Vanessa Bryant remembers late daughter Gianna on what would have been her 19th birthday
Vanessa Bryant is remembering her late daughter Gianna "Gigi" Bryant on what would have been her 19th birthday.
The businesswoman and philanthropist shared a social media post on Thursday paying tribute to Gianna on her birthday, more than five years after Gianna and her father, the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant, died in a helicopter crash that also took the lives of seven others.
"Happy birthday, Gigi! Mommy loves and misses you more than I could ever express," Vanessa Bryant wrote in the caption of an Instagram post. "I love you Gianna. ❤️19 ♉️ 5/1 #Mambacita."
The post included a photo of Gianna in a basketball jersey and sweats.
Kobe Bryant and Gianna died on Jan. 26, 2020, on their way to a basketball game at Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy, when the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter they were in crashed in the wealthy Southern California residential neighborhood of Calabasas. Seven others were also killed in the crash, including college baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri Altobelli and their 14-year-old daughter Alyssa, Gianna's basketball teammate; 13-year-old Payton Chester, also Gianna's teammate; Payton's mother Sarah Chester; Gianna's coach Christina Mauser; and pilot Ara Zobayan.
Less than one month after the tragic crash, Vanessa Bryant honored her loved ones at a memorial service for Gianna and Kobe Bryant.
"My baby girl. Gianna Bryant is an amazingly sweet and gentle soul. She was always thoughtful. She always kissed me good night and kissed me good morning," Vanessa Bryant said in part at the service. "She was Daddy's girl, but I know she loved her mama, as she would always tell me and show me how much she loved me."
In 2024, Nike released special edition Nike Kobe 8 "Mambacita" sneakers to celebrate Gianna on what would have been her 18th birthday.
The design included a black, white and gold butterfly theme and the word "Gigi" at the back of the shoes.
