Lucille Ball's Great-Granddaughter Desiree Had Her Legendary Great-Grandmother's Expressive Eyes

"I Love Lucy" star Lucille Ball may not have lived long enough to meet her great-granddaughter Desiree Anzalone, but if she had, she probably would have been happy to see that she inherited her gorgeous blue eyes. Anzalone was born in September 1989, just five months after the passing of her famous great-grandmother. She was the daughter of Julia Arnaz, the first child of Susan Callahan-Howe and Desi Arnaz Jr. (the son of Lucy and Desi Arnaz Sr.). A photographer by profession, she also modeled. Sadly, at just 31 years old, she lost her battle with stage 4 breast cancer and passed away in September 2020. She was a "very, very talented, smart, smart girl," her mother Julia told People. "She wrote songs. She also enjoyed playing piano and playing guitar with her father."

Even with her striking, model-like features, Anzalone wasn't immediately recognizable as a member of her legendary Hollywood family. But a closer look revealed one unmistakable connection, and that's the same expressive blue eyes as her great-grandmother's. "She was so beautiful, just so so beautiful inside and out," her mother told People. "She really, really reminded me a lot of my grandmother, more so than I." Looking at side-by-side photos of Anzalone and Ball, it's actually quite easy to see the resemblance, especially if you imagine Anzalone with her great-grandma's signature red hair.

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As much as she felt a connection to Lucille Ball, Anzalone herself once said she mostly identified as an Arnaz, since she had dark hair and other features typically associated with her Cuban and Hispanic heritage. "I have acknowledged my entire life I do not resemble my great grandma, but rather have more of the Arnaz genes," she wrote in a 2019 Instagram post.

At the time, Ball's descendant was responding to criticism from IG users who insisted she bore no resemblance to her great-grandmother. "Everyone only focused on the superficial outward appearance of us and about how I LOOK NOTHING LIKE HER," she continued. Similar to many celebs with powerful cancer journeys, Anzalone had posted an Epoch Times article highlighting the courage she and Ball shared, especially during her health battles. "Such a nice article wrote about me, and how Lucy and I share the same gumption in regard to my fight with stage 4 breast cancer and how proud she'd be of me," she said. 

In other posts, Anzalone often recognized Ball's birthday or the anniversary of her passing. In an April 2020 Instagram post, she shared side-by-side photos of what appeared to be herself alongside her great-grandmother, writing in the caption, "Celebrating the life of a legend and MY life's most profound curiosity. Your energy emulates, still. I would have loved to meet a part of me in you." For many fans, their resemblance was undeniable. "I think you looked exactly like your great grandma. You've got her baby blues," one person commented. Another said, "You are beautiful & do look like Grandma."