How Vanessa Bryant is honouring late husband Kobe Bryant’s work and keeping daughter Gigi’s memory alive
Once a teenage Snoop Dogg video star, in the months since NBA legend Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna’s death, wife and mother Vanessa has taken the spotlight as an ambassador and activist for basketball and beyond
Vanessa Bryant has been thrust into the spotlight since the sudden death of her husband and daughter in January. Since that tragic helicopter crash in January, she has begun to make clear some of the things she will do to continue her family’s legacy.
From honouring Kobe Bryant’s work to keeping the memory of their girl and young player Gianna, aka Gigi, alive, here’s what’s to expect next.
A deeper connection with fans
Vanessa recently opened up about Kobe’s post-retirement priorities in a heartfelt social media post.
“All he wanted was to spend time with our girls and me to make up for lost time. He wanted to be there for every single milestone and special moment in our girls lives,” she wrote. Met with such overwhelming support from around the world recently, Vanessa has been sharing precious family moments and special stories as a celebration of life.
A strong ambassador
The LA Lakers team consider Vanessa part of their family and has worked closely with her since January to continue Kobe’s legacy. Having met the athlete around the time his career kicked off 20 years ago, Vanessa has gone from being a Snoop Dogg video girl to a respected spokesperson for Kobe’s accolades and legacy. After it was announced the 18-time All-Star and five-time champion would be elected for the 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Vanessa called it the “peak of his NBA career”.