Happy Chrismas!! Christmas is here and for Natalia Bryant, it’s a poignant reminder of her legendary father, Kobe Bryant. But to be very honest, it’s not just Natalia who misses him, we all do. Kobe wasn’t just a basketball icon, he was an inspiration to all the fans around the globe. Christmas is traditionally a time for families to come together and celebrate but for Natalia, it’s a tough season. But how she is dealing with this situation now? Let’s find out!

With all the pain in her heart, Natalia Bryant still posted a Merry Christmas story on Instagram, and it hit us right in the feels. In the video, her dad Kobe Bryant was belting out “Wish You Merry Christmas… and a Happy New Year.” It was classic Kobe, full of life, unstoppable, and owning every second. And guess what? His daughter’s cut from the same cloth. 

Other stories by Natalia included a gingerbread house with “The Bryant Family” written in cursive right under the wreath, aesthetically matching the simple decoration of the house. She also posted a classic looking photo of a snowman playing guitar beside a Christmas tree,

Natalia’s been through a lot, losing both her dad and her sister Gianna when she was just a teenager. But here she is, standing tall and reminding us all that life moves forward even when it hurts the most. Together with her mom, Vanessa Bryant, and her younger sisters, Capri and Bianka, they have pushed through the pain. And somehow, her father’s Mamba mentality is visible in her as well.

How Kobe’s loss shaped Natalia’s strength

Byron Scott, Kobe’s former mentor couldn’t have put it better, “such a beautiful beautiful person, Kobe did a great job.” Those words came for Natalia when he honored Kobe’s handprints at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. After Kobe was gone, Capri was just 1, Bianka was 3, and Natalia was 17. 

At the same event, Natalia opened up about her dad. She expressed how proud she is to be his daughter and how much she has learned from him. She said, “Being his daughter is one of the greatest joys of my life, and I hope to continue to embody and cherish the many lessons he has taught me.”

As the firstborn, Natalia shared a special bond with her father but she also carried the heaviest burden. She was the only one of her sisters who truly understood the depth of the loss, feeling the weight of it more than anyone.

As people say, the father is the first love of a girl, don’t know about everybody but it was surely the case with Natalia, as she said, “Dad, you’re an icon, a legend, the storyteller, and most importantly, the best girl dad any young woman could ever dream of.” 

She’s undeniably become a strong woman. When Natalia graduated from college in 2021, it had only been a year since she lost her father. But she carried him with her, right in her heart. To honor him, she decorated her graduation cap with one of his most iconic quotes, “Everything negative, pressure, challenges, is all an opportunity for me to rise.”

In the end, we wish her a very Merry Christmas and hope the year ahead brings nothing but greatness. Natalia keeps pushing forward in life no matter the situation. Just like Kobe did every time he stepped onto the court never backing down always moving forward.