Dannielynn Birkhead made a stylish appearance at the 2025 Kentucky Derby, and this year, her look came with a personal touch. She wore her late mother Anna Nicole Smith’s jewelry to the event. She attended the Derby with her dad, Larry Birkhead, and even though her mom passed away when she was little, Dannielynn still finds ways to remember her.
Anna Nicole Smith died in 2007 from an accidental drug overdose. Dannielynn was only five months old at the time. Since then, her father has raised her alone. Now that she’s 18, Dannielynn is stepping into the spotlight more, but she still keeps her mom close, especially at big events like this one.
Dannielynn Birkhead wore late mom’s backless gown and jewelry to the Kentucky Derby
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On Saturday, May 3, Dannielynn showed up in a pale blue strapless dress with layers of ruffled tulle. The dress looked like something from a ’50s prom and was designed by Mac Duggal. She paired the outfit with gold jewelry once owned by her mom. Dannielynn wore a large pendant necklace, a gold watch, and several gold bangles. She also wore a blue feather fascinator to match her gown.
The night before the race, she attended the Barnstable Brown Gala wearing one of her mom’s old dresses, a long, backless gown that caught everyone’s attention. It’s not the first time she’s worn her mom’s things to the Derby weekend, but this year felt more grown-up, now that she’s officially an adult.
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Larry Birkhead and Dannielynn Birkhead have a tradition of attending Kentucky Derby every year
Every year, Larry and Dannielynn attend the Kentucky Derby together. Over time, their outfits have become a big deal. Larry joked that people now expect them to show up in standout looks, which means more effort and more money each time.
Choosing the dress wasn’t easy. According to Larry, Dannielynn got tired of picking and finally just chose one at random. They ended up with the Mac Duggal gown, which turned out to be the right choice. Dannielynn also said this was the first time she ever wore her mom’s gold necklace and bangles.