Dannielynn Hope Marshall Birkhead (born Hannah Rose Marshall Stern; September 7, 2006) is an American reality television personality and model. She is the daughter of

Anna Nicole Smith Anna Nicole Smith (born Vickie Lynn Hogan; November 28, 1967 – February 8, 2007) was an American model, actress, and television personality. Smith started her career as a ''Playboy'' magazine centerfold in May 1992 and won the title of 1993 ...

and Larry Birkhead and was the focus of the Dannielynn Birkhead paternity case.

Early life and paternity

Dannielynn Hope Marshall Birkhead, named Hannah Rose Marshall Stern at birth, was born to

on September 7, 2006, in

Nassau Nassau may refer to: Places Bahamas *Nassau, Bahamas, capital city of the Bahamas, on the island of New Providence Canada *Nassau District, renamed Home District, regional division in Upper Canada from 1788 to 1792 *Nassau Street (Winnipeg), ...

, The Bahamas. Almost immediately, questions over her paternity arose, quickly followed by the death of her half-brother, Daniel Smith, three days after her birth. Daniel Smith's death and Dannielynn's custody preceded the paternity claims made by attorney

Howard K. Stern Howard Kevin Stern (born November 29, 1968) is an American attorney based in California. He was the domestic partner, attorney and agent of the late model Anna Nicole Smith. He became known as a co-star on Smith's 2002–2004 reality televisio ...

Larry Birkhead The Dannielynn Hope Marshall Birkhead paternity case, a.k.a. ''Birkhead v. Marshall'', centered on a child born September 7, 2006 to Vickie Lynn Marshall (better known as Anna Nicole Smith). The child was named Dannielynn, and was registered on h ...

, Anna Nicole's bodyguard Alexander Denk, and

Frederic von Anhalt Frederic may refer to: Places United States * Frederic, Wisconsin, a village in Polk County * Frederic Township, Michigan, a township in Crawford County ** Frederic, Michigan, an unincorporated community Other uses * Frederic (band), a Japanese r ...

, husband of the actress

Zsa Zsa Gabor Zsa Zsa Gabor (, ; born Sári Gábor ; February 6, 1917 – December 18, 2016) was a Hungarian Americans, Hungarian-American socialite and actress. Her sisters were actresses Eva Gabor, Eva and Magda Gabor. Gabor competed in the 1933 Mis ...

. Smith named Howard K. Stern as the father on her daughter's birth certificate. Birkhead, a celebrity photographer from Kentucky, brought his challenge to court to legitimize his claim. After

DNA testing Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or ...

, Birkhead was formally established as the father. After gaining custody of his daughter, Dannielynn’s surname was changed from Stern to Birkhead. When Birkhead was five months old, her mother died of an accidental drug overdose at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

, Florida. In 2008, she was declared sole heir to Smith's estate, estimated at $700,000. At 16 months old, Birkhead underwent surgery to correct the

strabismus Strabismus is a vision disorder in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object. The eye that is focused on an object can alternate. The condition may be present occasionally or constantly. If present during a ...

in one of her eyes. Her father wore a patch as well so the pair could "play pirates together".

Modeling and media focus

At age six, Birkhead participated in a modeling campaign for children's line

Guess A guess (or an act of guessing) is a swift conclusion drawn from data directly at hand, and held as probable or tentative, while the person making the guess (the guesser) admittedly lacks material for a greater degree of certainty. A guess is als ...

Kids.

co founder Paul Marciano stated "Dannielynn has the same playful spirit that her mother had on a set." The campaign was followed by the Spring 2013 line. In August 2014, federal court judge

David O. Carter David Ormon Carter (born March 28, 1944) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Education and military service In college he lettered in cross country and track on the teams o ...

ruled Dannielynn Birkhead will not receive $44 million from the estate of the late E. Pierce Marshall, the son of J. Howard Marshall. Her father was hopeful that Dannielynn would receive a substantial amount of money in sanctions. Judge Carter denied this request, ruling that there was "just no evidence before the court that justifies awarding sanctions against Pierce Marshall's estate". Since 2008, Birkhead and her father have attended the

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year ...

, where her parents had first met. At the 2021 Kentucky Derby, Birkhead wore a turquoise pantsuit from

Jovani Fashion Jovani Fashion, Ltd. is a fashion house focusing on the prom and evening wear sectors. History and operations Jovani Fashion was founded in 1980 by Jacob Maslavi and his sons, Abraham and Saul Maslavi.

with a large white flower

fascinator A fascinator is a formal headpiece, a style of millinery. Since the 1990s, the term has referred to a type of formal headwear worn as an alternative to the hat; it is usually a large decorative design attached to a band or clip. In contrast to ...

. At the 2022 event, she wore an outfit previously worn by singer

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...

to the same event in 2003.

Filmography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Birkhead, Dannielynn 2006 births People from Nassau, Bahamas Living people American child models Anna Nicole Smith Participants in American reality television series People from Louisville, Kentucky