Dannielynn Birkhead's Style Transformation, From Anna Nicole's Mini-Me To Budding Fashionista

It's no secret that pictures of Anna Nicole Smith and her daughter, Dannielynn Birkhead, will have you seeing double. Smith was an actor, best remembered for portraying Tanya in "Naked Gun 33 ⅓: The Final Insult." However, her talents extended beyond the film industry, and in 1993, she became Playboy Playmate of the Year. While she was best known for her film and modeling career, which included campaigns for Guess, Smith sparked attention when she married 89-year-old billionaire J. Howard Marshall in 1994.

From one legal battle to another, when the model gave birth to her daughter in 2006, what was meant to be a happy time turned into a public paternity dispute. In 2007, when Dannielynn Birkhead was just five months old, Anna Nicole Smith suffered a fatal drug overdose. That same year, after a DNA test revealed that photographer Larry Birkhead was the biological father, he was awarded custody and the two have lived together ever since.

In the past, Dannielynn Birkhead has weaved the memory of her mom into her style. And for the most part, she and her dad have proudly posed at the Kentucky Derby wearing matching statement outfits for years. But as of 2026, Dannielynn Birkhead has traded her florals and frills for a much darker aesthetic of her own, and her newfound love for gothic fashion has left her looking almost unrecognizable.

As a child, Dannielynn Birkhead was photographed at public events wearing bright colors. While the daddy-daughter duo haven't been seen without coordinating outfits at the Kentucky Derby in recent years, in 2010, they posed on the red carpet wearing very different looks. While Larry Birkhead took to the event wearing a white pantsuit and a blue tie, little Dannielynn Birkhead, around three years old, smiled wearing a vibrant pink dress. Her ensemble had been adorned with giant roses and boasted a tulle skirt. Her look was topped with a delicate hot pink cardigan. Dannielynn Birkhead's look was finished with a pair of crystal pink sandals and a floral hairclip.

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At the "Smurfs 2" premiere in 2013, Dannielynn Birkhead attended the event looking a little different. While she had swapped her hot pink dress for a multicolored number, it was clear she wasn't ready to ditch vibrant garments just yet. Side-by-side with her dad, the young girl smiled wearing a blue, gray, and yellow dress that nodded to the film premiere. Once again, her bright sandals blended seamlessly with her outfit, and she accessorized with a blue and yellow fascinator. While Larry Birkhead had clearly tried to match with his daughter, their coordinated looks didn't distract from the fact that Dannielynn undeniably resembles her mom.

Dannielynn Birkhead and Larry Birkhead have become known for their coordinated red carpet looks at the annual Kentucky Derby. Until her teen years, Dannielynn Birkhead embraced florals. And despite adapting her own preferred floral motif color palette each year, one thing remained consistent — Larry Birkhead and Dannielynn Birkhead were always matching. At the 2016 Kentucky Derby, the pair stepped onto the red carpet wearing mint green garments adorned with pink floral accents. The flowers ran through the creases of Dannielynn Birkhead's ballgown-inspired dress and corresponded with her floral hairpiece. While her hot pink shoes only drew attention to the floral embellishments, her heels proved she was getting older.

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Dannielynn Birkhead attended the 2018 Kentucky Derby wearing a similar ballgown-inspired number. However, this time, her voluminous outfit was covered in blue flowers, with a blue ribbon cinching the white frock. Emerging into her teen years, Dannielynn Birkhead opted for more mature accessories, including a large white hat and satin white gloves. Once again, she concluded the ensemble with an embellished pair of kitten heels. 

Like other celebrity kids who inherited their parents' famous style, Dannielynn Birkhead embraced her mother's love for pink at the Kentucky Derby in 2019. By wearing Smith's tulle-clad hat, Dannielynn Birkhead also paid homage to the profound impact that her mom had on the annual horse race. Together with other celebrities, Anna Nicole Smith helped turn Kentucky Derby fashion into a red carpet spectacle. On one well-documented occasion, she embraced an entirely pink aesthetic that featured the hat later worn by Dannielynn. Dannielynn Birkhead's all-pink look boasted pearl embellishments and a tulle skirt that featured frills. Glossy pink sandals and pearl bracelets completed the look and added an extra touch of coordination to her nostalgic ensemble.

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Dannielynn Birkhead's late teenage years were clearly characterized by statement headwear and frilly glam. At the Kentucky Derby in 2022, she stepped onto the red carpet wearing a giant turquoise fascinator. The dramatic headwear added to her already bold look. Posing alongside her dad, Dannielynn Birkhead smiled wearing a multicolored dress that featured vibrant shades of green, orange, yellow, blue, pink, and red. She concluded her look with floral sandals that featured vibrant flowers. Her courageous gown featured a frilled hem and puff sleeves. For the first time, Dannielynn Birkhead attended the event wearing makeup. Clad in red lipstick and bold dark eye makeup, she made it clear she was evolving into a young woman who appreciated glamor — just like her mom.

In the final years of her teens, Dannielynn Birkhead prioritized elegance and maturity for her looks at the Kentucky Derby. In 2023, she took to the racecourse wearing a ballgown-style dress that pointed to her prior love for florals. While the dress bodice remained plain and simple, representing the colors of a blue sky, a dramatic sunflower covered the skirt. The controlled color palette enhanced her more mature allure, while her encrusted necklace exuded glamor and sophistication. She maintained her bold makeup look, and her ensemble seamlessly blended with her bouncy Hollywood-style curls. Her hair was so voluminous that her subtle hairclip almost went unnoticed.

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At the 2024 Kentucky Derby, Dannielynn Birkhead posed next to her dad wearing a more tailored silhouette. While her vibrant maxi dress featured a shirt-style bodice and a belt that cinched her waistline, she exuded femininity. The flowing skirt was a complete contrast to her voluminous structured sleeves that featured petal-like layers. While the tailored ensemble was predominantly a bright coral shade, an orange and pink petal-inspired pattern referenced Dannielynn Birkhead's former love for florals. She donned a similar makeup look to her previous appearances and accessorized with an elegant pink and purple fascinator. 

At the Barnstable Brown Gala in 2025, Dannielynn Birkhead raided her mom's wardrobe for yet another look. She stepped onto the red carpet wearing the same black gown that Smith wore to the same event in 2004. The dress showcased how Dannielynn Birkhead and her mom share the same versatile approach to their style. Not only did Dannielynn's hair appear lighter, but she also opted for a more relaxed style and wore a messy bun that flowed into loose ringlets that skimmed her cheeks. The black dress featured a swooping neckline, topped with crystal embellishments. Her daring ensemble marked a notable shift in her style. Not only was she opting for more mature gowns, but she had also developed a gothic edge.

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In 2026, Dannielynn Birkhead arrived at the Barnstable Brown Gala wearing another gothic-inspired look. Her black gown featured a square neckline and a sheer skirt. The transparency added an edge to her simple ensemble and proved she was no longer the little girl who loved wearing hot pink ballgowns. In an interview with Access Hollywood, she revealed that she dresses to look like a vampire every day. "I feel like a vampire, which is the goal everyday, just so you know," she said. She also swapped her flowing blonde locks for an ombre black-and-white pixie cut which her dad fully supports.