Vanessa Bryant is a former model and philanthropist. Vanessa Bryant is well-known as the wife of the basketball legend Black Mamba (aka Kobe Bryant). Vanessa was 17 years old when he met her, and he was 21 years old at the time.
Kobe Bryant won five NBA championships and was named the league’s most valuable player in 2008.
He was one of the best NBA players of all time and a role model for many others.
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Education, Family, and Childhood
Vanessa Bryant was born on May 5, 1982, in Los Angeles, California, to Sofia Urbieta.
Her ancestors are of Mexican descent.
Sofia was a single mother who reared Vanessa and her older sister, Sophie. Vanessa’s father was divorced when she was a newborn.
Her father returned to Mexico, thus little is known about him. After that, Sofia married Stephen Laine.
Vanessa Urbieta Cornejo Laine was born, along with her older sister Sophie Laine. Despite Stephen’s refusal to adopt them.
Vanessa grew up in Orange County for the majority of her childhood.
Education
In terms of her education, Vanessa graduated from St. Boniface Parochial School in 1996.
Then, in 2000, she graduated with honors from Marina High School.
During her scholastic years, she was a model student. Mrs. Bryant was a dedicated student who was also involved in the school’s drama club.
Robert Rotenberry, her theatre teacher, characterized her as “extremely lovely, very charming, and extra-outgoing.”
Her classmates regard her as a very peaceful individual.
She grew up in a very secluded environment and was not permitted to date during high school.
Before she met Kobe, she lived a fairly ordinary existence.
Net Worth
Vanessa Bryant’s net worth isn’t well-known, however, it is thought to be around $75 million.
She also inherits a $600 million inheritance from Kobe following his death.
On Gianna’s 15th birthday, she inherited $200 million from Kobe’s brand Body armor, and she started her own brand, Mambacita, in collaboration with Danniio.
Facts of Vanessa Bryant
Birth Name | Vanessa Urbieta Cornejo Laine |
Birth Date | 5 May 1982 |
Birth Place | Los Angeles, California, USA |
Age | 40 years old |
Height | 1.65 m |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Latina American of Mexican and Irish, English, German descent |
Religion | Catholic |
Horoscope | Taurus |
Profession | Model, Philanthropist |
Parents | Sofia Urbieta |
Siblings | 1; Sophie Laine |
Marital Status | Married (2001-2020), now a widow |
Husband name | Kobe Bryant(b. 1978-d.2020) |
Children |
|
Net Worth | $600 Million approx. |
Merch | Jersey, Autographed Items |
Social Media | |
Last Update | June 2022 |
Workplace
Vanessa began her modeling career when she was 17 years old. The video G’d Up by Snoop Dogg’s rap group ‘The Eastsidaz’ was her debut project.
She met Kobe Bryant as he was working on an album that was never published at the same time.
Vanessa then went on to perform in the Teen Choice Awards in 2003, as well as the MTV Movie Awards in 2004. She was also featured in a documentary on Kobe Bryant’s inspiration.
Similarly, she had an appearance on the hit reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Tyrese, Ludacris, Pharell, and Snoop Dogg have all featured her in music videos.
She is currently employed as a philanthropist and a businesswoman.
Marriage
When Vanessa Bryant was in high school, she met the love of her life, Kobe Bryant. In November 1999, Kobe met Vanessa while filming the Tha Eastsidaz music video “G’d up.”
Vanessa was 17 years old at the time, and Kobe was 20. Vanessa and Kobe started dating after she turned 18 and Kobe proposed to her.
Vanessa and Kobe are at the early stages of their relationship.
It wasn’t simple for them to fall in love. They had to deal with Kobe’s parents’ displeasure. Regardless of the opposition, Kobe and Vanessa married in April 2001.
Because Kobe was young and Vanessa was of Mexican and Irish origin, Kobe’s parents, Joe and Pam Bryant were opposed to their marriage.
For the first two years after their marriage, their relationship was strained. However, with the birth of their first kid, his parents embraced them.
Adultery in Marriage
A controversy involving her husband surfaced two years into their marriage. In Denver, Colorado, Kobe was accused of sexually abusing a 19-year-old.
In a news conference at the Staples Center, he addressed the accusation by admitting to adultery in the marriage.
However, she denied sexual assault and stated that the interaction was voluntary. Despite the adultery, Vanessa remained by his side during this time.
After a private settlement, the criminal prosecution was eventually withdrawn.
Children’s Author
Kobe’s four children were born to Vanessa. On January 19, 2003, their first child was born. Natalie Diamante Bryant was her given name.
Their second kid was born on May 1, 2006, three years later. Their marriage struck another snag in 2011 when Vanessa filed for divorce after the birth of their second child.
Mrs. Bryant stated that the divorce was due to “irreconcilable differences.” In 2013, they reconciled and ended their divorce. Vanessa stated on Instagram at the time, “We are thrilled to report that we have reconciled.”
Bianka Bella Bryant, Kobe and Vanessa’s third child, was born in 2016. Similarly, their fourth daughter, Capri Kobe Bryant, was born in 2019.
Kobe frequently posted photos of his wife and daughters on Instagram, demonstrating his affection for them.
Tragedy
Her aspirations were destroyed just as she thought she and Kobe could spend eternity together.
When she learned that her beloved husband and daughter had died in a helicopter crash, her world crumbled in front of her eyes.
On January 26, 2020, basketball legend Kobe Bryant perished in a chopper crash along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other passengers.
Despite the tragedy, Vanessa remained strong and continued to live her life through the memories she shared with Kobe and their baby.
She was the focal point of public memorial service for her husband and daughter. She gave a moving statement at the service, which moved many people to tears.
Also read: John Laurinaitis, Domonique Foxworth, Dave Bateman
Social Media Status
Vanessa Bryant has decided to come out of the shadows and share her story with the rest of the world.
She took the first step by making her Instagram account public and posting photos of herself and Kobe, as well as her two daughters.
Her Instagram account now has 15.3 million followers.
This demonstrates how much she and Kobe’s followers admire her for always being there for him and being strong in his absence.
She also paid an emotional tribute to Kobe after his Hall of Fame induction.