In Memoriam Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith's death on Thursday, 8 February 2007, mirrored that of her son, Daniel, just five months previously, both succumbing to lethal cocktails of prescription drugs and alcohol. Daniel died just three days following the birth of his half-sister, Dannielynn.
There is so much speculation and confusion surrounding Anna Nicole's death. Was she murdered? Will Dannielynn inherit Anna Nicole's fortune when her will left everything to her dead son? Just how much of a fortune did Anna Nicole have anyway?
At 39, Anna Nicole's death also echoes that of the two icons she resembled: Marilyn Monroe who died aged 36, in 1962, of a drug overdose alone in her home, and Jayne Mansfield who was killed aged 34, in 1967, in a car accident. Anna Nicole was born the year Jayne Mansfield died, and Anna Nicole's death occured in the year of the fortieth anniversary of Mansfield's death.
Anna Nicole leaves motherless her little girl of barely five months (although there seem to be no shortage of fathers). Jayne left behind her five children ranging in ages between two years and sixteen years.
Anna Nicole Smith was buried on 1 March 2007, beside her son in the Bahamas, her pink funeral again reminiscent of Jayne Mansfield, for whom the colour pink became a part of her identity.
Image of Anna Nicole Smith, photographer unknown.
Live fast, die young, leave a good-looking corpse
But a day or so later I happened to be in one of those "Poor me" type of moods where I didn't seem to be getting where I wanted to be - and I suddenly thought, "I'm alive. And Anna Nicole Smith is dead." Here was a celebrity who had achieved wealth and fame for, it seemed to me, not doing very much, and yet she was no longer around to make the most of all she had attained.
It put a few things in perspective for me, and so I started paying a bit more attention to the news reports, and I began to feel sorry for her baby daughter. And so I decided to find out a little more about this woman, who, despite the negative publicity, had something about her that made her immensely popular.
The Blonde Bombshells
Anna Nicole, Jayne, Marilyn, Jean...
Anna Nicole Smith, Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, and Jean Harlow - all of these beautiful women died under the age of 40. Two of them died of drug-related causes, probably accidental. All of them married as teenagers. Two of them left behind young children under the age of two, who would only ever know their mothers through the pictures and film footage of them. Two of them died childless, despite wanting to be mothers.Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield was one of the first starlets to use the nipple slip wardrobe malfunction publicity stunt, when she attempted to upstage actress Sofia Loren.
Jayne was married three times, while Anna Nicole was apparently about to tie the knot for the third time with partner Howard Stern.Jayne Mansfield was killed in a car accident on 29 June 1967. Her youngest child, Tony, was just two years old.
Marilyn Monroe and Jean Harlow
Jayne Mansfield, Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, and Anna Nicole Smith were all married as teenagers, Jean, Jayne, and Marilyn at age 16, Anna Nicole at 17.While Anna Nicole Smith idolised Marilyn Monroe, Monroe idolised Jean Harlow, who died of kidney failure in 1937, age 26. In 1962, Marilyn Monroe was about to meet with producers about starring in a movie about Jean Harlow's life - Monroe herself died that same week. She was only ten years older than Harlow was at her death.
Photo credits:
Anna Nicole Smith, image 1 & 2: Guess Jeans advertisements from Interview magazine; image 3: G-Phoria - The Award Show 4 Gamers; image 4: unknown, source krandolph, flikr; Jayne Mansfield, image 1: copyright Hugh Hefner enterprises; image 2: copyright 20th Century Fox, publicity photo for film "Kiss Them for Me"; image 3: copyright Vanity Fair; Marilyn Monroe: unknown (all images: low res fair use claimed for comparison or illustrative purposes)
Remembering Anna Nicole for her looks
Capture Anna Nicole's style
At one stage, Anna Nicole had a lovely elegance and style. Remember her for this, and not the heartbreaking scenes of drug-addled self-embarrassment.
Anna Nicole - Demure and Sophisticated
Long blonde wigSterling Silver and Cubic Zirconia cross pendant necklace and Sterling Silver and Cubic Zirconia stud earrings
Ivory cashmere scarf and Black boucle jacket
Designer shadesAnna Nicole - Sexy and Bubbly
Red Halter-neck dress (with rhinestone amulet) (pictured left)To pull off a revealing dress like this, you'll need The all-important double-sided Hollywood tape
Reveal lifting self-adhesive bra (if you have assets) or Silicone Self-Adhesive Bra with Push Ups or Silicon enhancer bra pads (if you don't).
Rhinestone Ankle Strap Sandal (pictured left) ...and Zsa Zsa
With her nineth husband, Frederick Prinz von Anhalt, announcing recently that he and Anna Nicole Smith conducted a decade-long affair, Zsa Zsa Gabor has unwittingly been drawn in to the media frenzy also.But von Anhalt's confession is not surprising considering the resemblance Anna Nicole bore to a young Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Zsa Zsa turned 90 years of age this year, her birthday just two days before Anna Nicole's death.
Photo credits:
Anna Nicole Smith: as for image 2; Zsa Zsa Gabor: Book cover, How to Catch a Man, How to Keep a Man, How to Get Rid of a Man (1970), Doubleday and Company, Inc., hardback edition, book design by David Miller and Arlene Schleifer (all images: low res fair use claimed for comparison or illustrative purposes)
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Marilyn Monroe
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Remembering Anna Nicole for her laughter, tears, and tantrums
The Anna Nicole Show - The First Season
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
![Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult [Region 2]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515SNWVHYVL._SL75_.jpg)
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult [Region 2]
Anna Nicole co-starred in this comedy as part of a group of sabateurs intent on blowing up the Academy Award show.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Pseudonyms and Screen Names
- Anna Nicole Smith was born Vickie Lynn Hogan, and became first Vickie Lynn Smith, and then Vickie Lynn Marshall after her marriages, to Billy Smith and J Howard Marshall respectively.
- Jayne Mansfield was born Vera Jayne Palmer. She used her middle name, Jayne, and became Jayne Mansfield after her marriage to Paul Mansfield.
- Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson, and baptised Norma Jeane Baker. She began her modelling career under her married name, Norma Dougherty. Monroe was her mother's maiden name, and Marilyn was suggested by talent scout Ben Lyon as a more marketable name than Norma.
- Jean Harlow was born Harlean Carpenter. Her mother's name was Jean Harlow, and this is the name she used when she became an actress. She was occasionally credited as Jean Harlowe.
- Zsa Zsa Gabor was born Sári Gábor.
- Anita Ekberg was born Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg.
The latest news on Anna Nicole's death
There have been so many rumours flying around, including "Anna Nicole was murdered".
We do know now that Anna Nicole's death was caused by a combination of prescription drugs that proved fatal. And we know that Larry Birkhead is the real father of Dannielynn.
Keep up to date with the latest developments as they unfold...
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byRumours surrounding Anna Nicole's death
We do know now that Anna Nicole's death was caused by a combination of prescription drugs that proved fatal. And we know that Larry Birkhead is the real father of Dannielynn.
What does the future hold for Dannielynn?
Poor little rich girl
Dannielynn is one year old. So far things look fairly happy for her, with dad Larry throwing her a huge birthday bash on September 8.Paula Yates & Tiger
In 2000, Paula Yates died of a drug overdose at the age of 41, three years after the love of her life, Michael Hutchence, died in a suspicious hanging incident.
Bob Geldoff proved that paternity isn't the important issue, when he took custody of ex-wife Paula Yates's orphan daughter - what matters is that an innocent and helpless little girl has a big inheritance, but no home and no family. Fight over custody if you must, but get some sort of family in place as soon as possible.
We're yet to witness how Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily will turn out after growing up in the Geldoff household, and coping with losing both her biological parents at such a young age. Sir Bob is keeping her privacy under a tight wrap, and is reluctant to offer any information about her.
Jayne Mansfield & Mariska
But not all hope is lost, if we look at how well Mariska Hargitay, daughter of Jayne Mansfield is doing. Last year she won an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy award for her portrayal of Detective Olivia Benson in Law and Order: SVU. Mariska was three when her mother died.
Photo credit:
Mariska Hargitay: Still from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NBC
Did you love her, loathe her, pity her?
How has Anna Nicole's death affected you?
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chloecavanaugh
I thought this lens was very informative. I loved the pic of Zsa Zsa. And the story about Mariska. A big thumbs up! ***** Posted January 13, 2008 |
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MsFit
Really good squidoo. Posted November 04, 2007 |
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BigGirlBlue
I was saddened by her death, it's an unfortunate legacy for her daughter. Posted May 25, 2007 |
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cathyalbny
I was saddened by her death. She was so like Jayne mansfield,marilyn monroe. It's the most interesting of all to me. This really touched me I really thought she was awesome!! Posted April 17, 2007 |
More about Anna Nicole
- Anna Nicole Smith's Death
- My former colleague Lilly also has a great lens about Anna Nicole. Check it out...
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