Dannielynn Birkhead, daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith, is following in her mother's footsteps -- no, not the ones with a penchant for breast implants, drugs and octogenarians.

Like her mom, young Dannielynn is now a GUESS model.

The photographs for GUESS Kids come 20 years after Anna Nicole modeled for GUESS Jeans, and according to a press release from the company's creative director, Paul Marciano, "Dannielynn has the same playful spirit that her mother had on a set ... She is a second-generation GUESS girl, which makes this campaign a first for us."

Anna Nicole died in 2007 at the age of 39 after overdosing on a mixture of prescription medication. After a lengthy paternity dispute over her then-infant daughter, DNA tests proved Dannielynn's father was Anna Nicole's ex, Larry Birkhead.

He says his 6-year-old daughter knows that her mother died, but isn't yet aware of the circumstances of her death, adding, "At first I said, 'Your mommy's up in the clouds.' Then we were on a plane from Kentucky and she asked, 'Which cloud is my mom on. Maybe she can come play?'”

Sad and cute all rolled into one. Hopefully he can keep the little girl (who's already quite a stunner) from following in too many of her mom's tragic footsteps.

Photos from Dannielynn's spring campaign will start appearing in January 2013. Here's another sneak peek:

Dannielynn Birkhead
GUESS
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