Vanessa Bryant shared that her grandmother Antonia—affectionately known as Mami Tonia—has died: “We’re going to miss you a lot.”
Vanessa Bryant Honors Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant on 6th Anniversary of Their Deaths
Vanessa Bryant’s family is mourning a heartbreaking loss.
The philanthropist—mom to daughters Natalia, 23, Bianka, 9, and Capri, 7, as well as Gianna, who died at age 13 alongside Vanessa’s late husband Kobe Bryant in 2020—shared that her beloved grandmother Antonia has died.
“I love you Mami Tonia. We’re going to miss you a lot,” Vanessa wrote on Instagram July 31 alongside a sweet snap of her kissing her grandma’s cheek. “‘May God be with you and may the angels look after you and may your angels never leave you.’ ~ Antonia- Mommy Tonia #Grandma.”
And Natalia also celebrated Antonia’s legacy, writing on Instagram Stories alongside a black-and-white photo of her hugging the matriarch, “Te Amo Mami Antonia.”
Following the devastating announcement, Hollywood rallied around Vanessa’s family with support.
As Kris Jenner wrote under the post, “I’m so sorry Vanessa I’m praying for you and the girls and your family God Bless you.”
Kimora Lee Simmons also sent her condolences, commenting, “Love to you Vanessa! Our Condolences to you and the kids and family,” while Khloe Kardashian added, “I love you V! I am so so sorry for your loss.”
While Vanessa has largely kept her grandmother out of the public eye, the 44-year-old recently touched on a separate life-changing loss—that of her late daughter and husband.
Gianna—affectionately known as Gigi—and Kobe died in a January 2020 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of nine people.
Instagram/Vanessa Bryant
On the sixth anniversary of their tragic deaths, Vanessa shared a sweet tribute honoring their legacies, posting a throwback pic of Kobe embracing Gigi as the two sported Lakers gear on Instagram Stories Jan. 26, exactly six years after the fatal crash.
Over the sweet father-daughter snap, Vanessa simply included a red heart emoji.
One year after Kobe and Gigi’s passing, Vanessa shared insight into her “unimaginable” pain.
“You just have to get up and push forward,” she told People in 2021. “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.”
In fact, it’s her daughters who have inspired Vanessa to keep going in the face of tragedy.
“My girls help me smile through the pain,” she said. “They give me strength.”
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