Vanessa Bryant is an American icon.
Piecing together Bryant’s life isn’t easy.
As famous as she is, many are unfamiliar with Bryant’s life and transformation.
Here’s an up-close look at howVanessa Bryanthas changed over the years.
As noted by theLos Angeles Times, her parents divorced when she was still a baby.
Sofia’s work ethic and dedication to her children had a big impact on her kids.
TheLos Angeles Timesnoted that she took advanced math classes in high school, including algebra II.
Bryant was also quite responsible, even working as a teacher’s aide on campus.
Her duties consisted of running errands for teachers and taking roll call.
“She was just a normal girl.
With a normal life,” Laine told theLos Angeles Times.
Vanessa Bryant became a model by accident
Vanessa Bryant has always been a woman of many talents.
Instead of doing either, she became a model albeit accidentally.
Bryant gave her name and her phone number, and was soon called to a shoot.
Vanessa was just 17 at the time, andwhile Kobe was 20.
Soon, they were inseparable, frequently hanging out at Disneyland.
“She was just beautiful,” said Kobe.
He continued, revealing, “We literally did everything together … she became my best friend.”
In other words, they were totallysoulmates.
It didn’t take long for Kobe and Vanessa to know they wanted to spend their lives together.
Later, Vanessa would become one of manycelebrities who got married as teenagers.
In fact, Kobe had already been causing a lot of gossip on campus.
The ceremony was a happy occasion filled with love, but the couple’s special day was bittersweet.
Things were even worse with Kobe’s family, however.
In fact, hisKobe’s parentsrefused to attend the wedding.
Even after they began to slowly mend the rift over time, Vanessa remained estranged from her in-laws.
She has also turned down multiple offers to air her life on a reality TV show.
“I really enjoy my privacy,” she toldFabFitFunin a rare interview.
“I love being my goofy and sarcastic self with family and friends,” she continued.
Motherhood transformed the young Vanessa, and she happily threw herself into her new career as a stay-at-home mom.
As noted byThe Daily Beast,Kobe was accused of raping a young woman at a Colorado resort.
“Peoplenoted, however, that the ring was commissioned weeks before the charges were brought against Kobe.
Sadly, she lost the baby due to an ectopic pregnancy, as noted byPeople.
The loss crushed Bryant.
In the documentary 2015Kobe Bryant’s Muse(via theDaily News), Kobe opened up about the loss.
He blamed himself for the tragedy, saying it was his fault that his wife had miscarried.
“Something I gotta carry forever,” he said.
In 2011, Vanessa filed for divorce after a decade of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.
She asked for joint custody of their children, and also requested spousal support, as noted byESPN.
Sources toldTMZthat Vanessa allegedly suspected Kobe of infidelity.
They eventually reconciled in 2013, calling off the divorce.
Kobe also commemorated the reconciliation on social media.
After Kobe’s retirement, he was able to spend more time with the family and with his wife.
For the first time since she had started dating Kobe, Vanessa was living a relatively normal life.
Kobe’s devotion to his family became even more evident afterretiring from the NBA.
The couple were closer than ever, and so was their family.
Added Kobe, “I love you.”
And it seems doting parents were set on having a big family.
“I miss you, all of you, every day,” she said.
Added Vanessa, “I love you.”
Her tribute to her “soulmate” Kobe was no less heartbreaking.
Vanessa reminisced about their life together and their “amazing love story.”
