Anna Nicole Smith, the Texas waitress who climbed into the top echelons of wealth and sexual glamour, died in Florida today, officials reported.

The former Playboy model and reality television star was found unresponsive in her hotel room and was rushed to a hospital about 2 p.m. EST and was pronounced dead.

The death of sassy spokeswoman Anna Nicole Smith coupled with growing doubts about TrimSpa’s controversial weight-loss products may prove too much for the closely held company, marketing experts said Thursday.

“When you mention TrimSpa, the image that came to mind was Anna Nicole Smith and that’s the difficulty with being so closely tied to a celebrity,” he said.

“You’ve just pulled the rug out from under what the brand was standing on,” he added.

The former Playboy Playmate and reality TV star became a spokeswoman for TrimSpa in October 2003, after losing a reported 60 to 70 pounds.

But Smith and TrimSpa have faced repeated legal difficulties over allegations that advertisements for the weight-loss pills were misleading.

Last month, the Federal Trade Commission said it fined the marketer of TrimSpa and other over-the-counter diet drugmakers $25 million for false advertising.

The government agency said that the company’s weight-control claims were not supported by scientific evidence.

“TrimSpa has some major challenges given the loss of credibility about their product and [now] losing their spokesperson,” said Britt Beemer, the chairman of strategic marketing firm America’s Research Group.

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