Anna Nicole Smith is classy

Former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith has appeared before the US Supreme Court in her long-running legal bid to inherit her late husband's fortune. The former stripper - who famously wed oil tycoon J Howard Marshall II in
1994 when she was 26 and he was 89 - has been fighting her ex's son for a
share of his $1.6bn estate since he died in 1995.

A federal judge awarded her $450m in 2000, but this was reduced on appeal to $88m. One of Marshall's two sons continued to contest the award, which was thrown out entirely in 2002 in the Texas state courts.

The justices of the Supreme Court must now decide if she can make another claim on her late husband's estate.

The case hinges on the technical issue of the conditions under which federal courts may hear claims that involve state probate proceedings.

The former Guess Model - who insists her spouse told her she would inherit
half of everything he had - looked demure as she arrived at the courthouse
dressed in black on Tuesday (28.02.06). Anna arrived with a swarm of photographers.

During the hearing, Smith sat quietly,
occasionally leaning forward to talk to her lawyers.

After the legal wrangling, she hurried from the court to a waiting SUV,
mouthing "I'm sorry" to the horde of paparazzi waiting outside.
She has since become the star of her own reality TV show, with her behaviour fascinating many viewers reports BBCnews.

Bang Media + Agencies

Images Via JJB