Anna Nicole Smith’s lookalike daughter Dannielynn, 17, receives heartfelt birthday tribute from father Larry Birkhead as he gushes late model ‘would be so proud’ of her
Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter Dannielynn received a loving Instagram tribute from her father Larry Birkhead in celebration of her 17th birthday on Thursday.
The photographer, 50, who helped honor the late model at the Kentucky Derby in May, also sweetly gushed that Dannielynn’s mother ‘would be so proud’ of her on the special day.
He uploaded an assortment of throwback images that were taken throughout the years and showcased the snaps in a video slideshow, while the track titled I Wish by Heather Headley played in the background.
While some pictures were taken with Dannielynn posing with her father, Birkhead also included photos of his daughter with Anna before her death in February 2007 at the age of 39.
The former Playboy model welcomed her only daughter just one year earlier on September 7, 2006 before her tragic passing due to an accidental drug overdose.
Birthday girl! Anna Nicole Smith ‘s daughter Dannielynn received a loving Instagram tribute from her father Larry Birkhead, 50, in celebration of her 17th birthday on Thursday; seen in May
Throwback snaps: He uploaded an assortment of throwback images that were taken throughout the years and showcased the snaps in a video slideshow
In the caption of the post, Larry penned, ‘Happy 17th Birthday Dannielynn! I am so proud of you in each and every way. Wishing you the best day ever!’
He then added, ‘You are funny, crazy smart, pretty and just about everything I could ever imagine. Your Mom would be so proud of you, I sure am. Happy Birthday! Love Dad ❤️.’
In conclusion, he humorously wrote, ‘By the way, when you asked me if you could live in my basement forever. I said yes, but I didn’t have the heart to tell you there aren’t any basements in Florida ❤️ #HappyBirthday.’
The father daughter duo appear to have a close bond, and recently made a public appearance at 149th Kentucky Derby Gala held earlier this year in May.
The two paid homage to Smith at the annual event, with Dannielynn wearing a Guess top that had black and white images of the late model posing for the brand throughout the fabric.
The photographer was seen sporting a tie with the same print and design as his daughter’s outfit.
He jumped to his main Instagram page to share a photo of their ensembles, and recalled to his followers, ‘Heading to the annual Barnstable-Brown Derby Eve Gala. Tonight is the 20th anniversary where I met Dannielynn’s Mom at the same event…’
Birkhead first met Anna Nicole at the same Kentucky Derby Gala in 2003, and told DailyMail.com earlier this year in May, ‘I met Anna first in 2003 and she blew me kisses. I was intrigued by her but we didn’t have too much interaction.’
A post shared by Larry Birkhead (@larryanddannielynn)
‘Proud’: In the caption of the post, Larry penned, ‘Happy 17th Birthday Dannielynn! I am so proud of you in each and every way. Wishing you the best day ever!’
Loving message: He then added, ‘You are funny, crazy smart, pretty and just about everything I could ever imagine. Your Mom would be so proud of you, I sure am. Happy Birthday! Love Dad ❤️’
Father daughter duo: In conclusion, he humorously wrote, ‘By the way, when you asked me if you could live in my basement forever. I said yes, but I didn’t have the heart to tell you there aren’t any basements in Florida’
Memory: While some pictures were taken with Dannielynn posing with her father, Birkhead also included photos of his daughter with Anna before her death in February 2007 at the age of 39
Tragic passing: The former Playboy model welcomed her only daughter just one year earlier on September 7, 2006 before her tragic passing due to an accidental drug overdose
‘She came back the next year and she had totally transformed. I always thought she was so beautiful. She has a unique look. But when she returned to the Derby in 2004 she was in her tip top shape,’ he further remembered.
Larry explained, ‘She was blowing me kisses, but I thought she was doing that for everyone. Being flirtatious for the camera. I never thought that she would want some guy like me from Kentucky when she could have any guys who wants.’
Their budding romance soon began in 2004, and the photographer later moved in with the model at her Los Angeles home. However, she then moved to the Bahamas when she was pregnant with their daughter.
At the time, she was filtering through a legal battle for $30 million from her late husband and billionaire, J. Howard Marshall.
The two notably tied the knot in 1994 when he was 89, and she was only 26. However, just 14 months after their nuptials, he passed away.
‘We were living together and doing baby planning. We were picking out names for our baby. Despite what anyone says, Anna knew I was the father,’ Larry expressed to DailyMail.com.
‘They took her to the Bahamas because she was in a lawsuit for all that money, and they thought that I was going to try and take it from her, so they saw me as a threat and Anna believed it.’
‘It was a game I had to play and go through the motions. But we stayed in contact until the time when she passed away,’ Larry further continued.
Taking after her mother: In regards to ways his daughter takes after her late mother, Birkhead jokingly admitted, ‘Yeah she can spend my money like her mom. And she loves to do that’
Fatherhood: He stated, ‘After nearly 17 years of raising my daughter on my own, people see that’s a resume that speaks for itself. I don’t care what people say about anything else’
‘Humble’: Larry gushed that Dannielynn is ‘grounded and very humble,’ adding, ‘She is not one of these entitled celebrity kids. She’s gone to a public school all her life’
Homage: The father daughter duo appear to have a close bond, and recently made a public appearance at 149th Kentucky Derby Gala held earlier this year in May
After welcoming Dannielynn in the Bahamas on September 7, 2006, her other child and only son, Daniel Wayne Smith, tragically died just days later on September 10 while visiting his mother and half-sister in the hospital due to a drug overdose.
The following year, when Dannielynn was only five-months-old, Smith passed away due to an accidental drug overdose.
After her shocking death and following a custody battle, Larry was ruled as Dannielynn’s biological father due to a DNA test.
Not long after his daughter was born, Anna’s lawyer, Howard K. Stern, had been assumed as the father, and the pair married during a ceremony in the Bahamas.
But after the DNA test proved Birkhead as the father, the birth certificate was changed and Dannielynn began living with him in the state of Kentucky, where they both still currently reside.
In regards to ways his daughter takes after her late mother, Birkhead jokingly admitted, ‘Yeah she can spend my money like her mom. And she loves to do that.’
‘After nearly 17 years of raising my daughter on my own, people see that’s a resume that speaks for itself. I don’t care what people say about anything else.’
Although she never had the chance to get to know her mother, he explained, ‘I’ve created such a foundation for that I’ve given the tools to say, look, this. Life is normal now.’
Romance: Birkhead first met Anna Nicole at the same Kentucky Derby Gala in 2003 but later sparked up a budding romance the following year after meeting again at the same event; seen in 1993
Larry gushed that Dannielynn is ‘grounded and very humble,’ adding, ‘She is not one of these entitled celebrity kids. She’s gone to a public school all her life. That’s what she chose. She said I want to go to public school and not to private.’
‘Dannielynn is on the honor roll and she makes great grades. She is taking college level classes. Anna would be very, very proud of her. I know I am.’
While recently talking to People, he opened up about his daughter preparing to go off to college. ‘It’s one of those things where she’s just now dipping her toe into getting stuff, and people are mailing her things.’
He later added, ‘It’s one of those things that all parents go through. They don’t want their kids to go off, but they know they have to.’
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