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Mambacita Forever! Vanessa Bryant Has Tears Flowing With Her 18th B-Day Post For Gianna Bryant

The TISSUES! Pass them because Vanessa Bryant had tears leaking on Gianna Bryant‘s 18th heavenly birthday.

Bryant dedicated a heartwarming post to her daughter, featuring videos and photos of the late teen. Her caption spoke of what would’ve been Gianna’s journey this year.

“Happy birthday to my gorgeous girl, Gigi! I love you. I miss you. Im so proud of you. 2024 was your year. You wouldve been graduating high school and choosing which college to go to. (I wouldve been trying my hardest to convince you to stay close to home).”

The footage showed moments of Gianna with both her parents through different stages of her young life.

Watch the video dedication below.

Natalia also shared a few moments on social media in celebration of her sister’s life. She posted the content to her Instagram Story, including throwback photos and videos with Gigi.

Natalia also popped out as the model for a new clothing and shoe release through Mambacita Sports dedicated to her sister.

Social Media Reacts To Gianna’s Birthday

Early Wednesday, Gianna was trending across social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), as fans, brands, and celebs mourned and celebrated her life!

In Vanessa’s comment section:

Kris Jenner wrote, “Happy Birthday to your beautiful Angel light Gigi sending so much love.”

Viola Davis wrote, “Beautiful!!!! Happy Birthday Gigi.”

Kelly Rowland,Ciara and George Lopez wrote, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIGI!!”

Monica Denise added, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIGI. WE LOVE YOU.”

Four years ago, Gianna, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, and seven other people passed away in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles.

Following Gianna and Kobe’s deaths, Vanessa has continued to further their athletic and life legacies. From statue dedications to suing fire officials who shared pictures of her family’s crash site in unauthorized instances.

In March 2023, Vanessa walked away with a $28.8 million court ruling in favor of her and her daughters, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. Other families impacted by the crash also received payouts totaling over $16 million combined.

“Im proud of the change in sports you and Daddy worked so hard on. You continue to motivate me and inspire young women and girls daily. I love you always, Mommy.” #PlayGigisWay #Mambacita Forever. #18

 

RELATED:Black Mamba Forever! Watch As Vanessa Bryant Unveils New Kobe Bryant Statue (Video)
Cassandra Santiago

Cassandra Santiago is a multimedia journalist, editor, and editorial strategist with over a decade of experience shaping conversations across arts, entertainment, culture, and global news. A graduate of the University of Iowa, she has built a cross-platform career spanning newspapers, magazines, radio, and digital media. She joined The Shade Room five years ago and currently serves as a Senior Editor, where she leads editorial direction, oversees exclusive coverage, and trains and edits a team of writers. Cassandra has played a key role in developing high-impact content and editorial strategies for an audience of more than 30 million, contributing to platform growth, engagement, and monetization across multiple channels. In addition to her leadership role, she remains a daily contributor, with her articles generating more than 41 million views since 2023. Beyond The Shade Room, Cassandra offers freelance social media strategy services, speaks on the influence and impact of Black media at public panels, and owns Did It For You, an event design company in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. She is Poynter Institute–certified and was named to the DMV’s 35 Under 35 list in 2024.

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