Inside Kobe Bryant's Daughter Natalia's New Job
Natalia Bryant has signed with IMG Models Worldwide, as reported by the Daily Mail. On Monday, the modeling agency shared a photo of Natalia on Instagram, captioned with a quote from her: "I have always been interested in fashion since a very young age. I have a love for the industry and ever since I can remember, I wanted to model. There is a lot to learn, but I feel this is a great opportunity for me to learn and express myself creatively." She also announced the news on her Instagram, as did her mother, Vanessa Bryant.
The announcement came shortly after the one-year-anniversary of Kobe and Gianna Bryant's deaths. On Jan. 26, 2020, 41-year-old Kobe and 13-year-old Gianna Bryant died in a helicopter crash, along with seven others. To mark the anniversary, Vanessa turned to social media to remind people to find a reason to live. "I know it's hard ... Death is guaranteed, but living the rest of the day isn't. Find your reason" (via Cosmopolitan).
Natalia Bryant is thrilled and honored to join IMG Models Worldwide
The announcement also came just after Natalia's 18th birthday on Jan. 19. Her mother posted pictures of Natalia, including some of "daddy's little princess" with Kobe. These photos alone show how photogenic the oldest daughter in this family is.
By joining IMG Models, Natalia Bryant is now included amongst big names such as Kate Moss, Ashley Graham, Gisele Bündchen, Alek Wek, and Gigi and Bella Hadid. The success has also led to the agency having offices in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Milan, and Sydney.
The company's founder, Mark McCormack, was a sports agent who believed models could be managed in the same way as professional athletes (via IMG Models). As the daughter of a basketball legend and an athlete herself, this structure could work really well for Natalia. When she reposted the news on her Instagram account, she said she was "beyond thrilled and honored to be a part of the IMG family."