Who is Natalia Bryant? Kobe Bryant's eldest daughter signs with IMG models, mom Vanessa says 'I'm proud of you'
Less than a month after late NBA star Kobe Bryant's first-year death anniversary that saw a huge outpouring of emotions, there is good news for the family in the form of his daughter Natalia Bryant, Kobe's daughter signing with IMG Models. The agency will represent the 18-year-old Los Angeles native in beauty and fashion. With this, the eldest daughter of the late Los Angeles Lakers star, born in 2003 to Kobe and Vanessa Bryant, will be the brand's new face as they build the profile of the teen via editorial and brand endorsements.
"I have always been interested in fashion since a very young age," said Natalia Bryant in an exclusive statement, according to WWD. "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."
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Who is Natalia Bryant?
At 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), Natalia "Nani" Diamante Bryant is the eldest of Kobe's daughters. And from media reports, it was revealed she was touted to take over Kobe's company in the future. An article from The US Sun said he shared a love for movies and a breakdown of films with Natalia. "He enjoyed renting out theaters and taking Natalia to watch the newest 'Star Wars' movie or 'Harry Potter' films," Vanessa said. "They would have movie marathons and he enjoyed every second of it.
"He loved the typical tearjerkers, too, and he loved watching Stepmom, Steel Magnolias and Little Women. He had a tender heart." If this is about the relationship with her father, the eldest Bryant also has good fanbase on social media.
Her Instagram has roughly 2.3 million followers and talking about the signing. IMG Models’ senior vice president Maja Chiesi said: "Natalia has such a bright future ahead of her, and we were taken aback by her beauty, talent, and drive from our first encounter. "We’re honored to partner with Natalia in shaping her career in fashion and beauty, and we look forward to connecting her with fresh, exciting opportunities that showcase her multifaceted personality and look."
The news was also shared by Vanessa on her own Instagram. "I’m so happy for you! I love you, Nani!," read her post congratulating her daughter.
Kobe and his daughter, Gianna, were among the nine people that died in the helicopter crash. They were on their way to a youth basketball tournament. He was 41 at the time of his death and Gianna was just 13. The Sikorsky slammed into a rugged mountain slope covered in fog.
As the shock cleared, the search of answers begun, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said there would be a final report on what exactly went wrong on February 9. The seven other passengers who also lost their lives were basketball coach John Altobelli; his wife, Keri; and their daughter Alyssa; Payton Chester and her mother Sarah; Christina Mauser; and pilot Ara Zobayan.