Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant granted an exclusive interview with People, where she disclosed the source of her motivation to keep goingꟷ her kids
Losing a loved one is a hard pill to swallow. But losing two in an instant is a complete game-changer capable of bringing anyone to their knees. However, Vanessa Bryant has found a way to lean on the loss of her husband and daughter in a helicopter crash 13 months ago, as a pillar of support. She noted:
“I guess the best way to describe it is that Kobe and Gigi motivate me to keep going. They inspire me to try harder and be better every day. Their love is unconditional.”
The 38-year-old widow disclosed this during an exclusive interview with People, for the cover story of its “Women Changing The World” issue. The NBA legend’s wife also acknowledged that her three surviving kids contributed to her struggle to keep going. She explained:
“My girls help me smile through the pain. They give me strength. In the end, I want to make Kobe, Gigi, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri Proud.”
Despite finding the strength to push through her difficult times, some days proved especially difficult to cope with. Vanessa Bryant admitted during the interview that some days left her feeling she could not make it to the next one.
However, she knew she owed it to her daughters and late husband. Since Kobe Bryant’s death on January 26, 2010, the grieving widow has channeled her energy into rebuilding her life, and those of her daughters.
Pushing forward is going to make the day better for my girls and for me. So that’s what I do.
According to her, spending hours in bed, crying, would change nothing. Instead, she took up all her late husband’s unfinished projects, including Granity Studios, Kobe’s multi-media company, and grew it into an empire within a year. Additionally, Vanessa relaunched the late star’s non-profit as Mamba and Mambacita sports Foundation.
Through the foundation, renamed in honor of Kobe and Gigi, she has helped empower young, aspiring female athletes, availing them equal opportunities as their male counterparts. Hence, she is fulfilling her late husband’s lifelong dream. Explaining her resilience in carrying on the projects amid the unbearable heartache, Vanessa divulged:
“Lying in bed crying isn’t going to change the fact that my family will never be the same again. But getting out of bed and pushing forward is going to make the day better for my girls and for me. So that’s what I do.”
This is not the first time Kobe’s widow would open up about her struggle with grief even after one year of Kobe’s death. Back in January, the 38-year-old shared her take on grief, and how to handle it the right way via Instagram.
She began by describing grief as a “messed up cluster of emotions” going further to explain the mood swings that came along with it. The widow also advised everyone struggling with the feeling to move on by finding a reason to live. Vanessa Bryant also admitted that she found her reason in her kids, hence her decision to push through.
Aside from her family, Kobe Bryant’s wife also found solace in well-wishers, who remain unrelenting in their show of support and thoughtful gestures. One such gesture was a letter from an old friend of Gigi’s detailing how incredible the late Mambacita was.
Kobe Bryant and Gigi’s death would indeed remain engraved in every heart, even as their legacy lives on.