Vanessa Bryant has paid an emotional tribute to her daughter Gianna Bryant, also known as Gigi, on what would have marked her 20th birthday.
On Friday (May 1), the widow of Kobe Bryant took to Instagram to post a heartfelt message alongside a beautiful photo of her late daughter. “Happy birthday to my sweet baby angel, Gianna. Words can’t express how much I love and miss you mamacita. Mommy loves you so much! #HappyBirthday #20.”
In the comment section, stars like LeBron James and Kim Kardashian showed love with heart emojis. Others, including Michael Rubin, Winnie Harlow, Ciara, and Kelly Rowland, also joined in honoring Gigi.
In a separate post, created in collaboration with the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, Vanessa Bryant shared a video unveiling the 2026 Class of Gianna Bryant Scholars.
“Today, May 1st, marks what would have been Gianna Bryant’s 20th birthday,” the caption read. “In Gigi’s honor, we are proud to announce the 2026 Class of Gianna Bryant Scholars — 20 exceptional student-athletes from Los Angeles and Orange County, administered in partnership with the California Community Foundation and local Boys & Girls Club affiliates.”
“Congratulations to all of our 2026 Scholars! We are deeply honored to invest in your future,” the message continued. “And to our Gigi, Happy 20th Birthday! Your vision, your spirit, and your beautiful heart continue to light the way.”
Gianna Bryant tragically passed away with her father, Kobe Bryant, in a helicopter crash in February of 2020. The helicopter that carried the father and daughter crashed in Calabasas while they were on their way to Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California.
At the time, Vanessa expressed her pain in an Instagram post about the tragic loss. “They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon,” she wrote. “I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way.”
About a month after the incident, Vanessa delivered an emotional speech at Gigi and Kobe’s memorial service at the Los Angeles Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena).
“Gigi was very competitive like her daddy, but she had a sweet grace about her,” Vanessa said. “Her smile was like sunshine. Her smile took up her entire face, like mine. Kobe always said she was me. She had my fire, my personality and sarcasm, and she was tender and loving on the inside. She had the best laugh. It was infectious. It was pure and genuine.”
In the years since, Vanessa has frequently posted heartwarming messages for Gigi’s birthday. For what would have been her 19th birthday last year, Vanessa wrote on Instagram: “Happy birthday, Gigi! Mommy loves and misses you more than I could ever express. I love you Gianna. 19 5/1 #Mambacita.”
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