Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian honor MJ on her first birthday after death with heartfelt tributes
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kris Jenner honored her late mother, Mary Jo “MJ” Campbell, by sharing a heartfelt Instagram tribute on what would have been her first birthday since her death on Sunday, July 26. The post came just 10 days after MJ died at the age of 91.
Alongside a collection of family photographs, Kris remembered the woman she called the heart of her family. Other members of the Kardashian-Jenner family, including Kim Kardashian, also reflected on MJ’s lasting influence and legacy.
Kris Jenner remembers mom Mary Jo 'MJ' Campbell with heartfelt birthday tribute
“Happy Heavenly Birthday Mommy. I love you,” Kris captioned a series of photos celebrating her late mother. The post opened with a smiling portrait of MJ wearing a bright floral-print jacket, followed by pictures of Kris and her mother sitting together, embracing and posing for photos.
Another family image featured her daughters Kim, Kendall Jenner, and Khloe Kardashian, among many others, while additional photos showed MJ surrounded by loved ones and flashing a peace sign.
Kris had announced her mother’s death on Instagram on July 16, writing, “There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye.” She described her mother as “the heart of our family.”
She later added that MJ taught her “everything that truly matters … to love your family fiercely, to be kind, to show up for the people you love, and to never take a single moment together for granted.”
MJ founded the San Diego children’s boutique Shannon & Co in 1980 and later became a familiar face on 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' through regular appearances. Kris previously revealed that she worked at her mother’s boutique as a teenager and later managed the store after Harry Shannon's 2003 accident while he was recovering in hospital.
“I was exhausted trying to make it all work from San Diego, but I knew my mom and dad needed me,” she told Haute Living. After Harry later died from complications related to the accident, Kris opened her own children’s store, following her mother’s example, with Kourtney helping to run the business that eventually became the beginning of the family’s boutique empire.
Kim Kardashian reflects on grandma MJ’s lasting legacy
Kim also paid tribute to her grandmother after her death, calling her “My sweet Grandma MJ, my best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin.” She credited MJ with teaching the family the importance of togetherness and described her as “the woman who showed me what it meant to be a hardworking businesswoman.”
She recalled that MJ gave her her first job at Shannon & Co, writing, “You taught me lessons about work ethic, strength, and confidence that I’ve carried with me ever since. You always believed in me, championed me, and were my safe place.”
Calling her “the matriarch of our family,” Kim added that her grandmother’s “love is woven into all of us,” before ending the tribute with, “YOU ARE THE BEST OF US!!!!” She also shared a text message from MJ expressing hope that her 10 great-grandchildren would help “fix this poor planet in time” by finding solutions to climate change and pollution.
Marking what would have been her 92nd birthday, Kim wrote, “It’s only been a week but wow the amount of things I’ve learned about you this week from going through all of your stuff with mom has been beautiful! I thought I knew it all! Makes me respect you and love you more if that’s even possible.”
"Today we celebrate you! I miss you like crazy and I love you endlessly my sweet grandma MJ," the SKIMS founder added. Although she maintained a private Instagram account, Kim once joked that her grandmother had a “creep IG account” to keep up with the family.
