On January 26, 2020, the sports world was rocked by the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others lost their lives in a helicopter crash in California. The heartbreaking event sent waves of grief far beyond the NBA. Millions of fans and public figures around the globe mourned the passing of Black Mamba.

On Saturday in 2025, Kobe Bryant would have celebrated his 47th birthday. For Mamba fans, this day is far from ordinary. The NBA world, therefore, marked the occasion with emotional tributes to honor the legacy of one of basketball’s greatest icons. Lakers legend Magic Johnson shared a heartfelt tribute on X.

“Remembering husband, girl dad, entrepreneur, friend, five-time champion, and one of the greatest to ever lace them up, Kobe Bryant on his birthday,” he wrote.

LeBron James also honored Bryant in an Instagram story, posting a photo of Kobe with the message, “Happy Birthday Kobe.”

New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns expressed his admiration on X. “One of the best to ever do it. Happy Birthday Kobe,” KAT wrote.

Rashad McCants added, “Everyday is Kobe Day! HBD King! Dreams on Me!!”

Pau Gasol wrote, “Happy Birthday, hermano. I miss you and love you always.”

Former NBA star and current commentator Robert Horry shared, “Happy heavenly birthday Kobe. I know fellow Virgo is still getting buckets.”

Vanessa Bryant Shares Heartfelt Tribute To Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant (Image Credits: Imagn)

The day carried an even deeper emotional weight for Kobe Bryant’s family. Kobe’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, shared a touching message on Instagram.

“We love and miss you and Gigi so much. Sending our love to you. Happy Birthday baby,” she wrote.

Kobe and Vanessa first met in 1999 when Vanessa was working as a background dancer on a music video set. As a result, they quickly fell in love and were married in 2001. They remained devoted to one another until Kobe’s passing in 2020. Together, they built a loving family with four daughters: Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri.

Louise Redknapp has opened up about how ‘being worried’ about her appearance held her back from enjoying life.

The singer, 50, has spent much of her life in the public eye after shooting to stardom as part of the band Eternal in the early 1990s.

Louise was later voted the sexiest woman of the decade in 2024 after marrying former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp in 1998.

But now, the mother-of-two has laid bare her struggles with self-esteem in a candid new interview, admitting that she lived her life in fear of being photographed from an unflattering angle.

In particular, Louise’s confidence nose dived after the birth of her children, which she says caused her to suffer with hyperpigmentation – a condition where patches of skin became darker than surrounding areas.

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Louise Redknapp opened up about being ‘worried’ about her appearance during her earlier life while speaking at a live event for Beiersdorf

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Speaking at a live event for Beiersdorf, a skincare brand behind the likes of NIVEA and Eucerin, Louise remarked: ‘There’s been lots of times in life that maybe being worried of how I looked has held me back from really living in the moment and enjoying things…

‘…I spent most of my holidays lying flat in the hope that no one would spot me.’

The singer was joined at the event by Love Island star Dani Dyer, Married At First Sight host Paul Brunson and author Louise Pentland – all of whom have suffered with skin issues themselves.

Louise has been honest about her struggles mentally in the past, including during an appearance on Lorraine, where she talked about worrying about what other people think.

‘Fear can be the most debilitating thing to battle through,’ she said.

‘Being fearful of what other people think, fearful of letting yourself down.

‘It stretches across so many different ways but I don’t think when you look in the mirror you’re seeing what we’re all seeing.’

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Louise made the revelation at a live event for Beiersdorf, a skincare brand behind the likes of NIVEA and Eucerin

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‘I spent most of my holidays lying flat in the hope that no one would spot me,’ the 50-year-old admitted

The singer was also candid about the ‘lowest point’ she has experienced in her life, which came after her 2016 split from Jamie.

Their break-up came with much public scrutiny and Louise admitted in March that the only thing that stopped her from reaching an even lower point was her children.

During an appearance on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, the 50-year-old said: ‘If I didn’t have my kids, I just, I think I would have just given up. I really do.

‘I think I just knew that my kids were my everything and they needed me.’

Louise shares two children with the former footballer – Charles, 20, and Beau, 16 – who they have been co-parenting successfully since 2017.

The singer admitted that the public scrutiny of her marriage breakdown made the situation even harder to deal with.

She added: ‘But I can honestly say, when you’re going through something so personal in your own turmoil in your own way, but then to get the barrage of judgment and nastiness.

‘I never realised people could be so unkind and say such terrible things. I blew my mind.’

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The singer was also candid about the ‘lowest point’ she has experienced in her life, which came after her 2016 split from Jamie. Pictured in February 2016

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Opening up about her mental health on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, Louise said that the only thing that stopped her reaching a lower point was her children

Viewers were quick to praise Louise, who has not remarried, for her honesty.

They wrote: ‘Refreshingly honest. Louise comes across as such a lovely grounded person, and she’s passing on her wisdom to her kids’;

‘What an extraordinary interview! So honest, humble and sincere. Thank you so very much for sharing Ladies’;

‘Felt like I was sat with 2 girl friends… honest, real and inspiring’;

‘What an amazing interview [and] great to hear you speak your truth.’

Following the split, Jamie found love with Swedish model Frida Andersson and they tied the knot in 2021 before having a son together.

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Louise and Jamie have successful co-parented their two children since their 2016 split. Louise pictured in 2000