Vanessa Bryant and her late daughter Gianna Bryant’s birthdays are just days apart. After she honored what would have been her 20th birthday on May 1st, the mother of 4 turned 44 on May 5. While it’s likely a difficult time for her, as birthdays are incredibly difficult when dealing with grief, she was showered with love by her oldest, Natalia Bryant.
On Tuesday, the model shared a series of photos on her Instagram story. One was a throwback from July 15, 2004, when she was about a year and a half old. Vanessa is sitting in full Lakers colors, holding a baby Natalia on her lap. They were watching Kobe speak at a press conference to announce he would remain with the Los Angeles Lakers in a seven-year, $137 million deal for the NBA.
© WireImageNatalia looked adorable, wearing a yellow cardigan with a pink headband, fully locked in, staring straight ahead at her dad. Vanessa and the late Kobe Bryant met in 1999 on a music video set where she was working as a backup dancer. They got married in 2001 and welcomed Natalia on January 19, 2003. Vanessa was 22 years old in the picture, and looked glam and angelic. But looking at her today, you can barely tell she’s aged, because she looks amazing.
Natalia also shared a black-and-white portrait from a photobooth, showing how fast time flies. The 23-year-old, now taller than her mom, held Vanessa instead of the other way around. “Happy birthday, Mommy,” she wrote over the pic with a heart emoji.
© IG: @nataliabryantShe also shared a courtside selfie, with both of them glowing, pressed together, smiling. “I love you so much!!” She wrote.
© IG @nataliabryantVanessa was also honored by a string of friends. She reposted shoutouts on her Instagram story from celebrities like Ciara and La La Anthony.
A bittersweet birthday
© GettyJust days ago, Vanessa honored her daughter Gianna. Vanessa shared a photo with her daughter on Instagram with a short but emotional caption. “Happy birthday to my sweet baby angel, Gianna. Words can’t express how much I love and miss you mamacita,” Vanessa wrote. “Mommy loves you so much! #HappyBirthday #20.”
In honor of Gianna, the Vanessa and the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation also announced they were going to be awarding 20 scholarships to student athletes in California. “In Gigi’s honor, we are proud to announce the 2026 Class of Gianna Bryant Scholars — 20 exceptional student-athletes from Los Angeles and Orange County, administered in partnership with the California Community Foundation and local Boys & Girls Club affiliates,” the foundation wrote on Instagram.
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