause of death but it is also said that Anna believed that she was being watched by a mystery man in the days before her death. Police are still inconclusive.
What a tragic end to the life of an amazing woman, a role model to all girls & women. RIP Anna Nicole xxx
