Vanessa Bryant - Kobe Bryant's Wife, Family and Personal Life
Vanessa Bryant's Personal Details
Vanessa Bryant is the wife of retired professional basketball player Kobe Bryant
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | May 5, 1982 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Models, Miscellaneous, Family Members, Hispanic Women, Kobe Bryant's Wife |
| City/State | California |
| Spouses | Kobe Bryant |
| Siblings | Sophie (Older Sister) |
| Known as | Vanessa Laine Bryant, Vanessa Cornejo Urbieta |
| Childrens | Bianka Bella Bryant, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, Natalia Diamante Bryant |
| Birth Place | Huntington Beach, California, USA |
| Height | 165 |
| Gender | Female |
| Father | Stephen Laine (Stepfather) |
| Mother | Sofia Urbieta |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Born in | Huntington Beach, California, USA |
| Famous as | Kobe Bryant's Wife, Model |
| Socials |
// Famous Hispanic Women
Shakira
Shakira is a highly popular award winning Columbian pop singer and dancer. This biography of Shakira provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Selena
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, famously known as the ‘Queen of Tejano music’, was a Mexican-American singer, composer, actress, spokesperson and fashion designer. This biography profiles her childhood, life, music career, achievements and timeline.
Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek is a Mexican-American actress born of Spanish-Lebanese parents. Read this biography to learn about her profile, childhood, life and timeline.
Vanessa Bryant's photo
Who is Vanessa Bryant?
Vanessa Marie Bryant is an American model of Mexican descent. She is the wife of retired professional basketball player Kobe Bryant. She was still a senior at her high school when Kobe, already an established star with the Los Angeles Lakers, announced their engagement. Thrust into the spotlight overnight, she would gradually develop herself to be more than a mere side-note to her husband’s nearly mythical story. As for her marriage, it has over the years withstood a sexual assault charge against Kobe and a filing for divorce which was later dropped. Inevitably, however, she has become the subject of contradictory sentiments in the public sphere right alongside her husband, admired at one instant, and disdained at the next. As active members of the community, she and Kobe support several charitable causes, including their own ‘The Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation’, an organization dedicated to “improving the lives of youth and families in need, both domestically and globally”.
Early Life
Bryant was born as Vanessa Cornejo Urbieta on May 5, 1982, in Huntington Beach, California to Mexican parents. She was three years old when her parents divorced and her mother, Sophia Urbieta, raised her by herself, holding two jobs at once. In 1990, Sophia married Stephen Laine, whose surname Vanessa took in 2000 despite not being officially adopted by Laine. She has an older sister named Sophie.
Marriage & Family
As a teenager, Vanessa met Kobe who was pursuing a side career in music back then, while filming for a music video for the hip-hop group Tha Eastsidaz as a backup dancer. Soon enough, he was sending roses to Marina High where she studied and picking her up after school. On her 18th birthday, the pair made the news of their engagement public. They married on April 18, 2001.
Kobe’s parents, his siblings, other members of his immediate family, and even his teammates at the Lakers did not attend the ceremony. Later, his father and former NBA star Joe "Jellybean" Bryant would admit in an interview that they disapproved their son’s choice of a bride. Kobe has since stated that it was because she was a Latina. The birth of Vanessa and Kobe’s first daughter, Natalia Diamante, in January 2003, has healed some of these wounds.
Vanessa always has been a fiercely guarded individual. Initially, following Kobe’s announcement of their engagement, she was overwhelmed by the television news crews at her doorstep and the helicopters hovering over her school. She even quit school to avoid being swept over by the media frenzy and received her degree independently. These days it is a completely different story. She is the embodiment of a perfect sports wife, attending games and accompanying her husband to social events.
Vanessa gave birth to their second daughter, Giana Maria-Onore, in 2006. She filed for divorce on December 16, 2011, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple appealed for joint custody of their two daughters. However, on January 11, 2013, they revealed on social media—she on Instagram, he on Facebook—that they have called off the divorce proceedings. Their third daughter, Bianka Bella, was born in 2016.
Controversies & Scandals
In 2003, six months after Natalia’s birth, Kobe faced sexual assault charges filed by a 19-years-old employee of a hotel in Colorado. He had checked into The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera on 30 June, as he was having a surgery nearby two days later. The woman claimed that Kobe had raped her in his hotel room on the night before the surgery. While at first he maintained that he did not have any form of sexual encounter with the woman, he later relented stating that it was consensual, but still vehemently denied the rape allegations.
On 26 July, Vanessa and Kobe held a press conference together, where a tearful Bryant admitted to cheating on his wife. Vanessa, in turn, while acknowledging her husband’s infidelity, said that they wished to deal with the issue “within their marriage”. The case was eventually dropped, only days before it went to trial when Bryant’s alleged victim refused to testify in the court. She did launch a civil action suit against Kobe soon after, which was settled out of court. In 2005, Vanessa suffered a miscarriage due to tubal pregnancy. In a recent Showtime documentary, Kobe wondered if the stress from the 2003 ordeal had anything to do with the miscarriage.
In 2004, she accused her husband’s teammate Karl Malone of behaving inappropriately with her. This led to a heated phone call where Kobe told Malone to stay away from his wife.
The couple faced another lawsuit in 2009, this time by their former housekeeper Maria Jimenez, who accused Vanessa of "badgering, harassing and humiliating” her repeatedly. The Bryants filed a counterclaim, stating that Jimenez had violated a confidentiality agreement when she decided to discuss their private affairs in public. It too was settled out of court.
Trivia
Vanessa is also known by her nickname, Ness.
// Famous Models
Sophie Reade
Sophie Victoria Reade is a British model and reality show star. Let’s take a look at her family and personal life, including her age, birthday, boyfriends, and some interesting facts.
Maria Zulay Salaues
Maria Zulay Salaues Antelo is a Bolivian model and girlfriend of the French footballer Paul Pogba. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Christine Baumgartner
Christine Baumgartner is an American model and the wife of famous American actor Kevin Costner. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Vanessa Bryant biography timelines
- // 18th Apr 2001As a teenager, Vanessa met Kobe who was pursuing a side career in music back then, while filming for a music video for the hip-hop group Tha Eastsidaz as a backup dancer. Soon enough, he was sending roses to Marina High where she studied and picking her up after school. On her 18th birthday, the pair made the news of their engagement public. They married on April 18, 2001.
- // 2003In 2003, six months after Natalia’s birth, Kobe faced sexual assault charges filed by a 19-years-old employee of a hotel in Colorado. He had checked into The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera on 30 June, as he was having a surgery nearby two days later. The woman claimed that Kobe had raped her in his hotel room on the night before the surgery. While at first he maintained that he did not have any form of sexual encounter with the woman, he later relented stating that it was consensual, but still vehemently denied the rape allegations.
- // 2003 To 2005On 26 July, Vanessa and Kobe held a press conference together, where a tearful Bryant admitted to cheating on his wife. Vanessa, in turn, while acknowledging her husband’s infidelity, said that they wished to deal with the issue “within their marriage”. The case was eventually dropped, only days before it went to trial when Bryant’s alleged victim refused to testify in the court. She did launch a civil action suit against Kobe soon after, which was settled out of court. In 2005, Vanessa suffered a miscarriage due to tubal pregnancy. In a recent Showtime documentary, Kobe wondered if the stress from the 2003 ordeal had anything to do with the miscarriage.
- // Jan 2003Kobe’s parents, his siblings, other members of his immediate family, and even his teammates at the Lakers did not attend the ceremony. Later, his father and former NBA star Joe "Jellybean" Bryant would admit in an interview that they disapproved their son’s choice of a bride. Kobe has since stated that it was because she was a Latina. The birth of Vanessa and Kobe’s first daughter, Natalia Diamante, in January 2003, has healed some of these wounds.
- // 2004In 2004, she accused her husband’s teammate Karl Malone of behaving inappropriately with her. This led to a heated phone call where Kobe told Malone to stay away from his wife.
- // 2009The couple faced another lawsuit in 2009, this time by their former housekeeper Maria Jimenez, who accused Vanessa of "badgering, harassing and humiliating” her repeatedly. The Bryants filed a counterclaim, stating that Jimenez had violated a confidentiality agreement when she decided to discuss their private affairs in public. It too was settled out of court.
// Famous Miscellaneous
Jason Simpson
Jason Simpson is the son of former NFL running back, broadcaster and actor O. J. Simpson. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, life, and little known facts about him.
Melissa Brim
Melissa Brim is the ex-girlfriend of former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Joyce Meyer
Joyce Meyer is a Christian author and speaker. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline
Galina Becker
Galina Becker is a former athlete and fitness model from America. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Jacelyn Reeves
Jacelyn Reeves is a former flight attendant who once had a fling with Clint Eastwood. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Vasily Zaytsev
Vasily Zatysev was a Russian sniper who served during the World War II. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Vanessa Bryant's FAQ
What is Vanessa Bryant birthday?
Vanessa Bryant was born at 1982-05-05
Where is Vanessa Bryant's birth place?
Vanessa Bryant was born in Huntington Beach, California, USA
What is Vanessa Bryant nationalities?
Vanessa Bryant's nationalities is American
Who is Vanessa Bryant spouses?
Vanessa Bryant's spouses is Kobe Bryant
Who is Vanessa Bryant siblings?
Vanessa Bryant's siblings is Sophie (Older Sister)
Who is Vanessa Bryant childrens?
Vanessa Bryant's childrens is Bianka Bella Bryant, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, Natalia Diamante Bryant
How tall is Vanessa Bryant?
Vanessa Bryant's height is 165
Who is Vanessa Bryant's father?
Vanessa Bryant's father is Stephen Laine (Stepfather)
Who is Vanessa Bryant's mother?
Vanessa Bryant's mother is Sofia Urbieta
What is Vanessa Bryant's sun sign?
Vanessa Bryant is Taurus
How famous is Vanessa Bryant?
Vanessa Bryant is famouse as Kobe Bryant's Wife, Model
What is Vanessa Bryant's instagram?
Vanessa Bryant's instagram is https://www.instagram.com/vanessabryant/