After Vanessa Bryant recently shared a heartfelt tribute to her late husband on what would have been their 24th wedding anniversary, some fans have been wondering about her current relationship status. Specifically, many are wondering if she’s remarried and has a new husband. Though she’s widely recognized as the widow of the NBA legend Kobe Bryant, Vanessa Bryant has built a strong legacy that transcends her marital ties.
A former model, businesswoman, and philanthropist, Bryant has dedicated her life to championing underserved communities. She’s the Founder and President of the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, and she works with national nonprofits like Baby2Baby, which provides low-income children with diapers, clothing, and other basic necessities. Bryant has also supported charitable initiatives to create positive change within marginalized communities.
The renowned philanthropist likes to keep her life private, but let’s explore her relationship timeline and what we do know about her current relationship status.
How did Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Meet?
In 1999, Vanessa Urbieta Cornejo worked as a background dancer and extra for artists like Snoop Dogg and Krayzie Bone. She met rising basketball star Kobe Bryant, then 21 years old, while on set in The Eastsidaz’s “G’ed Up” music video. The athlete was filming a music video for his self-titled song “K.O.B.E.” featuring Tyra Banks. He’d hoped the song would kickstart his rap career. The pair instantly connected after bonding over their mutual love of Disney.
“She became my best friend,” Bryant recalled in the 2015 Showtime documentary, Kobe Bryant’s Muse.
Six months after they met, Kobe and Vanessa announced their engagement at Vanessa’s 18th birthday party, per the LA Times. The young couple held a small wedding on April 18, 2001, in Dana Point, California. Notably, the duo married without the approval of Kobe’s parents. They did not attend the wedding.
Becoming ‘Girl Parents’
The Bryants welcomed their first child, Natalia Diamante, in January 2003. Gianna “Gigi” Maria-Onmore arrived in 2006, Bianka Bella in 2016, and Capri Kobe in 2019. Describing their tight-knit family dynamic, Bryant has consistently praised the Lakers legend’s paternal affection. She’s often called him “the best daddy,” as she did in an Instagram post for Father’s Day 2024.
In a 2017 interview with The Tonight Show, the NBA star detailed his humorous coaching dynamic with Natalia and Gianna. Though their father was one of the best basketball players in the sport’s history, apparently, his young daughters valued their coach’s advice over Bryant’s.
That is, until Gianna ultimately fell in love with the sport and decided to follow in her dad’s footsteps. Bryant served as Gianna’s Head Coach for “Team Mamba” at The Mamba Sports Academy from 2018 until their tragic deaths in 2020. The father-daughter duo was involved in a helicopter crash while heading to a game in Thousand Oaks, California.
In June 2024, Nike released the Kobe 4 Protro “Girl Dad” sneakers in collaboration with Bryant to honor his dedication as a family man.
Enduring Hardships Through a 19-Year Marriage
Since the couple got married when they were both so young, there isn’t much information about who they dated before meeting. Vanessa and Kobe stayed married for 19 years while living in the public eye. Together, they endured significant hurdles amidst the bliss.
On July 18, 2003, Bryant was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old Colorado hotel worker. According to the LA Times, Bryant denied the accusations of assault. However, he did publicly admit that he had sex with the woman. He also issued a public apology. The charges were dropped in September 2004 after the plaintiff declined to testify in court.
The Divorce That Never Happened
Though Bryant stood by her husband’s side through the ordeal, she filed for divorce almost a decade later, in 2011. The former model cited “irreconcilable differences” in the divorce petition. However, in 2013, the couple announced they had dismissed their divorce proceedings via Instagram and Facebook.
“We are pleased to announce that we have reconciled,” Vanessa wrote in her Instagram caption.
Recounting the ordeal in a GQ interview, Kobe addressed the general hardships of being in a highly publicized relationship. He told the outlet, “I’m not going to say our marriage is perfect, by any stretch of imagination. We still fight, just like every married couple.”
In a 2018 interview with YouTuber Lewis Howes on life, love, and legacy, Bryant explained why he and his wife stayed together despite the hardships they faced.
“I think love is a certain determination and persistence to go through the good times, and the bad times with someone or something that you truly love.”
The couple stayed together until the NBA legend’s passing in 2020.
Keeping the Legacy Alive
In an emotional interview with People Magazine in 2021, Bryant said, “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.”
Besides the heartfelt support of fans and supporters, the philanthropist’s friends have also shared sentiments about her strength. In a 2020 interview with Entertainment Tonight, La La Anthony called Vanessa “the strongest woman I know.”
Months after Kobe and Gianna’s untimely passing in 2020, the widow of the NBA star filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Los Angeles County. Bryant accused first responders of criminal negligence and invasion of privacy for sharing graphic images of the victims’ remains, including her husband and daughter.
In February 2023, the County agreed to pay $28.85 million to the Bryant family and $19.95 million to the family of Chris Chester, who lost his wife, Sarah, and 13-year-old daughter, Payton, to the crash. Two other victims’ families also received $1.25 million each in the settlement.
Remembering Kobe and Gianna Through Service
To commemorate her late husband and daughter, Vanessa relaunched The Kobe Bryant Sports Foundation as The Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation in February 2020. In addition to funding under-resourced athletes, the sports initiative hosts sports camps and skills workshops to train young basketball players.
On May 1, in remembrance of Gianna’s 18th birthday, the foundation hosted a “Play Gigi’s Way” basketball camp. It also launched the Gianna Bryant Scholarship Award, granted to recipients who embody Gianna’s “Mamba Mentality” and vision. Additionally, Bryant maintains her late husband’s legacy by working to finish creative projects at Granity Studios, the award-winning multimedia company he founded.
In October, Bryant revealed plans to release the book, “Mamba and Mambacita Forever,” an expansive collection of Kobe and Gianna’s local and internationally designed murals.
Does Vanessa Bryant Have a New Husband?
Though it’s been nearly five years since her former husband passed away, Bryant definitely has not remarried. As of 2025, there aren’t any indications that she’s even dating someone new. Her social media pages are filled with gorgeous shots of Bryant and her daughters, information about her various charitable efforts, tributes to her late husband, and little else.
Of course, rumors are constantly circulating about Bryant dating someone new, but this happens to every celebrity. None of the rumors about Bryant having a new man have been confirmed. And most importantly, the philanthropist herself has said nothing about being in a new relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vanessa Bryant Doing Now?
Vanessa works to keep Kobe and Gianna’s legacies alive. She does so by sharing memorable tributes, operating the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation as President of the Board of Directors, and continuing to uplift young, disadvantaged athletes with empowering initiatives and charitable giving.
Her daughter, Natalia, also serves as a director on the board. Together, the mom-daughter duo oversees sports programs to honor the foundation’s mission.
How Does Vanessa Bryant Raise Her Daughters?
Although she maintains privacy, the entrepreneur has been vocal about her central principle of raising her daughters, love. Bryant has also been vocal about how her daughters give her the strength to push forward and continue Kobe and Gianna’s mission. On social media, she has never been shy about recounting family memories and uplifting her daughters.