Vanessa Bryant Pens Heartfelt 15th Birthday Tribute to Late Daughter Gianna: 'I Wish You Were Here'

“As a wife and mother, I have thought a lot about what Vanessa Bryant has been going through this past year,” former First Lady Michelle Obama began a touching message on Instagram for her friend on May 18.

Vanessa Bryant is letting fans know why her eldest daughter, Natalia Bryant, was unable to attend dad Kobe Bryant’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony on May 15, even though she was a memorable part of the Tip-Off event just one day prior.The late Lakers legend was honored alongside greats like Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett this weekend as part of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020.

Kobe Bryant's induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, but she had a very good reason. Kobe's wife, Vanessa Bryant, who appeared and spoke at the ceremony, gave fans insight into Natalia's whereabouts. «Natalia almost missed her senior prom last night,» Vanessa captioned a sweet photo of her giving Natalia a kiss on the cheek.

Vanessa Bryant’s 18-year-old daughter, Natalia, “almost missed her senior prom” to go to her late father Kobe Bryant’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday, May 15.

Late basketball legend Kobe Bryant was inducted into the 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday. Michael Jordan inducted the NBA star at the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony which was also attended by his wife Vanessa Bryant.

Just before the late Kobe Bryant’s induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, his widow Vanessa Bryant appeared to celebrate the life and legacy of the NBA superstar.

It was a bittersweet day for the Bryant family.

Along with Michael Jordan, who officially inducted Kobe Bryant into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday May 15, Kobe’s widow Vanessa Bryant spoke about his legacy as a player and as a father of four, including Gianna “Gigi” Bryant. “To all those who helped him get here, I thank you on his behalf,” Vanessa began, noting that “Gigi would be so proud” to watch him get inducted.

Vanessa Bryant has had a harder year than most people could ever imagine, so when she gets a reason to celebrate, she deserves to do it big.

Vanessa Bryant wrote a heartfelt tribute to her late daughter Gianna Bryant on what would’ve been her 15th birthday. The 38-year-old former model shared a moving post to Instagram on Saturday, May 1, alongside a sweet photo of them embracing.

Never forget. Vanessa Bryant launched a limited-edition clothing line, aptly named Mambacita, on Saturday, May 1, in honor of late daughter Gianna Bryant’s 15th birthday. And get this: The collection sold out in under a day.  

© @Copyright HELLO! Hello! Magazine May 1st would’ve marked Gianna Bryant’s 15th birthday, and Vanessa Bryant’s celebrity friends commemorated it in a very special way. MORE: Vanessa Bryant makes heartfelt confession about daughters after Kobe Bryant deathTo celebrate her late daughter’s birthday, Kate Hudson, Ciara, and more stars wore tie-dye sweatsuits from Vanessa’s new Mambacita clothing line and shared snaps of themselves rocking it on social media.

It’s difficult to believe it’s been over a year since basketball star Kobe Bryant and his teenage daughter Gianna died in a tragic helicopter crash, killing them along with seven other passengers.

Last year, Kobe Bryant, succumbed to injuries caused by a helicopter crash. The NBA player was on board with 8 others, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant.

Vanessa Bryant is celebrating her late daughter, Gianna Bryant, by launching a fundraiser in honor of what would have been the teen’s 15th birthday.

Vanessa Bryant is remembering her late daughter Gianna on what would have been her 15th birthday.

Vanessa Bryant continues to pay tribute to Gianna Bryant, who passed away in a tragic helicopter crash with her dad Kobe Bryant last year.