Anna Nicole Smith was born Vickie Lynn Hogan on November 28, 1967, in Houston, Texas.14 She was the only daughter of Virgie Arthur and Donald Hogan.4 Smith was primarily raised by her mother and aunt in Mexia, a small town in Texas, after her parents divorced in 1969.15

Smith had a troubled upbringing and dropped out of high school in Mexia.45 She worked various jobs, including at a local fried chicken restaurant where she met Billy Wayne Smith, a cook. They married in 1985 when she was just 17.25 Smith gave birth to their son Daniel in 1986 at the age of 18.5 However, the young couple separated in 1987 and later divorced in 1993 as Smith sought to escape small-town life and pursue fame and fortune.24

Anna Nicole Smith's modeling career took off after she appeared as the Playboy centerfold in May 1992. She was subsequently named Playmate of the Year in 1993.12 Smith's Guess campaign featured sultry black-and-white photos showcasing her resemblance to bombshell Jayne Mansfield.1 She modeled for other major brands like H&M, which displayed her photos on billboards in Sweden and Norway in 1993.12 Smith also graced the covers of magazines such as Marie Claire and GQ.1

Smith transitioned into acting with small roles in films like "The Hudsucker Proxy" in 1994 and "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult" in 1994.5 However, her acting career never reached the same heights as her modeling work. Smith's rise to fame was fueled by her striking looks, curvaceous figure, and comparisons to sex symbol Marilyn Monroe.25 Her Playboy spreads and high-profile modeling gigs made her a household name and cemented her status as a quintessential 1990s blonde bombshell.125

Anna Nicole Smith's legal battles, particularly her fight for her late husband's estate, became a landmark case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1994, Smith married 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II, who died 14 months later. After his death, Smith engaged in a protracted legal dispute with Marshall's son, Pierce Marshall, over her claim to half of her late husband's $1.6 billion estate12.

The case took a complex turn when Smith filed for bankruptcy in California, alleging that Pierce had interfered with her potential inheritance3. This move initiated a series of legal proceedings that culminated in a Supreme Court ruling in 2011, long after Smith's death. The Court's 5-4 decision determined that the bankruptcy court had exceeded its authority in ruling on Smith's inheritance claim4. This ruling effectively ended Smith's estate's 15-year quest for a share of the Marshall fortune, highlighting the intricate interplay between federal bankruptcy law and state probate proceedings in high-stakes inheritance disputes12.

Anna Nicole Smith had two children. Her son, Daniel Wayne Smith, was born in 1986 during her first marriage to Billy Wayne Smith. Tragically, Daniel died in 2006 from an accidental drug overdose while visiting his mother in the Bahamas shortly after she gave birth to her daughter, Dannielynn Hope Marshall Birkhead.23 Dannielynn was born in 2006, and her paternity was initially contested by multiple individuals, including Howard K. Stern, who was listed on her birth certificate. However, a DNA test in April 2007 confirmed that photographer Larry Birkhead was Dannielynn's biological father with a 99.99% probability.1 Following the confirmation, Birkhead was granted custody, and Dannielynn's surname was legally changed to Birkhead.1