A photograph of Smith was used by "New York" magazine on the cover of its August 22, 1994 issue titled "White Trash Nation." In the photo, she appears squatting in a short skirt with cowboy boots as she eats chips. In October 1994, Smith initiated a $5 million lawsuit against the magazine, claiming that she did not authorize the use of her photo. The suit also alleged that the article damaged her reputation. Smith's lawyer stated that she was under the impression that she was being photographed to embody the "all-American look." The editor said that the photo was one of dozens taken. The lawsuit was reported to be settled.