Blonde Ambition by Rita Cosby

further said, "By mid-morning, helicopters flew overhead, speed boats approached, and camera-equipped scuba divers invaded what had been an otherwise perfect moment of peace, solitude, and hope. The event was intended to be totally private between two adults deeply in love with each other and needing simple reassurances that they could count on one another through life's ups and downs. The outing was never expected to be shared with anyone other than Howard, Anna, [her newborn daughter] Dannielynn Hope and a few close friends and family."
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    After the ceremony, they landed on the island of Sandy Cay and the newly committed couple took the plunge into the temperate waters off the coast of the island. "Howard and Anna were both crying and kissing and holding hands," friend and former "Dynasty" actor John James told People magazine. The fifteen or so guests celebrated with champagne, apple cider, and Anna's favorite food, Kentucky Fried Chicken, which had been brought over for the occasion by sailboat.
       But rather than being an outing that was, as their press release stated, "never expected to be shared with anyone," the bittersweet "wedding" photos of the whole affair and story were conveniently given to and sold by photo broker Getty Images to People magazine for a reported one million dollars.
       Michael Scott, the attorney who had become their de facto Bahamian spokesperson in the aftermath of Daniel's death, towed the party line by announcing to the press, "This was intended to be a lift to steel them for Daniel's funeral." But behind the scenes, Michael Scott had vehemently argued against doing the ceremony. When Howard told the attorneys working with him and Anna that he wanted to do a commitment ceremony, they strongly advised him against it, saying they knew it would hurt Anna especially in the public's perception if they were seen selling their story and frolicking on a boat before her son was even buried.
       That wasn't the only moneymaking idea the couple had around a wedding that was in questionable taste. According to the website TMZ, Anna Nicole and Howard were shopping a reality show featuring Anna's quest to find a husband, similar in concept to VH1's "Flavor of Love." Their production partner in the deal was Hallock Healey Entertainment, producers of "Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty," the "$25 Million Dollar Hoax," and the ironically titled "Who's Your Daddy?" In the 2005 Fox reality TV special, a grown adoptee, who happens to be a stunning blonde actress named "T.J." who also had played a stripper, had to choose her biological father from a panel of eight men.
       Anna's show would have had men, "young and old, of different ethnicities and orientations," vying for Anna's affections. The "winner" would have gotten to marry her.
       Although their commitment ceremony was officiated by the Baptist minister, no marriage certificate was issued, leading many to speculate that the "commitment" was certainly more for show than it was for substance. Had they actually wanted to get a marriage license, it is a relatively easy process in the Bahamas, much easier, in fact, than getting permanent residency on the island. It's a $40.00 fee with no blood test and only requires that both parties be in the Bahamas at the time of application. The two would have had to provide a form of identification and apply during business hours Monday through Friday at the nearby Office of the Registrar General in Nassau. The only other thing they would have needed was a copy of the death certificate for J. Howard Marshall, since Anna Nicole was widowed.
       If Anna and Howard had wanted to go that route, it would have been entirely possible. But they didn't.
       After the ceremony, Howard blocked outraged attorney Michael Scott and his co-counsel Tracy Ferguson from seeing Anna at the house. Michael Scott sent a note to Howard and Anna reminding them that too much time was passing after Daniel's death