The world continues to mourn the tragic death of NBA legend, Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, and seven others, in a helicopter crash on Sunday, January 26, and we have come up with facts to know about her wife Vanessa Bryant.
In the wake of his death, many are throwing their support behind his wife, Vanessa who is the most affected by this sudden tragedy.
Here are all the facts to know about her.
1.Her early Life
She was born Vanessa Cornejo Urbieta on May 5, 1982, in California and she is of Mexican and Irish, English, German descent.
READ ALSO: Basketball Legend, Kobe Bryant Alongside Four Others Dies In Helicopter Crash
She has a sister, Sophie, who is ten years older. Her parents divorced when she was three years old. Her mother brought them up by herself until 1990 when she married businessman Stephanie Laine whose surname Vanessa legally took up in 2000 despite (Laine) not officially adopting her.
2. She is a former model and video vixen
Vanessa and Kobe Bryant
Vanessa began her career as a teenager as a model and video vixen.
3.She met Kobe Bryant as a teenager
Vanessa met the NBA player at age 17 in November 1999 when she was working as a background dancer for the music video of ‘Tha Eastsidaz‘ music video “G’d Up”. Kobe who was 21 years at the time was also working on his debut album when they met and they soon sparked off something romantic.
Kobe and Vanessa Bryant as teenagers
READ ALSO: Kobe Bryant: See Photos of Victims Killed In The Helicopter Crash
Kobe proposed to Vanessa who was still a high school student six months later in May 2000 and there was no prenuptial agreement. She had to finish out her high school senior year being homeschooled to avoid photographers. They announced their engagement at her 18th birthday party.
4. Kobe’s family didn’t approve of her
According to reports, Kobe’s family especially his parents didn’t approve of his marriage to Vanessa for many reasons.
The couple married April 18, 2001, at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point, California. His parents, two sisters, other members of his immediate family and even his LAKERS teammates didn’t attend the wedding.
They are always together
They reportedly had problems with him marrying at a young age to someone young who wasn’t African American. The lack of the prenuptial agreement was also a concern. Kobe had already won a championship and was well-off financially.
READ ALSO: How Barack Obama Reacted To Kobe Bryant’s Death
The couple’s first daughter born in 2003 put a slight end to the feud.
5. She stood by him through his sexual assault case
Vanessa stood by her husband when he was accused of raping a hotel worker in July 2003.
This was barely six months after the birth of their first daughter. Kobe, 24 at the time was charged with sexual felony assault.
She stood by him when he was facing Sexual Assault Trial
Vanessa was by his side during a press conference at Staples Center, where he admitted to committing adultery but said “I’m innocent” of assault.
She also released a statement at the time, saying that her husband was not a criminal.
Although sexual assault charges were filed against him in September 2004, the case was dropped three weeks after it was filed because the woman didn’t want to proceed.
He allegedly bought her an “apology” diamond ring worth over $4 million to help win her forgiveness.
6. She Filed For Divorce In 2011
In the middle of a rough patch, Vanessa filed for divorce from the basketball player in 2011 after 10 years of marriage citing irreconcilable differences.
She filed for divorce
According to sources, Vanessa had caught her husband cheating on her with another woman.
However, a year after amidst their divorce plans, there were rumours that had decided to call work things out. In 2013, they both announced that the divorce had been called off.
READ ALSO: Micheal Jordan, Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo Mourn Kobe Bryant
7. She and Kobe had four daughters
Vanessa had four daughters for Kobe and they are Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri. Natalia Diamante born January 19, 2003, turned 17 recently.
In 2005, she suffered a miscarriage due to an ectopic pregnancy which Kobe took responsibility when he opened up about it 10 years later.
She a mother of four beautiful daughters
The second, Gianna ‘Gigi’ Maria-Onore Bryant who died alongside her father in the tragic helicopter crash was born May 1, 2006.
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Bianka Bella Bryant was born December 15, 2016, and the last, Capri Kobe was born June 20, 2019.
Our thoughts are with Vanessa Bryant, her family, and the Bryant family during this undoubtedly difficult time.
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