A Touching Tribute at the Kentucky Derby
Dannielynn Birkhead has found a unique way to feel connected to her late mother, Anna Nicole Smith, through her choice of fashion.
On the eve of the 2025 Kentucky Derby, during the celebrated Barnstable Brown Gala on Friday, May 2, 18-year-old Dannielynn, daughter of model Anna Nicole Smith and Larry Birkhead, shared the poignant significance of her gown with reporters.
“This is the closest to a hug I can get from her,” Dannielynn expressed to a journalist as she graced the red carpet.
Larry Birkhead posted a heartwarming father-daughter photo on Instagram from the event, explaining the emotional backstory of Dannielynn’s outfit. “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 captioned.
The elegant black dress featured a halter neckline and a loose fit, with a split just above the knee that allowed it to flutter as Dannielynn moved. The front and back of the dress were adorned with sparkling embellishments.
Dannielynn showcased the dress from various angles, paying homage to the way her mother wore it more than two decades earlier.
Continuing to honor her mother, who tragically passed away in February 2007 due to an accidental drug overdose when Dannielynn was just five months old, she styled her blonde hair in a similar pinned-up fashion as her mother once did.
“It was emotional because the last time I saw that dress was on Anna,” Birkhead, now 52, shared with PEOPLE at the gala on Friday. He first met the late actress at the same gala back in 2003.
Dannielynn made her debut at the Kentucky Derby when she was only three years old, accompanied by her father. Since then, attending the Derby has become an annual tradition for them.
Birkhead reminisced with PEOPLE about a touching moment from Dannielynn’s childhood, saying, “When she was a little girl, she walked over and put her hand on the dress.” He added, “And now that she’s actually old enough to wear it, it just seems surreal that we’re at this moment.”
This annual event not only serves as an exciting social gathering but also as a poignant reminder of the enduring bond between Dannielynn and her mother, bridged through memories, traditions, and even fashion.
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