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My Girl!: Vanessa Bryant Clarifies Why Natalia Missed Saturday's Hall of Fame Ceremony In A Heartfelt Instagram Post

See their heartwarming moments from the past year.

It's been one year since Kobe Bryant's passing and his beautiful daughter, Gianna. But Vanessa Bryant, Kobe's widow, has continued to keep their legacy alive. She's started the Mamba and Mambacita foundation in their honor. She has also introduced the Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act, which will direct the FAA to require passenger safety features helicopters to avoid tragedies. 

Vanessa has been surrounded by family and close friends this year. Ciara, Lala Anthony, and Pau Gasol, Kobe's former teammate, and best friend, celebrated the holidays with the girls, along with her eldest daughter, Natalia, who hasn't left her mother's side. 

Natalia and Vanessa's bond is very inspiring. The strength they have shown us this year is like none other. Birthday's were a little different, but they made sure to celebrate the best they could. For Vanessa's 38th birthday, Cinco de Mayo, Natalia presented her mom with an array of flowers and pinãta for her special day. They kept us laughing with funny TikTok videos and most recently challenged each other to a race on ice skates. 

Take a look at Vanessa and Natalia's heartwarming bond throughout the past year. 

  1. vanessa and Natalia Share A Sweet moment before heading to senior prom.

  2. Vanessa Bryant revealed that Natalia missed Kobe Bryant's Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday for her senior prom, but the 18-year-old honored her late dad at the Tip-Off Ceremony the day prior. 

    In an Instagram post shared Sunday, Vanessa revealed that Natalia had missed Saturday's induction ceremony because the event fell on the same night as her senior prom and Vanessa didn't want her daughter to "miss out" on a "once in a lifetime" experience.

    "Natalia almost missed her senior prom last night," wrote Vanessa alongside a photo of the mom kissing her daughter on the cheek. "When I was a senior in high school, Kobe and I were engaged and he had a playoff game the night of my prom. Kobe didn't want me going to prom without him and I didn't want to go without him. When we heard Natalia's prom night and Kobe's Hall of Fame night were on the same night, I looked at Natalia and said, 'well if it's any consolation, daddy kept me from going to my prom, so it's only right that he tried to keep you from going to yours.' 😃."

    Ciara and Russell Wilson also posed with Natalia ahead of her leaving for her big night. How sweet!

  3. Vanessa and Natalia Bryant Star In Bvlgari's Mother's Day campaign.

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  5. Vanessa honored Natalia with a special Instagram message for her 18th birthday.

  6. The mommy-daughter duo had a fun night of Ice skating, and it looks like Vanessa may be the better skater!

  7. The Bryant ladies celebrated the Christmas holiday with a beautiful photo shoot wearing matching dresses.

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  9. Vanessa and her sis-in-law, Sharia showed their age with this hilarious TikTok video.

  10. Vanessa and Natalia celebrated Bianka's 4th birthday which was fit for a princess.

  11. Both NYU and USC are Natalia's top choices for college. But, it looks like mama Vanessa may have convinced her baby girl to remain a Cali girl.

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  13. Vanessa, Natalia, and their family brightened up our timelines with their hilarious TikTok videos.

  14. They teamed up with the Gasol family for a Star Wars themed Halloween!

  15. The girls had fun in the sun playing a game of football with Ciara and Lala Anthony.

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  17. The Bryant girls enjoyed a summer day outdoors.

  18. Vanessa and Natalia snapped the most gorgeous selfie looking like twins!

  19. The girls are all pretty in pink for Capri's first birthday!

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  21. Natalia surprised her mama with flowers and pinãta's for her 38th birthday.

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