This is only the beginning!
The Bryant family has been through a lot in recent years after the unexpected passing of their patriarch, Kobe Bryant, and beloved daughter Gianna. Since then, they have made every effort to keep their legacy alive, present for posthumous honors, historic firsts for the NBA icon, and memorials in honor of Kobe and Gigi. Still, what has been most inspiring is the family’s perseverance in spite of such tragic circumstances. Particularly the couple’s eldest daughter, Natalia Bryant, who recently spoke about her own charge to keep her dad’s work and legacy alive.
“I got to know and love him as my dad, and let me tell you, he is the MVP of girl dads, to say the least…Being his daughter is one of the greatest joys of my life, and I hope to continue to embody and cherish the many lessons he has taught me,” Natalia said during an unveiling of Kobe Bryant’s prints at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
Since her dad’s passing, Natalia has worked to make her family proud, heading off to college, landing a deal with IMG Models, and snagging an internship on Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour. Now, the USC film student has hit another milestone, with mom Vanessa Bryant sharing a sweet moment on social media as she celebrated Natalia on her directorial debut.
“I’m so proud of you [Natalia]!!! You’ve balanced school, friends, family, your sorority, your internship, your modeling jobs, runway debut, and film responsibilities & projects,” wrote Bryant.
She shared a picture of herself and Natalia as she presented her with several bouquets. There were also more family pics and an endearing photo of Natalia with her younger sister, Bianka. They all gathered to shower her with flowers, Mom praising the eldest Bryant child for handling it all.
“You still find time to be present and responsible for everything you do and show up for every family event your schedule permits you to attend. I cannot express how proud we are of you. We love you so much. Proud mom, dad and sisters for sure! #directorialdebut,” Bryant added.
In addition to all of her work, Natalia has also taken an active role in The Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, a nonprofit geared towards furthering the legacies of her late dad and sister. While there’s no word on what Natalia is working on next, it’s clear that the future is very bright, and she’ll continue to carry the Bryant name on for a long time.
Cover photo: Vanessa Bryant Shares Sweet Moment Celebrating Daughter Natalia on Directorial Debut/Photo by Vanessa Bryant/Instagram