Natalia Bryant had a fully booked weekend. She honored her late father, Kobe Bryant, in the most touching way before his induction into the 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Kobe, who died tragically in a helicopter accident with his daughter Gianna, and seven others in January of 2020, was honored by the likes of Michael Jordan, as he became a member of the NBA Hall of Fame.
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On Friday, 18-year-old Natalia Bryant and her mother, Vanessa accepted Kobe’s Hall of Fame jacket and ring during the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala. The video went viral of Vanessa dressing her daughter in Kobe’s bright red blazer, as the audience chanted “Kobe, Kobe!”
Sunday was the larger Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony. Vanessa Bryant accepted the award on behalf of Kobe with a moving speech, commemorating her late husband. However, Natalia Bryant was noticeably absent.
Her excuse? Prom!
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Vanessa explained Natalia’s absence, revealing that Natalia’s senior prom was on the same night as the induction ceremony and how she couldn’t “miss out” on a “once in a lifetime” experience.
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In an Instagram post, Vanessa shared striking similarities between Natalia’s prom and her own prom with Kobe.
“Natalia almost missed her senior prom last night. 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 was 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,” says Vanessa on social media.
In the best words possible, Natalia Bryant was pretty in pink at prom. She wore an off-the-shoulder blush pink dress with curled hair, a pink corsage, and beige heels. Vanessa Bryant also shared an image of the Prom preparation room she put together full of pink balloons.
We would definitely vote Natalia for prom queen!
With all the loss Natalia has experienced, it is amazing to see her all smiles. The school year is almost over and Natalia will be off to USC in the Fall, a role model to her two younger sisters and as poised as ever!
What would you rate her pretty pink dress? Let us know by dropping a comment below or by tweeting us at @celebsecrets.
