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Saying goodbye to Anna Nicole
Topics: Mas Magazine, Sandy Serrano, Anna Nicole Smith, Bahamas, Hairstylist, Howard K. Stern, Dannielyn Hope, Aries, Capella, Salon True, Outrage, E!, Daniel, Mexia, texas, hard rock, Florida, blog, Podcast, Bakotunes, Bakersfield, Bakotopia, arts
Posted by matt Thu Feb 15, 2007 13:50:06 PST
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0 responses 22 comments <Hear Serrano talk about the Anna Nicole she knew.

Saying goodbye to Anna Nicole
Bakersfield hairstylist shocked, saddened over sudden death of her friend / client

It was in the wee hours of Jan. 10 — Sandy Serrano needed to catch an early morning flight back to the U.S. from the Bahamas, but she would not board her plane without first saying goodbye to her friend and client, Anna Nicole Smith.

She went to Smith’s bedroom — where little Dannielynn Hope, then 4 months old, was already awake. And like so many other times over their two-year relationship, Serrano — a native Bakersfield resident who since moved to Southern California, becoming the personal hairstylist to the model/actress — bid Smith farewell with a kiss and a hug, also saying goodbye to Dannielynn, until the next time.

But there would be no next time, for that day would be the last Serrano would ever see Smith alive.

Less than a month later, Feb. 8, the former Playboy Playmate was found unresponsive in her Florida hotel room and was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later. Smith was 39.

Serrano was shocked, even disbelieving of the initial media reports about Smith’s condition.

“I was at work (in L.A.,) in the middle of a client, and somebody told me they found her unresponsive in a hotel room in Florida, so immediately I knew that she was at the Hard Rock, because that’s where she always stayed,” said Serrano, 34, in an exclusive telephone interview with MÁS magazine from her Studio City home. “‘Unresponsive’ to me meant that she had just passed out, something just happened and she was going to be OK.”

As time passed, Serrano nervously waited for word on Smith’s status.

“I was thinking, ‘She’s gonna be OK, she’s gonna be OK,” Serrano recalled.

Then, the devastating news was announced over the radio, and relayed to Serrano through a frantic series of text messages and a flood of cell phone calls.

Her friend was dead, and Serrano’s mind went into a spin.

“Of course, I flipped out,” she said.

Foul play has since been ruled out as the cause of Smith’s death, but the investigation continues as to what actually killed the former reality TV star and Trim Spa diet spokeswoman, whose 20-year-old son, Daniel, also died suddenly Sept. 10 — just three days after the arrival of his newborn sister — while visiting Smith in a Nassau hospital.

For Serrano, as much as she wants answers in the death of Smith, this is a time to mourn a dear friend and a time to set the record straight.

Media frenzy and tabloid reports did much to fuel a persona of Smith that did not accurately portray her, according to Serrano.

Smith’s existence in front of the cameras was often a spectacle of circus proportions.

But to Serrano, Smith’s life away from the celebrity spotlight was really the opposite.

She fondly recalled how the pair first met, quite by fate.

“Anna had lost her hairdresser, and Kimmy (Smith’s personal assistant) was getting her hair done by my boss,” said Serrano, a hairstylist for nearly 17 years now. “My boss said she (Smith) needed hair extensions, so she basically sent her to me.”

For their first appointment, Serrano visited Smith’s home — also in Studio City — the same house where “The Anna Nicole Show” on the “E!” channel was taped, conveniently located behind the salon where Serrano worked.

Serrano remembers briefly meeting Smith on a few social occasions prior to that day’s appointment, but never thought it would lead to a client relationship, let alone a friendship.

“Honestly, it was kind of weird because the first time I met her, I walked into her house, and since I had always watched her show, it felt like I already knew her,” said Serrano of that day. “But also before, I have this weird thing where I know who I’m going to meet. It was like I already knew her.”

Serrano was escorted to the star’s bedroom for an introduction.

“It was just really quiet,” she said. “Her house is really big, and I walked into her room, and she was sitting on her bed, and she just looked really pretty, just from out of bed. No make-up, she just looked really pretty.”

After their second styling appointment, Serrano — who previously worked at Outrage salon in downtown Bakersfield — was notified that Smith liked her work and wanted to hire Serrano as her personal stylist.

“Kimmy told me, ‘Anna really likes you, we were wondering if you could come more often, or if you could work with her every time she needs you for something and travel,’” Serrano said. “That was a compliment — and a big deal. I didn’t know it was going to happen in my future.”

That future took Serrano along with Smith to various locations, including a glamorous photo shoot for Trim Spa and a couple months in Vermont for the filming of “Illegal Aliens” (2006), a yet to be released movie that also included a small role for Smith’s son.

Serrano spent many flights seated next to Smith, even cat-napping together between destinations. When staying in hotels, they often had suites located across from each other.

In fact, that was just the case in early January, when the pair stayed in the same hotel that would be the site of Smith’s eventual death — the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

“I was in the Bahamas vacationing, but then when I got there, she (Smith) had decided she wanted to go get this boat,” said Serrano about Smith’s recent decision to purchase a yacht for easier traveling within the Bahamas. “We all went together to Florida to stay at the Hard Rock for a day or two, while Howard (K. Stern, Smith’s attorney) went out looking for the right boat she wanted.”

Serrano said that Smith planned to christen her yacht, “The Cracker” because that was Daniel’s nickname.
While at the Hard Rock, fight promoter Don King invited Smith and her party to a heavyweight championship bout after learning the celebrity was there, Serrano said.

But Smith was more like regular people than her celebrity image, according to Serrano.

Because she was from Bakersfield, Serrano said she always felt a common bond with the starlet, who being from Mexia, Texas, also knew all about life with that small town feel.

“She was like a real person, and I always explain to people that she was somebody that was like from Bakersfield,” Serrano said. “She wasn’t like how you would think Hollywood people were like — she’d cook for you, get up and do anything for you.”

Although, Smith never did make a visit to Bakersfield — but not because she didn’t want to, Serrano said.

“She never went with me, but I remember her getting mad that I didn’t take her with me when I went. Mad because I didn’t invite her,” said Serrano.

Serrano also appreciated Smith’s non-judgmental attitude toward her hairstylist’s appearance, which includes a wide assortment of colorful “body art.”
 
“She didn’t judge me,” said Serrano of Smith. “She didn’t think I was weird for having tattoos like other people do.”

Some of Serrano’s most memorable times spent with Smith, include activities much more on the mundane side, but fun just the same, she said.

“I went there twice a week to do her hair, but I went there everyday after work. I knew that she didn’t have a lot of friends. I mean, you can tell when someone doesn’t, and she always wanted to watch TV with me, and she always just wanted to hangout,” she said. “‘Fear Factor’ was like her favorite thing ever. She’d watch it to the point that I’d get tired of it and get grossed out by it. If not that, it would just be like rented DVD’s — her favorite was watching horror movies.”

As she watches the media storm surrounding her friend’s untimely death, including what Serrano calls false reports and unfair assessments, it’s a horror movie of sorts come true.

And though she knows firsthand how difficult it was for Smith to deal with Daniel’s death, Serrano strongly believes this was not a suicide.

“The first thought going through my head was that she was left alone, she thought of Daniel, she committed suicide,” Serrano said. “Anytime you left her alone, she thought of Daniel too much. Even if you were in front of her, sometimes she would break down and think of Daniel ... she wanted to see Daniel again ... she would cry a lot, so I just assumed that it was a suicide.

“But then I really thought about it, about the boat, that Howard wasn’t in the room, when they said Moe was there — that’s her bodyguard — his wife was there — that’s the nurse — and they started saying how many people were in the room ... Moe’s kids were there, so it probably happened in front of his kids ... they used to like to visit Anna. So then I started thinking that there was no possibility that she would ever commit suicide in front of children, in Florida, with all those people — ... you just don’t do that, you know?”

Plus, Serrano said, Smith was very involved in the building/remodeling of her new home in the Bahamas, yet another sign that she was looking toward the future.

“She was building a dance studio there ... She was having a 10-foot wall built up around her house so that nobody could, like, take pictures of the baby. She wanted privacy,” Serrano said.

Since Smith’s death, Serrano has tried to contact Stern, whom she considers her friend as well, but has yet to speak with him.

“I tried to call him on the numbers I have, and of course, they were her (Smith’s) phone numbers and her phone and I don’t know if he’s gonna check ‘em — I know eventually he (will), but it’s her voice that answers when you call,” said Serrano, who’s also getting calls from various tabloids looking for a story in the midst of a tragedy.

But, for Serrano, the real story about Anna Nicole Smith is one of a sweet person, a cherished friend, someone who treated her hairstylist like family and her devoted fans with a devotion of her own.

“She loved her fans; she loved every single person, every fan,” Serrano said.

Serrano and Smith planned to see each other again next month, in the Bahamas for Serrano’s upcoming 35th birthday.

Instead, Serrano has made another plan — she’s getting a new tattoo added to the canvas that is her skin: a portrait of Anna Nicole Smith.

-Matt Munoz
Bakotopia / Más staff

*Originally printed in Más Magazine, Vol. 2, Issue 23, 2/16/07.
PICK UP A FREE COPY OF Más TO SEE MORE PHOTOS OF SMITH AND SERRANO

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Comment From: Chase

If its a friend mourning the loss, I'm cool with that. But seriously, this coverage has been ridiculous. She does not deserve the coverage she's getting. Comment From: thenovelist

That's a great article on friendship. Nice work, Matt. I hope in the near future you do a follow-up interview so we can see how Serrano's tattoo turns out, and to see where she's moved on in life... Anyone interested in more links can go to my site for the Karmahitlist connection: http://www.nlbelardes.com/b... Comment From: thenovelist

I think the coverage is deserving. The American public loves controversy. With all the drama behind the baby, the fortune, the DNA, and the tragic death of a pop culture icon, this is a nice human story to the media frenzy. Anna Nicole Smith was a playboy playmate of the year, had her own TV show and is still a part of a drama about millions in fortune. It's a hot story, and worthy. Comment From: chingpea

it's all so sad. anna nicole is human like the rest of us. the poor baby lost a mother and people such as serrano have lost a friend. much love and respect... Comment From: LindaMFrancis

This is a nice change of pace to see the personal side of the person that Anna Nicole was in everyday life. Let face it the frenzy is all about the Money. Its sad to see that side of Human Nature greedy, my hope is that she is allowed to rest in peace and her daughter is allowed to go up loved and happy. She is the one that has to count now. And I hope Anna comes back and haunts anyone who keeps that from happening. Comment From: twinkie

I agree that they just need to bury the poor girl. But come on... Her life was all about greed. Marrying an old man that was practically a corpse because she loved him? doubt that! Then suing his poor children for inheritance money? Why would we expect her death to be anything but a greedfest as well? I did enjoy hearing about her "regular/normal" side though. It's good to know she wasn't always slurring and high on something. Comment From: asashley

Who would've thought there was a Bakersfield connection? But then, why should anything surprise us here?!?! Good work, Matt! Comment From: Chase

I wasn't questioning its marketability, I dont think its 2 week long and then some news WORTHY. Theres plenty more that deserves more coverage than that. Were the rest to subside for some odd reason, then yes, I could see it carrying out for as long as it is. Regardless of her character or everything else entailing, if its not someone's personal recounting of their close relationship (among themselves mind you), the rest of us shouldnt be caring. Comment From: thenovelist

Chase, if the Anna Nicole story isn't newsworthy, why were you the first to comment, and comment more than once? You saw value in throwing your comment out there regarding this particular story. Comment From: thenovelist

Not only is the story newsworthy, it's ongoing. The judge is still making decisions regarding her body. The DNA testing isn't complete... there's people fighting over her body... the story is ongoing. You have the right to not pay attention... Comment From: matildakay

Anna Nicole's story is newsworthy. There are new details unfolding everyday in the news, including this story! There are three men fighting over paternity of the baby, two people fighting over her body and where it will be buried, two coasts judges deciding on DNA testing, her body is still laying in the morgue refrigerated and unembalmed! By the time the judges release her body for burial, it will have to be a closed casket funeral and... her mother is fighting for custody of the child because she believes Howard Stern to be responsible for Anna Nicole's death and her son's death. Plus, the Bahama government says the child can't leave the country. I would say this story is ongoing minute to minute and very newsworthy. And let's not forget the ongoing court case for her dead husband's wealth which all parties involved say will continue. Comment From: Chase

My expression of opinion over the matter doesn't legitimize its significance. Yes, it deserves maybe a day, maybe 2 day mention, but these people are following it like scavengers. There are continuing developments but not worth 5 hours of DAILY coverage. I think a 3 minutes of "They are fighting over the rights, more when we find out more." But instead they start putting things like "Fridge of Death?" up. But then again, the media is so saturated with sensationalized "stories" that I can't remember the last time anything of real value was presented. Sean Hornbeck was gone for 3 years and then returned, that didn't even go for as long. And even that was getting repetitive with the lack of new information. Its a big deal, but there are other things going on between when something big happens, and when the story ends up going somewhere. Again, newsworthy for like...eh... a good (and generous) 2 days maybe?

 

And as soap-operetic as these events are, the only reason it is making news for this long is because it was Anna Nicole Smith, if it were anyone who was not a cool B list famous, then it would have been summed up and forgotten by now.  You ever see an episode of Maury?  Same shit, less money involved.

Comment From: thenovelist

Chase, why are you relying on the mainstream media for all of your news? And why are you watching so much TV? You're going to go cross-eyed. That's where the problem is. There are plenty of alternatives, including news magazines, news out of other countries, varying news blog sites, that pay attention to far more than the death of a star... Comment From: ViolinPro

Anna Nicole's story has captivated us like a soap opera.

Anyone around old enough to remember the "Luke and Laura" craze? How 'bout "who shot JR?"

Our fascination feels like a fictional, stay-tuned-for-the-next-storyline-twist, and has the likely potential of turning into a meaningless, shallow, money-greedy, lawyer-driven media frenzy.

Instead of just a quiet step back from all the other crappy news we hear every day.

And, I suppose, that's a statement in itself ...

It's hard to remember sometimes that this was a real woman, and a tragically sad story about a Mom who just couldn't reconcile the loss of one dear child to manage the birth of another so close together.

She certainly had her flaws, but the one that I've heard not one person ever contest was that she loved her son, Daniel.

She was never able to fight back all those demons after his death.

A woman who endured every kind of public praise, adoration, scorn and ridicule just by trying to do the best she could to be her own rather outrageous self ...

just couldn't come back after the takeout punch of her son's death.

And somehow she slipped away, too young, into death herself.

It's newsworthy. It's not "girls gone wild" material.

Thanks for the story.

I think the pic of her and Serrano is one of the most beautiful I've seen of her.

All In MHO,

Karin Comment From: Chase

I never said that was my sole newsource. Unfortunately its those media outlets that are setting the social mood. But obviously mainstream media has been poisoned. However, a general majority of alternative media is filled with bumbling psuedo-intellectuals trying to convince the world that the government planned 9-11 (and on that note, if you watch Loose Change, actually analyze the information that is used and find its original context). But I digress. Still, this is exploitation of her death and life. But then again, I guess she's agreed by way of passivity to previous exploitation so why not again? Again, I'm not discrediting it's appeal to pathos, but I just think, from a source that sets the national concern, I'm just thinkin... eh.

* Not to say that Loose Change didn't connect some legitimate suspicion, but when looked at as a whole, and compared to hard facts, its integrity and 'journalistic credibility' is kind of faulty.

Comment From: Chase

And again.... Shawn (Sean? I dont know how it was spelled) Hornbeck, that was dropped in less than a week. Why? Two reasons, cause it was something that was the most unlikely situation ever to occur (an abducted child found after THREE YEARS) and the fact that his family was like "We're not going to probe him for all these sensitive questions until we get more situated and he is ready" They weren't going through his "Backpack of Kidnapped?" That is an interesting social/psychological story which has relevance, this one is the same story that has been hashed out again and again in one form or another. "Rich ___ dies and ____ people are claiming right to their estate. They had ___ children and they committed SUICIDE! Why, how, when did this happen? We wont be COMPLETELY sure until like a month from now, so you might as well grab a seat!" There are so many people who die/are murdered/commit suicide whose lives contain the same kind of plot twists. But this was someone who was a playboy model like a million years ago, got fat, got laughed at and degraded and exploited over being fat, got skinny, then everyone goes "OH MY GOD! SHE GOT SKINNY!" and then she dies and the media acts like they cared about her or something. The media hates fat people, but loves fat, then skinny people(by the way, money making gold: Being fat + then losing a lot of weight, = commercial deal). She was no significantly different than the majority of people out there and she gets all this unneccesary coverage. I want to do mediocre work in life, die, and then become that much more famous (and yes, Nirvana was good, but they would not be what they are today were Kurt Cobain still alive.) Comment From: matt

I received an e-mailed response by Sandy Serrano last night. She gave me permission to post it on her behalf..... "I'd like to say first of all that Anna did love her late husband. Everywhere we went, Anna put his picture that was in a frame, on the nightstand next to the bed in any hotel we stayed at and back on her own when she went back home. She loved him beause he gave her unconditional love. She never got that love by anyone before. No matter what age he was, he was a person. Before Daniels death, she would get sad about him and cry. She was herself with me, she didnt have to convince me of anything. Secondly, I think everything is getting way out of hand. No offense Matt, but the media are all money hungry vultures and they are having the time of their lives. People magazine calling me to send them photos for free. Star magazine wanting to purchase photos... E! wanting to steal my photos. Shes not for sale. I refuse to get ritch off of the dead. Matt got some, because of trust. I love and miss her so much, I hope she does come back and at least HAUNT me. I am in contact with Howard and Birkhead. No matter who the father is, I intend to save all of my photos of Dannielyn's momma and tell her all about her when shes bigger. I want her to know who she really was and how much she meant to her. -S" (Sandy Serrano) Comment From: Thesilenceclub

RIP. I wish all going through heartache with this matter to have the strength to mentally endure. Comment From: theWuertz

Matt, don't mean to rain on your "exclusive" parade, but this article pretty much sums up what I think about the whole thing:  The Low Post. Sensitive readers probably want to avert their eyes because I think I saw the f-bomb in there. Comment From: thenovelist

I agree and disagree with Wuertz. For entertainment news, Matt's post is newsworthy. For political news, Wuertz is right, it's not. Linking to the Rolling Stone rant just means the Roling Stone, a music magazine is constantly diving into the political (like with the Sevcik Bakersfield story) to gain for readers and to show off the RS political grinds. Their rant gives attention to both the Nicole story and political aims... Bakotopia is billed as a music/entertainment/arts oriented online community and news source. It's Alt news, and if the Anna Nicole story belongs anywhere it's with alt news and weird news. I htink it's easy enough to find political news in political sections of papers... the front page is just for attention anyways... I would complain more about Bakotopia showing off too many bimbos on the homepage. If Bakotopia is about the arts, then quit showing people drinking in bars and a bimbo parade. Get artsy with the photos on the homepage. Why not a cover of a book, or a painting? Or a theatre photo? That's one thing I like about the Famous sites, they get a little more artsy... just a little. And so the blogging goes... Comment From: matt

Lol! This is an entertainment site, so allow me to ENTERTAIN. This is BAKOTOPIA, where the "bimbos" as you call them, the drunks, art-fartsy peeps, authors, minorities, shoegazers, (insert label here,) are WELCOME. Hoorah for the Famous sites, they do a great job for their cities, but this ain't Fresno or Modesto, this is Bakersfield. Besides, I've posted plenty of photos of book covers (yours included) and art shows (yours included.) If the people want to see more of it, then by all means, POST THEM! This is a community driven website, so if the need is there for more illustrations and stuff you dig, you'll be sure to see them HERE. Bakotopians will get what they ask for, but if our numbers are any indication, Bakersfield likes to see crazy downtown antics and read tabloidy stories, along with the serious and thought provoking. You should be thankful for that, because YOU yourself posted a picture of yourself sucking on a breast on your own blog. I'm sure you didn't post it for the sake of "art," over garnering views. Goodday to you sir....I said GOODDAY! Heheheeeee.. Comment From: thenovelist

Hey, that nipple wasn't in my mouth! Great illusion wasn't it? heh. That photo was more of a dare. LitPark chickened out and I didn't. :) Anywho, I just meant the pics at the top of the homepage... change em up ya punk!! You're as bad as me leaving the same cartoon on my website for months at a time! Peace!