On January 19, 2003, Vanessa and Kobe Bryant welcomed their first daughter, Natalia Diamante Bryant, into the world. The couple went on to have three more daughters: Gianna, Bianka Bella, and Capri Bryant. Sadly, both Kobe and Gianna died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, in Calabasas, California, changing the rest of their family member's lives forever. So many changes have happened in Natalia's life since then though, but her future is looking bright. In 2021, she turned 18, signed a modeling contract with IMG Models, graduated from high school, and she's now off to college!
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Vanessa, proud mamá that she is, has been sharing lots of love for her daughter on social media. Of course, we want to join in the much-deserved celebration of Natalia, so here we're sharing the sweetest photos and videos of her throughout the years. It has been a delight to watch Natalia blossom into a phenomenal young woman. We wish her well as she transitions into adulthood and can't wait to see all that she accomplishes.
The modeling thing is in full swing.
Natalia did a shoot with Teen Vogue during the summer of 2021, not long after she was signed by IMG. We love the whimsical look of this photo. She reminds us of a young Mary Poppins here, and looks like she's having just as much fun.
She helps out with the little ones.
As the big sister of four, Natalia has plenty of experience with kids under her belt. Here she looks happy to be able to help out with the little one. It must be amazing for Vanessa to have such a responsible and thoughtful daughter.
She had a beautiful summer.
The Bryant women vacationed in Italy the summer after Natalia's high school graduation, and it looked like they had an amazing time together. Natalia's face is so full of joy. We bet she did a lot of shopping!
Natalia loves her little puppy.
Just look at how big Natalia's smile is when she's snuggling with her puppy! It looks like she has an adorable blue French bulldog, and that she absolutely adores him or her. They are so cute!
The moment Natalia crossed the stage to get her diploma.
"Congratulations Natalia! We will ALL be with you every step of the way. ❤️ ," Vanessa wrote alongside a video of Natalia's name being called during her graduation and Natalia crossing the stage to get her diploma.
She's a graduate!
On June 4, 2021, Natalia graduated from Sage Hill High School of Newport Coast, California. Vanessa posted a picture of the beaming graduate holding a mortar board decorated USC, the initials of the college she will be attending, and a quote from her late father that reads: “Everything negative—pressures, challenges—is all an opportunity for me to rise.”
IMG Models proudly announced it is now representing Natalia.
Oh February 8, 2021, the agency posted a gorgeous headshot of Natalia with the following caption:
"NOW REPRESENTING: #NataliaBryant! ⭐️ “I have always been interested in fashion since a very young age. I have a love for the industry and ever since I can remember I wanted to model. There is a lot to learn but I feel this is a great opportunity for me to learn and express myself creatively." – @nataliabryant
Vanessa is a VERY proud mama.
Vanessa went on a bit of a posting spree to celebrate her daughter's birthday. This gorgeous black-and-white portrait was one of the pictures the proud mama shared with the caption: "I ❤️you @nataliabryant ! #BirthdayGirl #18."
Back when the Bryants were a family of three.
Vanessa also shared a photo of herself, Kobe, and Natalia as a baby sitting on the Lakers' court back when the Bryants were just a family of three. She wrote: "We love you so much! Happy birthday Natalia!!!! Our first born @nataliabryant."
A sweet reminder of daddy's love.
Natalia's 18th birthday is the first that she will celebrate without her father, but Vanessa made sure to remind Natalia of how much Kobe loved being her papa. She posted a sweet picture of Kobe holding baby Natalia in his arms and looking at her with so much love. In the caption, Vanessa wrote: "Daddy’s little princess, Natalia. ❤️ #18 #BirthdayGirl."
Get ready to cry.
Vanessa, wrote the sweetest open letter to Natalia in honor of her 18th birthday. It reads:
Dear Natalia,
Happy Birthday! Mommy and Daddy are so proud of the young lady that you are. You have displayed so much strength and grace throughout the most difficult year of our lives. Thank you for stepping in to help me with your little sisters. You’re such an incredible big sister and a beautiful role model to so many people. Thank you for being kind, polite and gracious in everything that you do. You have no idea how happy and proud mommy and daddy are that you’re our daughter. We love you always and forever, forever and always. Happy 18th birthday to our first born, Natalia, our principessa!
Love always,
Mommy, Daddy, Gigi, BB and Koko❤️
Does Natalia have a nickname?
We're thinking she has at least one because when Vanessa posted this picture of Natalia she captioned it: "Nani~Banani #18 ♥️ ." Nani-Banani! It rhymes and is definitely a very cute pet name as far as pet names go.
She brings so much joy to her mother.
Natalia posted a video of herself, her friend basketball player Sabrina Ionescu, and Vanessa doing a TikTok challenge and seeing the smile on Vanessa’s face after everything she’s been through is amazing. Natalia captioned the video: “It’s the making my mom laugh for me ♥️.”
Kobe’s last public birthday message to Natalia.
On January 19, 2019, just a few days before his death, Kobe posted a picture of his beautiful daughter Natalia and wrote: “Happy Birthday my baby. I love you beyond measure. You will always be my little Principessa #17.” It was Natalia’s 17th birthday.
She’s got major big sister vibes.
“Had an amazing time watching the greatest soccer team in the world with my babies Nani, Gigi and BB #uswnt,” Kobe wrote when he posted this picture on August 4, 2019. Seeing the way that Natalia stands with her sister is really touching. She seems like such a loving big sister.
Kobe showered her with public praise when she turned sweet 16.
"Happy 16th Birthday my baby! I’m beyond proud of the young woman you have become. You are kind, intelligent, hardworking, caring, loving and beautiful inside and out. There aren’t enough words to express how much I love you principessa. Happy #sweet16," he wrote alongside a picture of the two of them together.
Natalia and Vanessa look a lot alike.
On June 24, 2018, Kobe shared a picture of Vanessa and Natalia sitting side by side during a visit to the Louvre Museum in France and the resemblance is uncanny. Kobe captioned the photo: "Twins #louvre."
Date night with papa.
In March 2018, Kobe and Natalia had an epic father-daughter date night at a Demi Lovato concert. We know because Kobe posted a series of photos from the concert and wrote: "Thank you @ddlovato for making date night with my baby girl a night to remember #daddysprincess."
The message she got from her father on her 15th birthday.
“Happy Birthday to our angel Natalia. I remember the days when you would sit on my lap at post game press conferences as if it was yesterday. You are a true blessing baby. We love you more than you could ever imagine #mynani #15 #timehaswings #proudpappa.”
She had braces back in 2015.
Kobe shared this picture of his ladies Gianna, Vanessa, and Natalia in 2015. This was before Bianka and Capri were born. Notice how adorable Natalia looks with braces on her teeth.
She sold Girl Scout cookies to Barak Obama.
How many Girl Scouts can say that?! On August 4, 2017, Barak Obama’s birthday, Kobe shared this throwback photo and wrote: “I will never forget the day our little Natalia sold Girl Scout cookies to @barackobama in the Oval Office. Happy Birthday to a great leader and a great muse #timeless #potus #obamaout.”
Look at all that cuteness!
Kobe posted a throwback photo of Natalia in his arms in honor of her 11th birthday and wrote: “#timehaswings can't believe my baby girl is 11 today!! Happy Birthday Nani We love you to the moon and back. To the moon and back.”
