In the eve of the Kentucky Derby, 18-year-old Dannielynn Birkhead paid a poignant tribute to her late mother, Anna Nicole Smith, by donning one of the model’s iconic gowns at the annual Barnstable Brown Gala.

The black halter dress with crystal-embellished straps, which Smith wore to the same event in 2004, held deep emotional significance for Dannielynn.

In regards to this, she told Access Hollywood“This is the closest to a hug I can get from her,” while fighting back tears as she walked the red carpet with her father, Larry Birkhead.

Smith passed away in 2007 from an accidental drug overdose when Dannielynn was just five months old.

Since then, father and daughter have upheld their tradition of attending the Derby weekend festivities together, making the event a meaningful yearly ritual, as per Daily Mail.

Larry Birkhead, who met Smith at the Barnstable Gala in 2003, shared his emotional reaction to seeing his daughter in the same dress Anna once wore.

Moreover, he told People“It was emotional because the last time I saw that dress was on Anna. When Dannielynn was little, she once touched that dress. Now she’s old enough to wear it—it’s surreal.”

In addition to the gown, Dannielynn styled her blonde hair in a voluminous updo reminiscent of her mother’s signature look and accessorized with jewelry from Smith’s personal collection.

On Derby Day, the tribute continued as she stunned in a pale green Mac Duggal tulle gown paired with her mother’s gold jewelry, further cementing the fashion legacy she is gradually embracing.

In this regard, Larry noted, “She could pick an outfit a day for the rest of her life and never wear the same thing twice,” while adding that his daughter is just beginning to explore her mother’s vast wardrobe.

Despite the public spotlight surrounding her family, Larry emphasized that Dannielynn is focused on being a regular teenager as he said, “She’s not interested in acting or modeling right now.”