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Origins -

Anna Nicole Smith was born Vickie Lynn Hogan on November 28, 1967, in Houston, Texas. She grew up in a working-class family and had a tumultuous childhood filled with struggles.

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Raised by a single mother -

After her parents' divorce, Anna was raised by her mother, Virgie Arthur, who worked as a sheriff’s deputy. She often spoke about feeling neglected and wanting a glamorous life.

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Small-town girl -

Anna spent most of her childhood in Mexia, Texas, a small town with a population of fewer than 7,000 people. She dropped out of high school in ninth grade.

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Early jobs before fame -

Before entering the entertainment industry, Anna worked various low-wage jobs, including at Jim's Krispy Fried Chicken in Mexia, where she met her first husband.

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Teen marriage and motherhood -

At just 17 years old, she married a fry cook named Billy Wayne Smith. A year later, in 1986, she gave birth to her son, Daniel Wayne Smith, whom she deeply adored.

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Struggles as a young mother -

As a single mother, Anna struggled financially and worked as a stripper at a Houston nightclub called Gigi's, where she caught the attention of a Playboy scout.

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Discovered as a model -

She quickly caught the attention of Hugh Hefner, who saw her potential as a Playmate.

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Playboy’s Playmate of the Year -

After being featured in Playboy's March 1992 issue, Anna became Playmate of the Year in 1993. She was an instant sensation.

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Marilyn Monroe as inspiration -

Anna idolized Marilyn Monroe, emulating her look, style, and mannerisms. She often said Monroe was her greatest influence.

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Guess Jeans supermodel -

Her Playboy fame led to a contract with Guess Jeans in 1992. She appeared in high-profile campaigns, replacing Claudia Schiffer, and became an international sex symbol.

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Global success -

Beyond Guess, Anna worked with H&M, Lane Bryant, and Heatherette. Her image was plastered on billboards worldwide, making her one of the most recognizable models of the 1990s.

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Comparisons to Jayne Mansfield -

Due to her curvy figure and Hollywood glamour aesthetic, she was often compared to 1950s bombshell Jayne Mansfield, another Playboy model and blonde Hollywood star.

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Marrying billionaire J. Howard Marshall -

While dancing at a Houston strip club in 1991, Anna met J. Howard Marshall, an 86-year-old oil tycoon. In 1994, they married, sparking controversy due to their 63-year age gap.

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Claims of true love -

Anna insisted that her marriage was about love, not money. She claimed Marshall made her feel special, giving her lavish gifts, including diamonds and luxury cars.

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Inheritance battle after Marshall's death -

When Marshall died in 1995, Anna was left out of his will. She spent years battling his family in court, fighting for a portion of his estimated US$1.6 billion fortune.

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Supreme Court case -

The legal dispute over Marshall's estate went all the way to the US Supreme Court in 2006. The court ruled in her favor, but the case remained unresolved.

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Acting career -

Anna tried acting, landing roles in 'Naked Gun 33⅓,' 'To the Limit,' and TV shows like 'Ally McBeal' but critics often dismissed her as a Marilyn Monroe lookalike.

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'The Anna Nicole Show' -

She gained a new level of fame with her E! reality show, 'The Anna Nicole Show,' which documented her eccentric life from 2002 to 2004.

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Weight gain and TrimSpa endorsement -

Anna gained significant weight but later became the face of TrimSpa, a weight-loss supplement. Her dramatic transformation was highly publicized, but the company later faced legal trouble.

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Public persona and media scrutiny -

The media often portrayed Anna as a tragic figure, highlighting her slurred speech, erratic behavior, and personal struggles, making her a constant tabloid target.

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Death of her son -

Anna's son, Daniel, died at age 20 from a drug overdose just three days after she gave birth to her daughter, Dannielynn, in the Bahamas in September 2006.

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Paternity battle over Dannielynn -

Several men claimed to be Dannielynn's father, including her lawyer Howard K. Stern and photographer Larry Birkhead. DNA tests confirmed Birkhead was the biological father in 2007.

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Depression and prescription drug use -

Following Daniel's death, Anna became increasingly reliant on prescription drugs, including methadone and sedatives, leading to further concerns about her health and well-being.

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Mysterious death -

On February 8, 2007, Anna was found unresponsive in a Florida hotel room. She was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead at 39 years old.

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Accidental overdose -

The autopsy revealed that she died of an accidental overdose caused by a lethal combination of prescription medications, including chloral hydrate, methadone, and antianxiety drugs.

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Buried in the Bahamas -

Anna was buried next to her son Daniel in the Bahamas, fulfilling her wish to be laid to rest beside him. The funeral was highly publicized.

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Legal battles over her estate -

After her death, a legal battle ensued over Dannielynn's inheritance, as Anna's unresolved Supreme Court case over J. Howard Marshall's estate was still pending.

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Dannielynn Birkhead's life today -

Anna's daughter, Dannielynn, has been raised by her father, Larry Birkhead. He has kept her out of the spotlight, ensuring she lives a normal childhood.

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Pop culture legacy -

Despite her tragic end, Anna is remembered for her larger-than-life persona and her rise from small-town Texas girl to global fame.

Sources: (People) (ABC News) (CNN)

See also: Famous people who died of overdoses

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