Vanessa Bryant honors late husband Kobe Bryant on 22nd anniversary of their April 2001 wedding

‘Happy anniversary, baby’: Vanessa Bryant honors late husband Kobe Bryant on 22nd anniversary of their April 2001 wedding

Vanessa Bryant took to Instagram Tuesday to honor her late husband Kobe Bryant on their 22nd wedding anniversary.

Vanessa, 40, shared a shot of herself with her late spouse vacationing in Florence, Italy with a touching caption.

‘Happy anniversary, baby,’ the Los Angeles native said. ‘I love you @kobebryant #22.’

The late Lakers legend was partial to Italy, as he spent a number of years there as a child, spoke Italian and vacationed there regularly with his family.

Kobe and Vanessa initially crossed paths in November of 1999 on the set of a music video at a time Kobe was 20-years-old and Vanessa was 17.

Memories: Vanessa Bryant, 40, took to Instagram Tuesday to honor her late husband Kobe Bryant on their 22nd wedding anniversary. She shared a shot of a vacation to Florence, Italy 

The NBA stalwart proposed to Vanessa after she turned 18 and the the pair exchanged vows on April 18, 2001 at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point, California.

A number of the family’s famous friends chimed into the comment section on the post with words of support for Vanessa.

Ciara said, ‘Happy Anniversary! Love you V Boo,’ while La La Anthony said, ‘Happy Anniversary … I love you so much.’

Singer Monica said, ‘Happy Anniversary @vanessabryant … We all Love You Deep’ while Kobe’s one-time NBA peers Dwayne Wade and Caron Butler posted heart emojis.

Others to chime in with messages of kindness include stylist Amber Fillerup Clark, jewelry designer Simone I. Smith, beauty blogger Emily Ann Gemma and influencer Camila Coelho. 

The couple would go on to welcome four daughters: Natalia, 20, Bianka, six, Capri, three, and the late Gigi, who perished at the age of 13 with her father, 41, and seven others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020.

Also killed in the crash were pilot Ara Zobayan, 50, Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Keri Altobelli, 46, John Altobelli, 56, and Christina Mauser, 38.

A number of the family's famous friends, including Ciara and La La Anthony, chimed into the comment section on the post with words of support for Vanessa

A number of the family’s famous friends, including Ciara and La La Anthony, chimed into the comment section on the post with words of support for Vanessa

Vanessa was pictured last month at a Lakers game where Kobe confidante and family friend Pau Gasol was honored

Vanessa was pictured last month at a Lakers game where Kobe confidante and family friend Pau Gasol was honored 

Vanessa last month was snapped with daughters Natalia, 20, Bianka, six, Capri, three, at an unveiling of Kobe Bryant's hand & footprints placed in the forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California

Vanessa last month was snapped with daughters Natalia, 20, Bianka, six, Capri, three, at an unveiling of Kobe Bryant’s hand & footprints placed in the forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California

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