Yahoo Celebrity Staff
Anna Nicole Smith’s Daughter, Dannielynn Birkhead, Is a Kentucky Derby Regular
Raechal ShewfeltEditor, Yahoo Entertainment
Derby Day has special significance for the Birkheads: It’s where Larry — who hails from Louisville, Ky. — met Anna Nicole in May 2004. After last year’s event, Larry told USA Today that it’s the duo’s “one big dad-daughter date of the year.” Daniellyn, 9, and her dad hit up the 142nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday wearing coordinate outfits per usual. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Churchill Downs)
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Derby Day has special significance for the Birkheads: It’s where Larry — who hails from Louisville, Ky. — met Anna Nicole in May 2004. After last year’s event, Larry told USA Today that it’s the duo’s “one big dad-daughter date of the year.” Daniellyn, 9, and her dad hit up the 142nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday wearing coordinate outfits per usual. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Churchill Downs)
In 2010, 3?-year-old Dannielynn made her Kentucky Derby debut wearing flowers in her blond hair. The little girl was already famous, both because of her mom — who died of a drug overdose when Dannielynn was just 5 months old — and because of the subsequent custody battle between Birkhead and Howard K. Stern, who was initially listed as Dannielynn’s father on her birth certificate. In April 2007, DNA results proved that Birkhead was the girl’s father. (Photo: Jeff Gentner/Getty Images)
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In 2010, 3?-year-old Dannielynn made her Kentucky Derby debut wearing flowers in her blond hair. The little girl was already famous, both because of her mom — who died of a drug overdose when Dannielynn was just 5 months old — and because of the subsequent custody battle between Birkhead and Howard K. Stern, who was initially listed as Dannielynn’s father on her birth certificate. In April 2007, DNA results proved that Birkhead was the girl’s father. (Photo: Jeff Gentner/Getty Images)
![“[Dannielynn’s] like any other kid, except there’s a lot of attention on her,” Birkhead said on Today two weeks after the 2010 Kentucky Derby. “We try to do the playdates like any other family. Sometimes it’s difficult. People pop cameras out.” (Photo: Michael Hickey/WireImage)](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/voizLev.dDIR372m3eGYLQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTE1NjU-/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/PBC86idLQO6gwN_03NM80A--~B/aD0xMDI0O3c9NjI4O2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://66.media.tumblr.com/b39fa97a6e00656b089f48ac67feafd8/tumblr_inline_o5xzb2BcuI1tcrq9x_1280.jpg)
“[Dannielynn’s] like any other kid, except there’s a lot of attention on her,” Birkhead said on Today two weeks after the 2010 Kentucky Derby. “We try to do the playdates like any other family. Sometimes it’s difficult. People pop cameras out.” (Photo: Michael Hickey/WireImage)
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“[Dannielynn’s] like any other kid, except there’s a lot of attention on her,” Birkhead said on Today two weeks after the 2010 Kentucky Derby. “We try to do the playdates like any other family. Sometimes it’s difficult. People pop cameras out.” (Photo: Michael Hickey/WireImage)
Anna Nicole’s daughter was so young that she needed a nap before the day was over. What a cutie! (Photo: Jeff Gentner/Getty Images)
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Anna Nicole’s daughter was so young that she needed a nap before the day was over. What a cutie! (Photo: Jeff Gentner/Getty Images)
Dannielynn was full of energy and just adored her dad when she arrived at Churchill Downs for the 2011 event. She sported an animal-print look that we’re sure her mom would’ve loved. (Photo: Stephen Cohen/Getty Images for Longines)
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Dannielynn was full of energy and just adored her dad when she arrived at Churchill Downs for the 2011 event. She sported an animal-print look that we’re sure her mom would’ve loved. (Photo: Stephen Cohen/Getty Images for Longines)
It wasn’t easy, but somehow Birkhead was able to slow his daughter down long enough for the traditional photo to be taken of father and daughter sharing a kiss on the red carpet. (Photo: Joey Foley/FilmMagic)
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It wasn’t easy, but somehow Birkhead was able to slow his daughter down long enough for the traditional photo to be taken of father and daughter sharing a kiss on the red carpet. (Photo: Joey Foley/FilmMagic)
As Dannielynn has grown older, her hair accessories have grown larger. In 2012, the pretty 5-year-old sported a floral look. Her headwear coordinated perfectly with her dress and sandals. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
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As Dannielynn has grown older, her hair accessories have grown larger. In 2012, the pretty 5-year-old sported a floral look. Her headwear coordinated perfectly with her dress and sandals. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Dannielynn’s cow hand puppet also got a smooch from Larry! The photogenic kid modeled for Guess, the company that made her mom famous, later that same year. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
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Dannielynn’s cow hand puppet also got a smooch from Larry! The photogenic kid modeled for Guess, the company that made her mom famous, later that same year. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Dad and daughter chose a Mary Poppins theme for their 2013 ensembles. She was Mary, of course, and he was Bert, just as audiences saw them in the “Jolly Holiday” section of the classic Disney movie. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
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Dad and daughter chose a Mary Poppins theme for their 2013 ensembles. She was Mary, of course, and he was Bert, just as audiences saw them in the “Jolly Holiday” section of the classic Disney movie. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
In an August 2013 interview with OWN, Birkhead revealed that his little lady was already into beauty products. “Sometimes she wants to put makeup on me, or fingernail polish, or whatever, and I try to go along with it ’cause I figure if her mom were here, she would be doing some of the same things,” he said. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/WireImage)
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In an August 2013 interview with OWN, Birkhead revealed that his little lady was already into beauty products. “Sometimes she wants to put makeup on me, or fingernail polish, or whatever, and I try to go along with it ’cause I figure if her mom were here, she would be doing some of the same things,” he said. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/WireImage)
Dannielynn’s adorable looks at the Kentucky Derby — including the colorful outfit she wore in 2014 — don’t come easily. “It has become a big chore to pick out the outfits!” her dad told USA Today in 2015. (Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
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Dannielynn’s adorable looks at the Kentucky Derby — including the colorful outfit she wore in 2014 — don’t come easily. “It has become a big chore to pick out the outfits!” her dad told USA Today in 2015. (Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
The 7-year-old’s snaggletooth smile made her all the more precious. (Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)
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The 7-year-old’s snaggletooth smile made her all the more precious. (Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)
Two days after the 2015 race, Birkhead confirmed what the pics of his daughter showed: “She is doing great, getting super tall, and just has become this funny, intelligent, beautiful girl that I am so proud of,” he said. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Churchill Downs)
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Two days after the 2015 race, Birkhead confirmed what the pics of his daughter showed: “She is doing great, getting super tall, and just has become this funny, intelligent, beautiful girl that I am so proud of,” he said. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Churchill Downs)
Besides a prestigious horse race, big hats, and mint juleps, the Kentucky Derby is known as the place to see the adorable Dannielynn Birkhead. The daughter of the late model Anna Nicole Smith has regularly attended the event with her father, Larry Birkhead, ever since she was old enough to know how to pose on a red carpet. Photos of their annual day at the races show that the pretty Dannielynn, now 9, has become quite the little lady.