Vanessa Bryant
(Photo : Reuters)

On January 26, 2020, people around the globe were stunned following the report of the fatal death of Kobe Bryant along with his 13-year old daughter, Gianna Bryant, and several individuals. Fans and athletes mourned the death of the NBA legend and other victims of the helicopter crash.

Vanessa Bryant, the wife of the NBA Legend, has always been part of prayers as she continues to stand firm despite the difficult time she is experiencing. She lost a loving husband and a caring daughter. 

Moreover, not everyone knows that Vanessa Bryant is a Latina. This is the reason why it is not surprising anymore that Kobe Bryant is close to the hearts of the Latino community. In a recently published article, there are some facts that you should know about Vanessa Bryant.

1. Vanessa Bryant is a Latina. Her maiden name is Vanessa Cornejo Urbieta and she was born on May 5, 1982. She is half Mexican and half Irish.

2. Kobe and Vanessa first met when they were still in high school. The family of Vanessa did not agree with her relationship with Kobe, however, despite this, they took their vows in 2001. They celebrated their 18th year of marriage last April 2019.

3. The couple was blessed with four children. They are Natalia Diamante who was born in January 2003, Gianna Maria-Onorie who was born in May 2006, Bianka Bella who was born in December 2016, and Capri Kobe who was born in June 2019. It is obvious that the names of their children are influenced by Vanessa's Latin heritage.

4. It was also observed that even though Vanessa married an NBA Legend, she chose to have a private life even in her social media account. She does not like to be in the spotlight.

5. It was Vanessa who named Gianna "Mamacita" because the child wants to follow the footsteps of her father. It can be observed that Gianna was always with her father and posted videos about their training in the Black Mamba Center along with other kids.

6. Even though she chooses to have a private and a more confidential life, she also has Hollywood friends like Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Mary J Blige, and many more.

7. It is not well known, but Vanessa and her children are huge Disney lovers and they are regular guests at the Magic Kingdom.

8. Former first lady Michelle Obama and Vanessa Bryant share the same admiration in basketball. They also continue to support each other. In of the posts of Vanessa Bryant on her social media account she wrote: "Always, always, always good to see our First Lady."

9. Despite all the achievements and fame of her husband, Vanessa never forgot to give back to the community. Through the Mamba Sports Foundation, she continues to help athletes from different communities.

10. Vanessa Bryant also makes sure that her children know their cultural roots and heritage most especially the Latino culture.  

While the tragedy that Vanessa experienced is beyond belief, she remains a strong figure in the lives of their three children. Through Vanessa, and her children, Kobe and GiGi Bryant's legacy will live on.