She rose to fame after posing for Playboy magazine, even earning the title Playmate of the Year in 1993. After that, she modeled for fashion brands such as Guess, H&M, Heatherette, and Lane Bryant.

Unfortunately, as we’ve seen so many times, her fame and fortune ultimately became her downfall. But her memory and legacy live on through her daughter, Dannielynn.

Anna Nicole Smith in 1990 (Photo by Barry King/WireImage)

Anna Nicole Smith was born Vickie Lynn Hogan in 1967. She grew up in Houston, Texas, and was raised primarily by her mother and her aunt. Her father reportedly decided to up and leave when Anna was still only a baby.

Friends have talked about Anna’s difficult upbringing, describing it as very tough. Her mother, Virgie, was very stern.

“Vickie’s childhood life was tough. [Her mother] was very… forthright and very strict,” longtime friend Jo McLemore told ABC News.

Anna dropped out of high school and found love in 16-year-old Billy Smith, himself a fellow drop-out. They married quickly, and soon after that, Anna had her first child. Her son, Daniel, was born when Anna was only 18 years old.

Anna Nicole Smith (right) and brother (center) and her son Daniel (Photo by Barry King/WireImage)

Unfortunately, the marriage with Billy didn’t last very long. Anna Nicole became a single mother raising a son – this without an education or a job. In the end, she became a dancer at a bar. One thing led to another, and suddenly the young, blond bombshell from Houston caught the eye of the mighty Playboy Magazine.

After several photos shoots with Playboy, Anna Nicole became one of the biggest names in the modeling industry. She was signed by William Morris, one of the most praised talent agencies in the United States.

Modeling jobs poured in thereafter, and Anna Nicole appeared in advertising campaigns all over the world. She made huge headlines when she posed in lingerie for the Swedish clothing company H&M. In fact, that specific campaign caused quite a stir.

Anna Nicole Smith in publicity portrait for the film ‘Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult’, 1994. (Photo by Paramount/Getty Images)

People described Nicole Smith as a potential traffic hazard – drivers simply lost focus when they saw her pictures on billboards along the highways.

At the peak of her career, Anna Nicole Smith was one of the most recognized people globally, and the newspapers couldn’t get enough of her. For her part, Anna seemed to love the attention.

“I love the paparazzi. They take pictures, and I just smile away. I’ve always liked the attention. I didn’t get very much growing up, and I always wanted to be, you know, noticed,” she once told the Washington Post.

But of course, the life of a mega celebrity had its dark sides.

Her high-profile relationship with petroleum tycoon J. Howard Marshall was the beginning of her downfall. The 63-year-old age difference between Anna and her elderly husband raised many eyebrows – a lot of people were of the belief that Anna was only interested in Marshall because of his fortune.