In the public eye, Vanessa Bryant has long been seen as a pillar of strength—poised, composed, and dignified in the face of unimaginable loss. But behind the graceful appearances and powerful tributes lies a more intimate, human reality: Vanessa is still quietly battling the waves of depression that followed the tragic loss of her husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna in January 2020.
While Vanessa has never publicly labeled her pain, close friends and family—speaking anonymously—have shared that her grief has taken many forms, some darker and more persistent than others.
“She has her strong days, and then there are days where getting out of bed feels impossible,” said one longtime friend. “She’s not just mourning Kobe and Gigi. She’s mourning the life that could’ve been. The milestones missed. The future re-written.”
According to sources close to the Bryant family, Vanessa has sought therapy and relies heavily on a small circle of support to navigate her emotional landscape. “She’s doing the work,” said a mental health professional familiar with the situation. “But grief like this doesn’t go away. It evolves. Sometimes it gets quieter, and other times it roars back like it just happened yesterday.”
In recent years, Vanessa has focused much of her energy on the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, using the organization as a way to channel her sorrow into purpose. Still, those closest to her say that even in moments of public inspiration, the shadows linger.
“She puts on a brave face for her daughters, for the world,” said another family insider. “But there are nights when the pain is overwhelming.”
Despite the struggle, Vanessa remains committed to healing—not only for herself but for her daughters, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. She has often spoken about the importance of showing up for them, even when she feels broken.
“I cry in the car,” she once shared in a private moment caught on a now-deleted social post. “Then I wipe my face, and I go inside and smile.”
Her journey is a quiet testament to resilience—the kind that doesn’t always look like strength but feels like survival. In a world that expects women, especially public figures, to “move on” quickly, Vanessa’s story reminds us that grief and depression have no timeline.
If there is a message in her silence, perhaps it is this: It’s okay to hurt. It’s okay to struggle. And healing, no matter how slow, is still healing.