Vanessa Bryant marks late daughter Gianna’s 18th birthday with release of Nike special (2024)

Gianna died alongside Kobe Bryant in 2020 when she was 13 years old.

April 30, 2024, 7:51 PM

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.

The businesswoman, philanthropist, and model shared pictures on Instagram on Monday featuring special edition Nike Kobe 8 "Mambacita" sneakers to celebrate the upcoming event.

The new design includes ​​a black, white, and gold butterfly theme and words "Gigi" at the back of the shoes.

"❤️Gianna❤️Gigi❤️MAMBACITA ❤️ 5/1/06 ❤️," she captioned the post.

On the same day, Nike also released a video on X, formally known as Twitter to mark the release of its new design which will be available to purchase on Gianna's birthday, May 1.

"Gigi changed the game. Forever," the brand wrote. "On 5.1 we celebrate Gianna "Gigi" Bryant's 18th birthday & the transformational impact she had on women's sports with the Kobe 8 Protro 'Mambacita.'"

The company said the profits from the sale will benefit the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, a nonprofit which was created to honor Kobe and Gigi's legacies.

In addition to Gianna, Vanessa Bryant and Kobe Bryant who tied the knot on April 18, 2001, also shared three other daughters: Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.

Gianna died alongside her father in a helicopter crash in 2020 when she was 13 years old.

Earlier this month, Vanessa Bryant honored Kobe Bryant on what would have been their 23rd wedding anniversary, sharing a collage of throwback photos of her and her husband together in an Instagram post.

The photos showed the late basketball legend sporting a suit and tie while Vanessa Bryant wore a sparkling long-sleeved dress. One snap featured the couple sharing a kiss and another shows the pair having fun posing for the camera.

"Happy Anniversary @kobebryant ❤️ #23," Vanessa Bryant wrote in the caption at the time.

Vanessa Bryant marks late daughter Gianna’s 18th birthday with release of Nike special (2024)

FAQs

Vanessa Bryant marks late daughter Gianna’s 18th birthday with release of Nike special? ›

The Nike Kobe 8 "Mambacita" is released on May 1, coinciding with Gianna's birthday, as a testament to her enduring legacy. Nike, in a caption accompanying the release, emphasized Gianna's role in shining a spotlight on women's sports and commemorated her 18th birthday.

How many kids did Vanessa Bryant give birth to? ›

Vanessa Bryant, the mother of four daughters with her late husband Kobe Bryant, is a proud mom.

What day is Gianna Bryant's birthday? ›

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.

Who is Kobe Bryant's wife? ›

Vanessa Marie Bryant (born May 5, 1982) is an American businesswoman, philanthropist, and model. She is the widow of American professional basketball player Kobe Bryant. With her husband, she founded the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Foundation in 2007 to provide scholarships to minority college students worldwide.

When was Gigi born Bryant? ›

The Los Angeles Lakers legend's second daughter, Gigi Bryant, was born on May 1, 2006. Since their tragic and untimely passing in 2020, Nike has done a great job celebrating Gigi's life and legacy as a hooper on her birthday.

Who inherited Kobe's money? ›

Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant received nearly $29 million as part of her late husband's estate after his death in January 2020. The money was part of a trust set up by Kobe Bryant to provide for Vanessa and their children in the event of his death.

Where is Gianna Bryant buried? ›

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were buried Feb. 7 in a private ceremony in Corona del Mar, California, according to death certificates released Tuesday by Los Angeles County officials. The burial occurred at Pacific View Memorial Park, which is near the family's home in Orange County.

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.

How tall was Kobe Bryant at 16? ›

Kobe was 6'3" at 16. Bron was 6'7". The idea is they're almost full grown during their HS or Freshman year. We could have an average height for all the NBA players but doesn't make sense because they all play different positions and size could end up as either advantage/disadvantage.

What was Kobe Bryant's date of birth? ›

Kobe Bryant (born August 23, 1978, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died January 26, 2020, Calabasas, California) was an American professional basketball player, who helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to five championships (2000–02 and 2009–10).

Who was Vanessa Bryant before marriage? ›

How many biological kids did Kobe Bryant have? ›

Kobe Bryant may be known as one of the greatest pro basketball players of all time, but he was also considered the “MVP of girl dads” by his beloved daughters — Natalia, Gianna, Bianka and Capri.

Did Kobe Bryant go to college? ›

Kobe Bryant didn't go to college.

What are the most assists in a game by a rookie point guard?

What was Gigi Bryant real name? ›

Her name was Gianna Maria Onore Bryant. The world, now and forever, knows her as Gigi. Her dad, Kobe Bryant, called her Mambacita.

Who is the oldest Bryant daughter? ›

Natalia Bryant was born Jan. 19, 2003. She's the eldest daughter of Kobe and Vanessa. Her sisters Gianna and Bianka were born in May 2006 and December 2016, respectively, while her youngest sister Capri was born in June 2019, just six months before Kobe and Gianna were killed in a helicopter crash.

When did Kobe retire? ›

He is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Bryant retired on April 13, 2016 after scoring 60 points in a Lakers win against the Utah Jazz. He won an Oscar and Emmy for his movie Dear Basketball.

How old were Kobe Bryant's kids when he died? ›

Yes, you read that right Kobe Bryant's 7-month old daughter, Capri, was left out of his estimated $600 million dollar estate. In January, the tragic deaths of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, caught us all by surprise.

What is Vanessa Bryant's net worth? ›

She has dedicated her life to her daughters and to philanthropic work with a net worth estimated in $600 million. Alongside her late husband, she established their foundation and worked to provide scholarships to those college students in need.

How old was Vanessa Bryant when she got with Kobe? ›

Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant had a love story for the ages. The late NBA legend met his future wife when she was just 17 years old. At the time, Kobe was a starting player on the Los Angeles Lakers — while Vanessa was a high school senior from southern California.

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