In a heartfelt and emotional revelation that caught many fans by surprise, Vanessa Bryant, the widow of NBA icon Kobe Bryant, has opened up about her decision to get remarried. In an exclusive fictional interview with People Magazine, Vanessa shared her reasons, the emotional journey she went through, and how her daughters helped her find the courage to open her heart again.
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“Kobe will always be in my heart…”
Sitting in the peaceful garden of her Los Angeles home, Vanessa speaks with calm strength. “Kobe will always be a part of me,” she says. “There is not a single day I don’t think about him or Gianna. But I’ve learned that grief and love can exist at the same time.”
Vanessa revealed that she met her now-husband, Lucas Rivera — a former professional soccer player turned humanitarian — two years ago at a charity event. What started as a friendship quietly grew into something deeper. Yet, Vanessa admits, she didn’t think she could ever love again.
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“I never thought I’d fall in love again”
She opens up about the emotional struggle that came with even considering the possibility of moving forward romantically. “I felt guilty even thinking about it. Like I was betraying Kobe,” she confessed. “But therapy, faith, and my daughters helped me realize that letting love back in doesn’t mean letting go of the past. It means honoring it by choosing to keep living.”
Her daughters — Natalia, Bianka, and Capri — were her biggest supporters throughout the journey. “One night, Natalia looked at me and said, ‘Mom, you deserve to smile again.’ That moment changed everything for me.”
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A Quiet Wedding, A Powerful Message
Vanessa and Lucas were married in a private ceremony in Napa Valley, surrounded by close family and friends. Vanessa wore a simple, elegant white gown. Her daughters walked her down the aisle.
“I didn’t want a huge event,” she said. “I wanted something intimate, sacred, and meaningful.”
When asked whether she worried about public judgment, she responded thoughtfully: “Of course. But in the end, the people who truly loved Kobe would want me to find joy again. And I believe Kobe would too.”
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“This isn’t the end of the story. It’s a new chapter.”
Vanessa remains deeply committed to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation and says Lucas is fully supportive of her mission. “He doesn’t try to replace Kobe. He respects his legacy. He just stands beside me as I continue building it.”
Closing the interview, Vanessa offered a message to others experiencing loss:
“Love after loss isn’t betrayal. It’s bravery. It’s proof that life, even when shattered, still has beauty in it. I think Kobe, wherever he is, would be proud of the way we’re choosing to live.”
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A Wave of Support from Fans
Though the news was initially met with mixed reactions, support and love soon flooded social media. One fan tweeted: “Vanessa Bryant deserves happiness. Moving on doesn’t mean forgetting. It means healing.”
And that’s exactly what Vanessa is doing — not closing a chapter, but writing a new one, with love, grace, and courage.