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Vanessa Bryant Shares How Daughter Capri Is Following in Kobe Bryant’s Footsteps
Vanessa Bryant is remembering the lives of her loved ones.
Six years after her husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant died in a January 2020 helicopter crash that killed nine people, the businesswoman shared a sweet tribute honoring their legacies.
Indeed, Vanessa—who also shares daughters Natalia, 23, Bianka, 9, and Capri, 6, with the late NBA star—posted a throwback pic of Kobe embracing Gigi as the two sport Lakers gear on Instagram Stories Jan. 26, exactly six years after the fatal crash. Over the sweet father-daughter snap, Vanessa simply included a red heart emoji.
Kobe was onboard a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter with 13-year-old Gianna, and seven other individuals heading from Orange County to his Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif., when the crash occurred. One year after the tragedy, investigators said that the pilot of the helicopter Ara Zobayan appeared to experience "spatial disorientation"—a state where a pilot loses the correct understand of their aircraft’s position, according to Skybrary Aviation Safety—while flying on the foggy morning of the incident, which ultimately led him to lose control.
Since Kobe and Gigi’s heartbreaking deaths, Vanessa has kept their legacy alive by expanding through the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, a nonprofit that supports “underserved athletes.”
In fact, Taylor Swift showed support for the family by wearing a sweatshirt highlighting the foundation in a scene from her docuseries The End of an Era.
"What a gift," Vanessa wrote on her Dec. 31 Instagram Story alongside a screenshot of the clip, where Taylor strums a guitar while wearing the blue crewneck. "We love you @taylorswift!!!!!!"
Photo by Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
And the 43-year-old is no stranger to using social media as a tool to honor Gigi and Kobe. For what would have been the basketball legend’s 47th birthday, Vanessa opened up about how much she misses her husband and little girl.
“We love and miss you and Gigi so much,” Vanessa wrote on Instagram Aug. 23 alongside a throwback photo of her kissing the basketball legend on the cheek. “Sending our love to you. Happy birthday, baby.”
Just one month prior, the philanthropist also shared how her youngest daughter was following in Kobe’s athletic footsteps.
“Like father, like daughter,” Vanessa wrote on her July 24 Instagram post, which captured a split image of Kobe and Capri—whose middle name is a nod to her dad—emulating the former Lakers player’s stance while holding a basketball. And if her near-identical pose wasn’t enough proof, Vanessa also referred to her kiddo as, “Baby Mamba” and her nickname “KoKo Bean.”
For a look back at the Bryant family’s sweetest memories, read on…
ndrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
Family Portrait
The basketball star posed with his parents Joe Bryant and Pamela Bryant after winning the NBA Championship on June 19, 2000.
Chris Covatta/NBAE via Getty Images
Father-Son Moment
The duo were all smiles while posing for a portrait in November 2000.
Matt Baron/Shutterstock
Baby On-the-Way
Vanessa showed off her baby bump at the 2019 Baby2Baby Gala in Los Angeles.
Birthdays
"Happy Birthday B.B. I Can't believe you are 3 already!" Kobe wrote on Instagram back in December 2019. "We love you little mamacita."
Pool Time
"My Bianka Bella Bryant (BBB)," Kobe wrote on Instagram back in November 2019.
Thanksgiving
"Happy Thanksgiving! Thankful for my family!" Kobe wrote via Instagram back in November 2019.
Halloween
The Bryants dressed up as characters from The Wizard of Oz back in October 2019.
"My Gigi"
"My Gigi," Kobe wrote on Instagram back in September 2019.
Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
Love & Basketball
The father-daughter duo sat courtside at the the Lakers vs Mavericks game at the Staples Center in 2019.
Lots of Hugs
"@vanessabryant surprised me by bringing our two little babies B.B and KoKo to my @granity book signing of #legacyandthequeen at @barnesandnoble," the caption of the September 2019 post read.
Mother's Day
"Happy Mother's Day @vanessabryant we love you and thank you for all that you do for our family," Kobe wrote on Instagram back in May 2019, about a month before Capri's birth. "You are the foundation of all that we hold dear. I love you #mybaby #lioness #mamabear #queenmamba."
A Father-Daughter Duo
"Had a great trip to @uconnwbb for senior night and the retirement of basketball legend @promise50 with my baby Gigi," Kobe wrote on Instagram in March 2019. "Thank you Gampel, Thank you Coach Geno and Cd for the warm welcome. Good luck the rest of the way."
Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
Basketball Buddies
Kobe and Gianna Bryant shared a special moment at a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Family Fun
Vanessa, Kobe, Natalia and Gianna attended the world premiere of A Wrinkle in Time in Los Angeles back in 2018.
Smiles in the Sunshine
"Surprise family trip to Cabo for my bday #bryantbunch #40 #queenmamba #mambacitas," the caption of the 2018 post read.
AP/Shutterstock
Fond Memories
Kobe and his family members attended a women's basketball game in Los Angeles back in 2017.
Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
An Unforgettable Moment
Kobe was all smiles as he posed with his family members during his jersey retirement ceremony in 2017. Magic Johnson was also there.
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
A Dad and His Daughters
Kobe attended the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards with Vanessa, Gianna and Natalia in 2016.
Joe Russo/Shutterstock
A Loving Family
Here, the family members were pictured at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
All Smiles
Bryant celebrated his major win with his daughter Gianna by his side.
Elsa/Getty Images
Hugs and Kisses
Warming up! The basketball icon got a sweet hug from his daughter ahead of his game at the NBA All-Star Game in 2016.
David Livingston/Getty Images
A Proud Father
Kobe's wife and daughters attended his hand and footprint ceremony in Hollywood, California back in 2011.
Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney via Getty Images
A Day at Disney
Kobe, his wife and their daughters celebrated the Lakers' NBA championship at Disneyland in 2010.
Richard Vogel/AP/Shutterstock
A Winning Team
The basketball star celebrated a Lakers victory with Vanessa and the kids at a parade in Los Angeles back in 2009.
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
"Daddy's Little Princesses"
During a 2017 interview with Extra, Kobe referred to his daughters as "Daddy's little princesses." Here, he was pictured with Vanessa and Natalia in 2007.
Instagram/@VanessaBryant
The Mamba Legacy Continues
Vanessa Bryant shared a sweet photo of her and Kobe's youngest daughter, 6-year-old Capri Kobe Bryant, 6, following in his athletic footsteps.
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