Originally appeared on E! Online
Vanessa Bryant's heart is fluttering as she remembers her and Kobe Bryant's late daughter Gianna "Gigi" Bryant.
In honor of what would've been Gigi's 18th birthday on May 1, Vanessa unveiled a special edition design for the Nike Kobe 8 "Mambacita," the sneakers based on the teen's nickname.
The new pattern featured black butterflies on a white background with golden accents, including a heart-shaped pendant baring the "Mambacita" logo. The design also included Gigi's name and her basketball jersey number written in black letters on the heel of the shoe.
"MAMBACITA," Vanessa wrote on Instagram. "5/1/2006 GIGI."
On her Instagram Stories, the 41-year-old re-shared a video from Nike breaking down the meaning behind the motif.
"Gigi changed the game," the company's post read, explaining that the butterflies symbolize the "transformational impact she had on highlighting women's sports.
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Gianna Bryant's Life in Photos
Profits from the design will benefit the "Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation," the charity started by Vanessa in honor of her late husband Kobe and Gigi as a way to support underserved child athletes, per the brand.
Gigi died at age 13 alongside Kobe, 41, in January 2020 helicopter crash. At the time, the father-daughter duo were heading to a kids basketball game at Kobe's Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Earlier this month, Vanessa commemorated her and Kobe's 23rd wedding anniversary, sharing a collage of herself and Kobe hugging and kissing. As the entrepreneur—who is also mom to their daughters Natalia, 21, Bianka, 7, and Capri, 4—wrote, "Happy Anniversary @kobebryant #23."
Vanessa and Natalia Bryant are remembering the late Kobe Bryant on what would have been his 44th birthday. Vanessa took to Instagram to post a throwback photo of the couple hugging after he won his 4th NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009. “Happy birthday, baby! I love you and miss you so much,” she captioned the post. Natalia also celebrated her dad on the social media platform sharing an adorable snap of her sitting on his lap, writing ,“Happy birthday daddy!”
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Vanessa hosted a bastketball camp in honor of her late daughter Gianna's 18th birthday on May 1. At the start of the clip, Vanessa could be seen posing with dozens of children for a photo as she sat with her daughters Natalia, 21, Bianka, 7, and Capri Bryant, 4, on the floor of a basketball court.
Who was Vanessa Bryant before marriage? ›
When was Gianna Bryant born? ›
Kobe and Vanessa's second daughter, Gianna, was born on May 1, 2006, three years after her big sister. From a young age, Gianna — who was lovingly known as Gigi — wanted to follow her dad's footsteps into basketball.
What was Gigi's basketball number? ›
' and he said 'Because of No. 2 for Gianna [Gigi Bryant] and No. 8 for Kobe.
Did Kobe and Vanessa get along? ›
Kobe and Vanessa shared a love for Disney
Kobe eventually asked Vanessa for her number, and the two would spend hours on the phone getting to know one another, the NBA legend shared in Kobe Bryant's Muse. One of the things they bonded over during those conversations was their shared love for all things Disney.
Did Kobe's parents attend his wedding? ›
To say that Kobe's relationship with his parents was rocky before his untimely passing would be an understatement. The relationship began to sour when Kobe began dating Vanessa. At the couple's wedding in April 2001, his parents did not attend the ceremony.
Was Gianna Bryant buried? ›
LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were buried Friday in a cemetery near the family's Southern California home, according to death certificates.
How old was Gianna before she died? ›
Gianna died alongside Kobe Bryant in 2020 when she was 13 years old. Vanessa Bryant is honoring her late daughter Gianna, whom she shared with her late husband Kobe Bryant, to mark what would have been her 18th birthday.
What is Gianna Bryant mixed with? ›
Her father was African-American, and her mother is Mexican. Her mother Vanessa was a model, and her father Kobe Bryant was a famous basketball player who played for the Los Angeles Lakers and won five N.B.A.
Why did Gigi wear 2? ›
"For those that don't know- Gigi wore #2 as a soccer player since it's @sydneyleroux's number and Gigi kept her number as a baller," Vanessa wrote. "Syd has a #2 tattoo in Gigi's Jersey font to honor my baby).
That's when he introduced the idea of an alter ego and 'Black Mamba' was born. Inspired by the code name of an assassin in the cult favorite film, Kill Bill by Quentin Tarantino, Bryant sought to not only reinvent himself but create a means of deflecting the intense backlash that he had begun to face.
What number was Gigi with Kobe? ›
Gigi Bryant wore number 2 on her basketball team. Obviously, Kobe wore the number 8 and 24 throughout his playing career with the Lakers. The date the statue will be unveiled combines all three of those numbers. Fans were so excited about all of this.
What was Vanessa Bryants maiden name? ›
Mini Bio. Vanessa Marie Laine was born Vanessa Urbieta Cornejo on May 5, 1982 in Los Angeles, California and raised in Garden Grove, California to Sofia Laine (née Urbieta).
What did Vanessa Bryant do before Kobe? ›
Vanessa Bryant was born with a wide range of skills. As a teenager, she had acting skills but chose to work in makeup instead. She unintentionally became a model, though. She ended up modelling for multiple music videos, and her mother, who was very protective of her, always went with her.
Did Kobe Bryant love his wife? ›
A lasting love. Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant's decades-long romance came to a tragic end when the NBA legend died on January 26, 2020. Despite their relationship's heartbreaking conclusion, their romance was filled with many highs over the years.
What did Kobe's mom do? ›
