'I miss you': Vanessa Bryant shares tribute to late daughter Gianna 'Gigi' Bryant on her 17th birthday
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Vanessa Bryant, the widow of basketball legend Kobe Bryant, paid tribute to her daughter Gianna "Gigi" Bryant on what would have been her 17th birthday. Gigi tragically died alongside her father in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
In a touching post on her Instagram account, Vanessa shared a photo of Gigi and wrote "Forever and always". She also posted a photo of herself and Kobe with Gigi, along with a caption that read "Love you always and forever Gigi".
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'I love you and miss you so much'
In another post, she wrote, "Happy 17th birthday, baby girl. I love you and miss you so much, sweet Angel." In one another picture she captioned, "Te Amo Mambacita ❤️ Happy birthday, baby girl. 😘❤️🎂❤️." Nike also introduced the Kobe IV Protro Mambacita shoe on May 1 to commemorate the event. The Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation will benefit from any profits. "Love the game. Be inspired. PLAY GIGI'S WAY by remembering, just like Gigi did, to never take an opportunity given to you for granted," Nike wrote. "The Kobe 4 Protro “Mambacita” honors Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, and celebrates her competitive, joyful, and curious gameplay," It added. "
Nike further wrote, "Arriving on her 17th birthday, the design's colorway nods to her youth basketball team’s uniform. The gingham around the heel pays tribute to the flannel shirts that Gigi frequently wore around her waist. The Swoosh on the outsole is red, nodding to the red bow Gigi wore in her hair for school pictures. Personal touches, like Gigi’s name on the heel and shoelace tips, remind you to go beyond the game with audacious conviction, while the “Mambacita” heart and wings on the insole let you carry Gigi’s passion for sports into the future."
'Her radiant smile brought joy into every moment'
The $180 sneakers, however, immediately sold out upon release. Gigi, Kobe, and seven others died in a helicopter crash in California on January 26, 2020. Prior to her death, Gigi had big dreams of playing basketball professionally Nike also shared a video tribute to Gigi which Vanessa also shared on her Instagram. Sports personalities including Sabrina Ionescu, a WNBA player, and Gigi's friend, said, "Playing Gigi's way to me means completely devoting to the process of being the absolute best player and the best person you can be."For Aubrey Callaghan, it means "making everyone around you better." She said, "Gigi has been making me better since we were five years old. Her radiant smile brought joy into every moment." Her other friend, the coach also shares their views in the video.
