Kim Kardashian, JLo and A-Rod lead celebs honoring Gianna Bryant on 14th birthday: 'Always in our hearts'
Many celebrities took to social media to celebrate what would have been Gianna Bryant's 14th birthday, three months after her death.
Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Ciara have led the celebrity tributes for Gianna by wearing red bracelets that were created by her mother Vanessa to support the family's Mamba and Mambacita foundation. The reality TV star shared a selfie on her Instagram stories wearing four of the red bracelets which read "Gigi Bryant Mambacita."
Taking to her Instagram stories, Kim wrote, "#playgigisway" and tagged Gigi's mother, Vanessa Bryant who had asked and urged her fans and followers to wear the bracelets. Jennifer Lopez and her fiance Alex Rodriguez showed their support by wearing the bracelets.
Vanessa revealed that the bracelets would be on sale soon which will help fund the family's foundation. Alex Rodriguez took to Instagram to share, "Happy birthday Gigi. We miss you. You are always in our hearts."
He was seen posing alongside Jennifer Lopez, her twins Max and Emme, 12, and his daughters Natasha, 15, and Ella, 12. "Today we wore these red bracelets in honor of you, to symbolize love and life. I think of you. Mambacita, and your dad every day. We love you. #PlayGigisWay," A-Rod added.
Ciara and Russell Wilson also celebrated Gigi's 14th birthday and wrote, "Happy birthday mambacita Gi Gi. Today I'm going to do a little dance for you because I know you loved dancing. We love you. #PlayGigisWay."
'Keeping Up with The Kardashians' star, Khloe Kardashian followed in Kim's steps and shared a selfie on her Instagram stories wearing the red bracelet. She had written, "Happy birthday Gigi. We all love you so much! #Playgigisway."
"You always led with kindness and love. Today and every day, thank you for inspiring us to be better," she added. Singer Kelly Clarkson also posted a selfie with the bracelet and shared a sweet memory of basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who died with his daughter Gianna on January 26 in a helicopter crash.
Vanessa and Kobe Bryant's then 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also in the helicopter and died along with her father and seven others.
"I remember Kobe telling me that Gigi always played with kindness, not just talent. I wear this bracelet to honor her on her birthday and remind everyone to continue her legacy and #PlayGigisWay," Clarkson wrote.
Kobe's wife Vanessa shared sweet tributes to her second daughter and asked people to share the hashtag '#PlayGigisWay' in their posts. She shared a picture of Gigi that was taken a few months before her death and captioned it, "Happy 14th Birthday to my sweet baby girl, Gianna."
"Mommy loves you more than I can ever show you. You are part of MY SOUL forever," she added. Vanessa had also shared a series of images that featured her hands and a red bracelet which read, "Gigi Bryant [heart] Mambacita."
She explained, "Gianna loved to wear a red bow in all of her school pictures. Red means love and life. To commemorate Gigi’s birthday today, please consider wearing red, caption an act of kindness or show how you will play Gigi’s way since she always gave everything she did her all and led with kindness."
"[Red heart emoji] Please use the hashtag #PlayGigisWay [heart emoji] Thank you. 5-1-06 Mambacita," she said.