Vanessa Bryant has spoken out about the unimaginable pain – as well as her journey through grief and resilience – following the death of husband Kobe Bryant and their daughter Gianna ‘Gigi’ Bryant.
Fourteen months after their passing, Vanessa, 38, opened up about how she has coped with the loss by focusing on ‘finding the light in darkness,’ she said in the People magazine cover story.
‘Lying in bed crying isn’t going to change the fact that my family will never be the same again. But getting out of bed and pushing forward is going to make the day better for my girls and for me. So that’s what I do.’
Kobe and Gigi died January 26, 2020 in a helicopter crash; he was 41 and she was 13.
Strong women: Vanessa Bryant has spoken out about the unimaginable pain – as well as her journey through grief and resilience – following the death of husband Kobe Bryant and their daughter Gianna ‘Gigi’ Bryant. Fourteen months after their passing, Vanessa opened up about how she has coped with the loss by focusing on ‘finding the light in darkness,’ she said in the People magazine cover story
‘My girls help me smile through the pain,’ Vanessa revealed to the magazine: daughters Natalia, 18, Bianka, four, and Capri, 20 months old.
Adding: ‘They give me strength.’
Vanessa said some days are harder than others, with the pain bringing her to her knees: ‘I can’t say that I’m strong every day. I can’t say that there aren’t days when I feel like I can’t survive to the next.’
For the cover, Vanessa wore a Lakers varsity jacket with Kobe’s numbers – 24 and 8 – on each sleeve.
RIP: Vanessa said: ‘Lying in bed crying isn’t going to change the fact that my family will never be the same again. But getting out of bed and pushing forward is going to make the day better for my girls and for me. So that’s what I do’
The People magazine issue shines a light on Women Changing the World, with Vanessa being one of them.
She took charge of his unfinished creative projects at his multi-media Granity Studios, which she now runs.
Vanessa also re-launched his non-profit and renamed it Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation – in honor of both Kobe and Gigi.
The foundations’s focus is the empowerment of young girls and providing equal opportunities to under-served athletes – something which Kobe has always been an advocate of.
From the heart: After Kobe and Gigi’s death, Vanessa thanked everyone who showed support and love to her and her family, sharing a sweet family photo
Vanessa said: ‘The pain is unimaginable [but] you just have to get up and push forward.’
Adding: ‘I guess the best way to describe it is that Kobe and Gigi motivated me to keep going. They inspire me to try hard and be better every day. Their love is unconditional and they motivate me in so many ways.’
She said in the end, all she wants is ‘to make Kobe, Gigi, Natalia, Bianka and Capri proud.’
Kobe and Vanessa met in November 1999 when he was 21 and she was 17 and working as a background dancer on the music video G’d Up by The Eastsidaz.
Strength: ‘My girls help me smile through the pain,’ Vanessa revealed to the magazine: daughters Natalia, 18, Bianka, four, and Capri, 20 months old
Soulmates: Kobe and Vanessa met in November 1999 when he was 21 and she was 17 and working as a background dancer on the music video G’d Up by The Eastsidaz
They soon began dating got got engaged six months later in May 2000, and they tied the knot on April 18, 2001 in Dana Point, California.
Kobe died on Sunday, January 26, 2020 after his helicopter crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, California alongside his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven others: John Altobelli, 56, Keri Altobelli, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 45, Christina Mauser, 38, and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.
They were flying from Orange County to the Mamba Sports Academy, which he founded, in Thousand Oaks, California.
Family: Vanessa and Kobe pictured with daughters Natalia and Gigi at Disneyland in Anaheim, California on June 22, 2010 with Goofy
Heartbreaking: Kobe died on Sunday, January 26, 2020 after his helicopter crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, California alongside his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven others: John Altobelli, 56, Keri Altobelli, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 45, Christina Mauser, 38, and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50; pictured February 14, 2016
Forever in our hearts: They were flying from Orange County to the Mamba Sports Academy, which he founded, in Thousand Oaks, California; Kobe and Gigi on November 17, 2019 at a Lakers vs Hawks game at STAPLES Center in LA
He was set to coach his daughter in the Mamba Cup Tournament Series.
Gigi was a rising star in women’s basketball and played on the amateur girls’ team coached by her father at his Mamba Academy. Kobe trademarked the name ‘Mambacita’ shortly before they died.
Kobe, who is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, played his entire NBA career for the Los Angeles Lakers; the athlete was drafted out of high school and made his professional debut in 1996.
Throwback: Kobe, who is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, played his entire NBA career for the Los Angeles Lakers; the athlete was drafted out of high school and made his professional debut in 1996; Kobe and Vanessa seen November 9, 2019 in Culver City
He began his career with the Number 8 jersey, which was a nod the number he had as a young child playing basketball while his dad Joe Bryant played ball in Italy.
It was also partly for the jersey he wore to the youth training camp Adidas ABCD camp. Kobe wore no. 143, which added up equals 8.
For the start of the 2006-2007 season, Kobe changed his number to 24, which was his number at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. He kept that number the second half of his career.
The athlete also opted to get the number after Shaquille was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004.
Start: Kobe, who is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, played his entire NBA career for the Los Angeles Lakers; the athlete was drafted out of high school and made his professional debut in 1996; pictured with Jerry West and Del Harris
Kobe had told ESPN in 2017 that getting his new number (2) was ‘kind of a clean slate. I started new. Just start completely fresh, focus on the number that meant a lot to me.’
The NBA MVP had added: ‘When I first came in at 8, is really trying to “plant your flag” sort of thing.” I got to prove that I belong here in this league. I’ve got to prove that I’m one of the best in this league. You’re going after them. It’s nonstop energy and aggressiveness and stuff.’
Kobe said the 24 was ‘growth from that.’
Bryant celebrates with his father Joe Bryant (L) holding the NBA Finals trophy in the locker room after winning the Finals against the Indiana Pacers. Vanessa is pictured right with one of their children
He told the outlet: ‘Physical attributes aren’t there the way they used to be, but the maturity level is greater. Marriage, kids. Start having a broader perspective being one of the older guys on the team now, as opposed to being the youngest. Things evolve. It’s not to say one is better than the other or one’s a better way to be. It’s just growth.’
ESPN noted that the two jersey numbers serve as chapters to his career with the him scoring almost the same amount of points in each. As number 8, he scored 16,777 points and as number 24, he scored 16, 866 points.
He went on to win five NBA Championships with the Lakers over his 20-year career; he played his last game on April 13, 2016 before his retirement.
His jerseys 8 and 24 were both retired by the Lakers in 2017.
Family: The father/daughter duo were often snapped together as they were very close
Legends: Kobe and Gigi are featured on a number of murals around Los Angeles, an ode to the King of LA