Kim Kardashian leads celebrities in celebrating Gigi Bryant’s 14th birthday

Celebrities took to social media on Friday to celebrate the 14th birthday of Giana ‘Gigi’ Bryant just three months after her death. 

Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Ciara led stars in posting tributes for the young basketball player wearing red bracelets created by her mother Vanessa, to support the Mamba and Mambacita foundation. 

The sweet posts came after Vanessa, 37, shared a heart wrenching message in honor of her daughter and a sweet throwback image of the teenager who had died alongside basketball superstar father Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash in Calabasas back in late January.

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star posted a selfie on her Instagram stories wearing four of the red bracelets that said ‘Gigi Bryant Mambacita.’ 

She wrote ‘#playgigisway’ and tagged Vanessa, after the mother-of-four encouraged followers to wear red in honor of Gigi’s favorite color. 

Jennifer Lopez and her fiance Alex Rodriguez also honored Gigi by wearing the bracelets, Vanessa said would soon be on sale to fund the family’s foundation. 

‘Happy birthday Gigi. We miss you,’ A-Rodwrote. ‘You are always in our hearts.’ 

He posed alongside Jennifer Lopez her twins Max and Emme, 12 and his daughters Natasha, 15, and Ella, 12. 

‘Today we wore these red bracelets in honor of you, to symbolize love and life,’ the former Yankee added. ‘I think of you. Mambacita, and your dad everyday. We love you. #PlayGigisWay.’ 

With a sweet photo of their hands resting on each other, Ciara and Russell Wilson celebrated her 14th birthday also with the red wrist wear. 

‘Happy birthday mambacita Gi Gi,’ the singer wrote. ‘Today I’m going to do a little dance for you because I know you loved dancing. We love you. #PlayGigisWay.’ 

Khloe Kardashian took her big sister’s lead and shared a selfie on her stories wearing two red bracelets. 

‘Happy birthday Gigi,’ Khloe wrote. ‘We all love you so much! #Playgigisway.’

The Good American founder continued her tribute saying ‘You always led with kindness and love.  Today and everyday, thank you for inspiring us to be better.’

Kelly Clarkson hopped on the selfie and bracelet trend and shared a sweet memory from Kobe.  

‘I remember Kobe telling me that Gigi always played with kindness, not just talent,’ the TV host wrote. ‘I wear this bracelet to honor her on her birthday and remind everyone to continue her legacy and #PlayGigisWay.’ 

The pouring of love for Gigi came after her mom Vanessa shared tributes to her second born daughter and asked people to use #PlayGigisWay in their posts. 

She shared an image of Gigi just months before her death, celebrating with her family at Disneyland her first of two heartbreaking captions read: ‘Happy 14th Birthday to my sweet baby girl, Gianna.  

‘Mommy loves you more than I can ever show you. You are part of MY SOUL forever.’

She goes on to list out the things she feels a loss for in her daughter’s absence.

Vanessa wrote: ‘I miss you so much everyday. I wish I could wake up and have you here with me. I miss your smile, your hugs and your giggles. 

‘I miss EVERYTHING about YOU, Gigi. I LOVE YOU so much!!!!! [heart, party popper, birthday cake, party popper, and heart emojis]’

Minutes later Vanessa posted another gallery of images featuring her hands and a red rubber bracelet which said ‘Gigi Bryant [heart] Mambacita’ as she asked fans to wear red in honor of her daughter.

She explained:  ‘Gianna loved to wear a red bow in all of her school pictures. Red means love and life. To commemorate Gigi’s birthday today, please consider wearing red, caption an act of kindness or show how you will play Gigi’s way since she always gave everything she did her all and led with kindness. 

[Red heart emoji] Please use the hashtag #PlayGigisWay [heart emoji] Thank you. 5-1-06 Mambacita.’

In one of the images was a red sweatshirt from the University of Connecticut which was where Gigi was aiming to go to college.

She has been self-quarantining with her children since the start of California’s shelter-in-place order last month.

Even as she heals, she’s continued to share tributes to her late husband and daughter.  

Vanessa has regularly posted on her Instagram commemorate her husband’s and second daughter’s legacies, highlighting their accomplishments and making special note of charitable efforts being made in their honor.

Just weeks ago on the occasion of what would have been the couple’s 19th wedding anniversary on April 18, Vanessa shared a romantic throwback photo of the pair. 

‘My king, my heart, my best friend. Happy 19th wedding anniversary baby. I miss you so much. I wish you were here to hold me in your arms,’ the widow wrote as a caption next to the image.  

As Gigi was a basketball superstar in the making, she and father/coach Kobe had been on their way to the Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks, California for basketball practice when the chopper crashed at around 9.30am on Sunday, January 26.

They died along with all seven others on board as the S-76 Sikorsky helicopter encountered thick fog and crashed into hills of Las Virgenes Canyon, which is home to celebrities including the Kardashians.

Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Kerry, and their daughter Alyssa were also among the dead.

Other victims included  Sarah Chester, Payton Chester (13), Christina Mauser and the pilot, Ara Zobayan.

The flying conditions had been poor and the LAPD had decided to ground all its own choppers due to the fog.

Kobe and Gianna are survived by wife and mother Vanessa and three daughters/sisters: 17-year-old Natalie, three-year-old Bianka, and seven-month-old Capri.

The Los Angeles Lakers legend played 20 seasons in the NBA winning an impressive five championships, one MVP in 2008, two NBA Finals MVPs, and 18 All-Star appearances.