Life After Kobe: Bryant’s Widow Vanessa Reveals What She Misses Most About Her Late Husband
Feb. 5 2020, Published 7:42 p.m. ET
Vanessa Bryant was blindsided when she recently lost her husband Kobe Bryant and their daughter, Gianna, in a tragic helicopter accident.
On Wednesday, February 5, Vanessa revealed the depth of her pain in a touching message she posted on Instagram.
“Miss you so much,” Vanessa captioned a photo showing a beaming Kobe.
She added: “Miss you saying, ‘Bonjourno principessa/reina” — the Italian word for princess and Spanish word for queen.
Vanessa, 37, added the hashtags #mybestfriend, #thebestdaddy, #handsome, #sweet, #funny, #silly and #lovinghusband on the heartbreaking tribute to the former NBA star.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Kobe, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter were killed on January 26 when the helicopter they were flying in crashed in heavy fog in Calabasas, California.
Kobe, Gianna and their friends were on their way to a youth basketball game at Bryant’s Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks.
The accident claimed the lives of nine people.
The sports world paid tribute to basketball legend Kobe at the Super Bowl. Before the game started, players from each team stood on their 24-yard line during a moment of silence. Kobe wore numbers 24 and 8 during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Scroll through Radar’s gallery to see more photos of Kobe and Vanessa during their life together.
Love at First Sight
The couple, who first met on the set of a music video, were married in 2001.
Gone Too Soon
Days after Kobe passed away, a devastated Vanessa celebrated memories of her husband on social media.
DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.
Completely Devastated
“My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them. We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri,” Vanessa wrote on her Instagram page on January 29.
Counting Her Blessings
“There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now,” the grieving mom wrote, in part, adding: “We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon.”
Left Behind
Kobe and Gianna are survived by Vanessa and the Bryants’ three other daughters: Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and Capri, seven months.