Vanessa Bryant Celebrates 21st Wedding Anniversary With Tribute To Late Kobe Bryant

Vanessa Bryant remembers her late husband Kobe Bryant on their 21st wedding anniversary!

The former model, who rose to fame as the wife of the iconic NBA star aka the Black Mamba, recently honored her husband's memory on social media.

On Monday, April 18, the widow of the deceased basketball legend, marked what would have been a milestone in the longtime couple's love story with a touching post.

Taking to Instagram, the 39-year-old socialite shared a rare sweet moment from their lovebirds' relationship in honor of their 21st wedding anniversary.

The mother-of-four uploaded a throwback picture of the spouses' younger selves, the image appeared to be at least a couple of decades old as the pair could barely be recognized in the old-school snap.

In the photo, the couple rocked casual ensembles with Vanessa rocking a white t-shirt, black trousers, and a matching black baseball cap that covered half her face.

On the other hand, Kobe's younger self did not sport the usual beard that typically graced the NBA star's face during his lifetime but his endearing body remained.

The Black Mamba's biceps could be seen bulging out of his t-shirt as he showed off his Prince Charming vibes in the public space.

The late Los Angeles Lakers player effortlessly carried his lover on his back, who happily wrapped her arms around his neck and with a sweet pout for the camera.

This PDA-filled post was captioned with the tear-jerking reminder that the fan-favorite duo would no longer be able to enjoy such blissful moments except in Vanessa's memories. The widow wrote:

"I love you forever, baby. Happy Anniversary @kobebryant #21 ❤❤"

Naturally, fans and celebrities alike flooded the touching post with their love and support as it received over 100,000 likes in less than an hour after the image was shared.

The list of celebrities who commented included reality TV star Khloe Kardashian, WWE star Natalie Neidhart-Wilson, the actress Storm Reid, the attorney Mandana Dayani, the designer Danielle Snyder, and the photographer Noah Graham.

These A-listers were short of words but not emojis as they flooded the comment section with numerous red heart emojis in support of Vanessa's heartfelt post.

As previously shared by The Blast, the former music video vixen tied the knot with the late shooting guard in April 2021.

The dynamic duo's marriage was blessed with four beautiful daughters, Natalia Diamante, Gianna 'Gigi' Maria-Onore, Bianka Bella, and Capri Kobe.

Alas, in January 2020, Kobe and Gianna tragically died in a helicopter crash. Two years after the unfortunate affair, the mother-of-four announced her plans to honor their memories.

In a candid Instagram post, the 39-year-old revealed she would continue her husband and daughter's legacy with the famous sports brand Nike.

According to the socialite, this project would not only provide fans with the iconic Black Mamba merchandise but also give back to the community.

The total annual earnings from Gigi's shoe sales would be given to the Bryants' Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, which supports child athletes.

The philanthropist's collaboration with Nike would also support the creation of a youth basketball center in Southern California, which aimed to share the "Mamba Mentality" with future generations.

Earlier this year, The Blast reported that paid tribute to Kobe's legacy by recalling one of the Basketball Hall of Fame inductee's most iconic games.

Taking to Instagram, the matriarch of the Bryant family reminded fans that she has always been her husband's biggest cheerleader in a sweet post.

Vanessa shared a throwback picture of herself sharing a kiss with the deceased athlete, who carried a young Natalia in one arm while the other arm was wrapped around his wife.

This heartwarming moment came after the Lakers earned 122 points against the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center in January 2006.

At the iconic event, the Black Mamba led his team to victory by scoring 81 whopping points against the opposition, making this the second-highest score ever gotten by any basketball player in a single game.

The highest score record belonged to Wilt Chamberlain, a late NBA star who remarkably scored 100 points in a 1962 game.