Vanessa Bryant Tells Late Daughter Gianna ‘I Miss You’ on What Would Have Been Her 18th Birthday

"Happy birthday to my gorgeous girl, Gigi! I love you," Vanessa wrote

It’s been four years since NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant died tragically in a helicopter crash, and Vanessa Bryant continues to make sure their memories live on with tributes — including on what would have been Gianna’s 18th birthday.

Taking to Instagram, Vanessa, 41, posted a moving video montage of Gianna to celebrate her late daughter’s birthday and included an emotional caption sharing how much she misses her and will love her “always.”

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

“I’m 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.”

Many of the Bryants' close friends shared birthday messages to Gianna in the comments of Vanessa's post, including Viola Davis, who wrote: "Beautiful!! Happy birthday Gigi❤️."

Kelly Rowland added, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIGI!!❤️" and Rachel Zoe said, "Happy Birthday beautiful angel 👼 Gigi ❤️ and to beautiful Mommy Vanessa."

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Their friend and fellow basketball stars, New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu and USC's JuJu Watkins, replied as well, with Ionescu writing, "Happy birthday GiGi 🤍 love you," and Watkins adding three red hearts.

In honor of Gianna's birthday, Vanessa and Nike released a new colorway of the Nike Kobe 8 "Mambacita" sneaker. The special-edition shoe features a black, white and gold butterfly theme and is available starting May 1.

Related: Vanessa Bryant Remembers Husband Kobe and Daughter Gianna on 4th Anniversary of Deaths

"On 5.1 we celebrate Gianna 'Gigi' Bryant’s 18th birthday and the transformational impact she had on highlighting women’s sports with the release of the Kobe 8 Protro ‘Mambacita’ 🦋," Nike's caption read.

According to Nike, profits from the new colorway will benefit the Mambacita Sports Foundation, a nonprofit started by Vanessa that is dedicated to supporting underserved child athletes.

In January, Vanessa celebrated the lives of Kobe and Gianna on the 4th anniversary of their deaths via an Instagram post. Vanessa, 41, shared a photo of Kobe smiling with his arm wrapped around Gianna, sharing "❤️❤️" in the caption. The same photo was shared on the Los Angeles Lakers Instagram account with the caption, "Forever 💜."

Related: Vanessa Bryant and Daughters Honor Kobe Bryant in Emotional Handprint Ceremony: 'Love You Forever'

On Jan. 26, 2020, Kobe, Gianna, and seven of their friends were on board a helicopter traveling from John Wayne Airport in Orange County to a basketball tournament in Thousand Oaks. With just 14 miles left to their destination, the helicopter crashed into a Calabasas hillside likely due to pilot error, as a yearlong National Transportation Safety Board investigation found.

Kobe, Gianna, pilot Ara Zobayan, Christina Mauser, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, and Peyton Chester all died in the accident. At the time, Kobe was 41, and Gianna was 13.

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