Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith, a former Guess model and Playboy centerfold, passed
away on the afternoon of Thursday February 8th, 2007 in Hollywood, Florida
at the age 39, only 3 years senior to her idol, Marilyn Monroe, who died
at age 36 in 1962. The troubled star was born Vickie Lynn Hogan in
Mexia, Texas in 1967 (the same year as Pamela Anderson). Seventeen years later, in 1984,
Anna Nicole married William "Billy" Smith and became the mother of a son,
Daniel. She abandoned her family and went to Houston, where "Vickie"
became "Nikki", then "Robin", then at last the much classier "Anna
Nicole". Feeling she was destined to live a life like Marilyn Monroe, she
learned many of Marilyn's songs by heart, as well as adopting many of her
mannerisms, but it was a magazine cover contest for Playboy that gave her
the start at the age of 24. This led to an ad campaign for GUESS in 1992
where she captured world-wide fame as the "GUESS girl". The following
year, she was named the Playboy Playmate of the Year. This opened more
doors including the talk show circuit. As if her notoriety was not
already well-established, it was her 1994 marriage to an 89 year-old
billionaire in a wheelchair, oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II, that
garnered her additional headlines. After the senior passed away in 1995
the heirs of Marshall successfully prevented her from receiving much more
than a few million dollars inheritance.
In 2004 Anna Nicole Smith appeared as Marilyn Monroe in PETA's "Gentlemen Prefer Fur-Free Blondes" ad campaign, which paralleled a survey in Marie Claire's September issue which announced that the majority of men were against the use of furs in women's apparel. Like other well-endowed models, she was an animal rights advocate. Her career was assisted by a variety of body sculpturing procedures which assisted in her aspirations, including an appearance in the Leslie Nielsen comedy, "Naked Gun Gun 33 1/3". More recently chronic weight problems, legal difficulties, and the tragic death of her son in 2006 impacted heavily on the star. As controversial as she was throughout most of her life, it is likely controversy will surround her passing. This page will remain in fond memory of a stunning star, who demonstrated the courage to follow her dreams to the fullest. .15hqqp. 
Free counters provided by Andale. | |||
