The tragic helicopter crash also claimed the life of Gianna Bryant, the second eldest daughter of the Bryants at just 13 years old. Before his passing, Kobe Bryant expressed immense pride in being a father to daughters. ESPN reporter Elle Duncan shared a touching moment when Kobe high-fived her upon learning she was expecting a girl, emphasizing, “Girls are the best … Just be grateful you’ve been given that gift because girls are amazing.”
On what would have been Gianna’s 18th birthday on May 1, 2024, Vanessa Bryant and Nike collaborated to release a special edition of the Nike Kobe 8 “Mambacita” sneakers in her honor. Vanessa, along with her daughters Natalia, Bianka, and Capri, commemorated Kobe Bryant’s legacy at a Los Angeles Lakers game where a 19-foot bronze statue of the NBA legend was unveiled.
Vanessa Bryant has credited her surviving daughters for providing her with the strength to persevere after the tragic loss of Kobe and Gianna. In a 2021 interview with People magazine, she expressed how her girls bring her joy amidst the sorrow and fortify her resolve. Vanessa also publicly celebrated her eldest daughter Natalia’s 21st birthday, praising her as a remarkable, compassionate, and talented young woman.
Attending the WNBA All-Star Game, Vanessa Bryant and her daughters shared a heartwarming moment with basketball star Caitlin Clark courtside in Phoenix. Vanessa later posted moments from the game on her Instagram, expressing love and gratitude with heart emojis.
Natalia Bryant, born on January 19, 2003, is not only pursuing a film major at the University of Southern California but has also made strides in the modeling industry. She made her runway debut at the Versace Spring/Summer 2024 fashion show and is part of a modeling campaign with Victoria’s Secret. Natalia fondly described her father as the “MVP of girl dads” during a tribute event in Hollywood, highlighting his cherished role in her life beyond his basketball stardom.
Being a father to four daughters is no easy feat, but despite juggling the NBA and Lakers schedules, he always made sure to support me and my sisters. “A film major at present, she credits her passion for cinema to her dad.” One might wonder why I have such a deep affection for movies like ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Harry Potter,’ the entire Marvel universe, and ‘The Goonies,’ among others,” Natalia Bryant revealed. “The reason is simple – I watched all these films with my dad, and those memories will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
Gianna Bryant, affectionately known as Gigi by her family, was born on May 1, 2006. Gigi was on track to follow in her father’s footsteps as a basketball player at the time of her tragic passing. Kobe and Gigi Bryant were en route to a game at Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy when their helicopter crashed in Southern California on January 26, 2020, claiming the lives of all nine individuals on board. “They exuded joy and a sense of adventure. God knew they couldn’t be apart from each other on this earth. He had to reunite them in His presence,” Vanessa Bryant expressed at a public memorial following the accident. “Love, take care of our Gigi. I’ve got Nani, B.B., and Koko. We’re still the best team.”
In March 2020, Vanessa Bryant shared a video of her late husband praising Gianna, recounting how she sought his guidance on basketball fundamentals and how he meticulously taught her the game “step by step.” “Watching her grow and being there for each step of her journey has been a delight,” Kobe Bryant remarked in the video. “Her demeanor is much like mine – fiercely competitive, unafraid of challenges… she’s a perfect blend of me and her mother, which makes her even more competitive than I am.”
Bianka Bryant, born on December 5, 2016, received a special moment of recognition in August 2023 when she was selected as the lucky fan to receive Taylor Swift’s hat during her performance of “22” at the first Los Angeles show of Swift’s Eras Tour. The heartwarming interaction culminated in a warm hug between the two, with Swift presenting Bianka with the black “22” hat inspired by her appearance in the “22” music video and planting a kiss on her cheek. Vanessa Bryant captured the touching moment on Instagram, captioning the photo, “We love you @taylorswift.”
For her 8th birthday in December 2024, Vanessa Bryant paid tribute to Bianka on Instagram, describing her as “our Sunshine.” “We adore you, Bianka! You bring so much love and laughter into our lives. You are dearly loved, my dear! 😘❤️🎉🎂🎉 You say it’s your BB
Mily celebrated Capri’s fourth birthday with a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, photos of which Vanessa Bryant shared on Instagram. During the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, Capri was spotted with Clark comparing their matching pink sneakers, which are a pair of the special edition “WNBA All-Star” Nike Kobe 6s that Vanessa Bryant gifted to the team prior to the game. What to know about Kobe, Vanessa Bryant’s 4 daughters originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com.
