Vanessa Bryant has penned an emotional message to pay tribute to her late daughter Gianna on what would have been her 15th birthday.
In addition, the 38-year-old announced she's launched a clothing line called “Mambacita” to further keep Gianna's legacy alive.
"Dear Gianna, Happy 15th Birthday! ❤️😘I love you!" Bryant captioned a photo hugging Gianna. "I miss you everyday! I wish you were here with us. There are no words to express how much I miss you. I love you Mamacita!"
The widow of Kobe Bryant also shared photos of the Mambacita clothing line.
Bryant and her daughters, Natalia, 18, Bianka, 4, and Capri, 21 months, modeled the matching tie-dye loungewear in a series of Instagram photos.
The clothing line's name is a tribute to Kobe's nickname "Black Mamba," which he gave to himself during his time in the NBA.
“When I thought about how best to celebrate Gianna’s birthday with so many who loved her, I knew it had to be a combination of sharing her bright and fun personality with her sense of purpose and passion that would help make a difference in this world,” Bryant wrote to her 14.6 million Instagram followers.
She continued, “Gianna was kind, energetic, a leader, and had so much MAMBACITA swag. When I thought about who would help me capture her laid back yet girly-edge, I thought of female-owned @DANNIJO. Two fun-loving sisters running a successful clothing line, they jumped on the opportunity to celebrate Gigi’s birthday with us, completely pro-bono.”
Bryant told her followers that 100 percent of the proceeds from the collection will go to support the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, which is dedicated to creating a positive impact for underserved athletes and young women in Sports.
Many notable celebrities expressed their excitement for the new clothing line, including Snoop Dogg, Mario Lopez, Gigi Hadid, La La Anthony, Naomi Osaka, and Khloé Kardashian, Page Six reports.
Last week, Bryant and her eldest daughter, Natalia, appeared in a short promotional film for Bulgari and Vogue titled “A Mother’s Legacy” ahead of Mother’s Day.
The video, which features the two family members wearing Bulgari jewelry, ends with Natalia telling her mother, “You’ve always been my rock my entire life, so that’s what I really cherish.”
Vanessa later doted on her eldest child, saying, "You not only just an amazing daughter, but an amazing friend. You're like the constant North Star to all your friends. … No matter what, you're always there, and they can always rely on you and count on you."
Kobe and Gianna died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, along with seven others.
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