Khloe Kardashian helps spread the word about launch of Vanessa Bryant’s Mambacita charity clothing line on late daughter Gigi’s 15th birthday
Vanessa Bryant, widow of the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant, launched the Mambacita X Dannijo charity clothing line Saturday, to coincide with what would have been her daughter Gigi’s 15th birthday.
Khloe Kardashian was among the many celebrities who proudly represented the collaboration, and its mission, by posting images of themselves on social media wearing items from the limited edition unisex collection.
All of the proceeds go towards the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating positive impact for underserved athletes and young women in sports.
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Paying tribute: Khloe Kardashian, 36, lent her famous name and face to the launch of Vanessa Bryant’s Mambacita X Dannijo charity clothing line on Instagram on Saturday
The collection includes tie-dye sweatshirts, sweatpants, and face masks featuring a No. 2 heart design, which is a nod to Gigi’s jersey number she wore when she played basketball.
In tribute to Gigi and the Mambacita launch, Kardashian first struck a pose in a selfie snap wearing one of the purple and white tie-dye sweatshirts.
She appears to be puckering her lips, ever so slightly, while laying back on a couch at her Los Angeles home on Saturday, May 1.
The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star also shared a photo of the merch delivered to her house along with a few flower bouquets.
Representing: The reality star shared a photo of her Mambacita gear
in on the fun: The youngest of the three Kardashian sisters also shared a video of her three-year-old daughter True opening up a box with her Mambacita gear
For a good cause: Khloe handed True a #playgigisway band that’s part of the charity launch
GiGi’s way: True proudly modeled her #playgigisway wristband in honor of GiGi Bryant and the Mambacita X Dannijo charity clothing line
‘Happy birthday sweet GiGi!!! V I love you!! @vanessabryant @mambamambacitassports,’ she wrote across the image.
The youngest of the three Kardashian sisters also shared a video of her three-year-old daughter True opening up a box with her Mambacita gear.
‘We love you @vanessabryant #playgigisway,’ the co-founder of the Good American brand wrote across the bottom of the clips.
Vanessa Bryant enlisted a number of other high profile ladies to take part in the promotion of the charity launch, including gal pals Ciara and La La Anthony.
‘Thank you for always making me laugh. Love you!’ Vanessa wrote in the caption of a photo of the three snuggled up together in their Mambacita hoodies.
Gal Pals: Vanessa Bryant also enlisted the help Ciara and La La Anthony
Celebrating: Leading lady Reese Witherspoon struck a pose in a hoodie
Leading lady Reese Witherspoon struck a pose in a similar hoodie where she shared: ‘Celebrating GiGi Today! Happy birthday sweet angel.’
‘You continue to inspire young girls in sports everywhere and your mama @vanessabryant is a warrior,’ wrote Kate Hudson in her Instagram post decked out in the full sweatsuit.
‘Honored to wear this sweatsuit supporting @mambamambacitasports and encourage everyone to assist in helping support underserved athletes and young women in sports #playgigisway by purchasing one for themselves or a loved one,’ the Almost Famous star added.
Former Destiny’s Child star Kelly Rowland opted for the black and white tie-dye sweatsuit when she paid tribute to GiGi and the launch of the charity collection.
‘GiGi today we celebrate your life, you light, and legacy!’ she began before adding, ‘We love you! #playgigisway @mambamabacitasports. Thank you @vanessabryant for this beautiful gift!’
Kate Hudson donned the full Mambacita sweatsuit in her post
Beaming: The Almost Famous star also posted a mirror selfie with her hood over her head
Reaching to the stars: Former Destiny’s Child star Kelly Rowland looked up into the heavens when she donned the black and white tie-dye ensemble
Throughout the day, Vanessa paid tribute to her late daughter and the Mambacita launch.
Members of the Golden State Warriors, one of her husband’s old rival teams, also got into promo mode for the charity by sharing photos of various players decked out in Mambacita ensembles, including star Steph Curry.
‘Thank you @warriors. This is so touching. Happy birthday Gigi #MAMBACITA #2 @mambamambacitasports,’ the proud mother shared in the caption.
Earlier on Saturday, the 38-year-old Mambacita founder shared a childhood throwback snap of herself and GiGi, who was killed in a helicopter crash alongside her father in January 2020, as they hugged and smiled for the camera.
‘Dear Gianna, Happy 15th Birthday!’ she captioned the photograph. ‘I love you! I miss you everyday! I wish you were here with us.’
Warrior strong: The proud mother was touched by the Golden State Warriors, including star Steph Curry, getting in on the charity Mambacita launch
Memories: Vanessa Bryant paid tribute to her late daughter Gigi earlyier on Saturday on what would have been her 15th birthday, some 15 months after she died in a helicopter crash alongside father Kobe Bryant
She went on: ‘There are no words to express how much I miss you. I love you Mamacita! ❤️’
Her post comes just one day after unveiling the launch of Mambacita in honor the life and legacy of Gigi.
‘Coming soon- 5/1. In honor of my Gigi’s 15th Birthday ❤️ Happy birthday, Gigi! 100% of the proceeds go to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation Unisex and Kids sizes available,’ she captioned a series of slides modeling sweatsuits alongside her daughter Natalia, 18.
Paying tribute: To help kick off the launch, the 38-year-old Mambacita founder modeled a sweatsuit from the Mambacita limited edition collection
Their long dark locks and beautifully made-up faces were on display as they sported tie-dye sweatshirts and sweatpants in black and pink, all emblazoned with the Mambacita logo on the front.
The pants feature a graphic of the number 2 with a heart around it, a nod to Gianna’s basketball jersey number.
The 501(c)(3) organization was originally called the Mamba Sports Foundation, but was renamed to also honor Vanessa and Kobe’s daughter, Gigi, who was only 13-years-old when she died in a tragic helicopter crash along with her dad, teammates, and their parents on January 26, 2020.
Family effort: Vanessa also struck a pose with oldest daughter Natalia Bryant
Adorable: Vanessa’s youngest daughter, 21-month-old Capri, looked absolutely adorable in a pic of her sporting a child-size hoodie and matching red bow
The foundation’s focus is the empowerment of young girls and providing equal opportunities to under-served athletes – something which Kobe has always been an advocate of.
In March, Kobe Bryant LLC submitted an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office seeking trademarks for phrases such as Lady Mambas, Lil Mambas, Mamba Sports Academy and Mambacitas.
The company affiliated with the late basketball player, who was 41 when he died, and his family told patenting officials that the line would be used for clothing items like tops, dresses, pants, socks and hooded sweatshirts; and activewear including footwear and bands, according to TMZ.
Good cause: All proceeds from the garments will go to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, the Bryant family’s charity established to further Kobe and Gianna’s legacy through charitable endeavors in sports (the two were snapped in July of 2019)
According to the outlet, the move could have been to preemptively block people from trying to cash in on the popularity of the family with the phrases associated with it. (Tom Brady made a similar move two years ago with the phrase Tom Terrific, and the trademark was denied.)
Also in March, Vanessa also got a ‘Mambacita’ tattoo on her wrist as a tribute to her late husband, whose nickname on the court was Black Mamba.
She then spoke out about the unimaginable pain and her journey through grief, following their devastating passing.
Bryant recently opened up about how she has coped with the loss by focusing on ‘finding the light in darkness,’ she said in the People magazine cover story.
Strong women: In March, Vanessa has spoken out about the unimaginable pain – as well as her journey through grief and resilience – following their deaths
‘Lying in bed crying isn’t going to change the fact that my family will never be the same again. But getting out of bed and pushing forward is going to make the day better for my girls and for me. So that’s what I do.’
‘My girls help me smile through the pain,’ Vanessa revealed to the magazine.
Kobe and Vanessa are also parents to daughters Bianka, four, and Capri, 21 months old, adding: ‘They give me strength.’
Vanessa said some days are harder than others, with the pain bringing her to her knees: ‘I can’t say that I’m strong every day. I can’t say that there aren’t days when I feel like I can’t survive to the next.’
From the heart: After Kobe and Gigi’s death, Vanessa thanked everyone who showed support and love to her and her family, sharing a sweet family photo
Motivation: ‘My girls help me smile through the pain,’ Vanessa revealed to the magazine. Kobe and Vanessa are also parents to daughters Bianka, four, and Capri, 21 months old, adding: ‘They give me strength’
‘The pain is unimaginable [but] you just have to get up and push forward,’ she continued. ‘I guess the best way to describe it is that Kobe and Gigi motivated me to keep going. They inspire me to try hard and be better every day. Their love is unconditional and they motivate me in so many ways.’
Kobe died on Sunday, January 26, 2020 after his helicopter crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, California alongside his daughter Gianna and seven others: John Altobelli, 56, Keri Altobelli, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 45, Christina Mauser, 38, and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.
They were flying from Orange County to the Mamba Sports Academy, which he founded, in Thousand Oaks, California.
He was set to coach his daughter in the Mamba Cup Tournament Series.
Gigi was a rising star in women’s basketball and played on the amateur girls’ team coached by her father at his Mamba Academy. Kobe trademarked the name ‘Mambacita’ shortly before they died.
Family: Vanessa and Kobe pictured with daughters Natalia and Gigi at Disneyland in Anaheim, California on June 22, 2010 with Goofy
Close couple: Kobe and Vanessa were seen in November of 2019 in LA, less than three months before his death in a helicopter crash
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