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Dannielynn Birkhead Honors Mother with Goth Derby Look

5/3/2026

45 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Dannielynn Debuts Goth

Dannielynn Birkhead, 19, debuted a goth-rock look at the 2026 Kentucky Derby on May 2.
She and photographer Larry Birkhead had attended the Barnstable-Brown Gala on May 1 before the Derby.
Dannielynn wore a strapless black gown with white floral embroidery, a matching fascinator, and a gray-platinum pixie cut.
She said the edgy ensemble honors her late mother, model Anna Nicole Smith, while expressing her own style as a forensic science major.

Summary

Dannielynn Pursues Majors

The Barnstable Brown Gala raised over $22 million for the University of Kentucky’s Diabetes Center.
Father Larry Birkhead said Dannielynn finished her first semester with good grades, likening it to a horse race.
She told PEOPLE she may double-major in culinary studies because she loves baking and enjoys being compared to her mother while seeking her own identity.

History

Historical Context

Anna Nicole Smith married oil heir J. Howard Marshall in 1994; his death in August 1995 sparked a multiyear estate fight that reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 2006 and again in 2011. Their daughter Dannielynn Birkhead, a 2026 Derby entrant, honored Smith at the Barnstable-Brown Gala, which raised $22 million for the University of Kentucky Diabetes Center.

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Dannielynn Debuts Goth

Dannielynn Birkhead, 19, debuted a goth-rock look at the 2026 Kentucky Derby on May 2.
She and photographer Larry Birkhead had attended the Barnstable-Brown Gala on May 1 before the Derby.
Dannielynn wore a strapless black gown with white floral embroidery, a matching fascinator, and a gray-platinum pixie cut.
She said the edgy ensemble honors her late mother, model Anna Nicole Smith, while expressing her own style as a forensic science major.

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