Vanessa Bryant, wife to the late Kobe Bryant, is one proud mama! Her oldest daughter, Natalia Bryant, made her debut on the runway walking in the Versace Show in Milan, and she had her biggest cheerleader in the audience.
Natalia signed with IMG Models in 2021, and this is her first runway show.
The 20-year-old took a break from life at the University of Sothern California to walk in the Versace spring 2024 show during Milan Fashion Week. Before the event, she talked with Vogue, sharing how excited she was to be a part of the event.
“I am beyond excited about making my runway debut. It’s such an incredible opportunity and I’m so grateful to Donatella [Versace] and am honored that she has invited me to be a part of something so special,” she told Vogue.
Natalia admitted that she was nervous.
It makes total sense that she was, given this was her first runway show and at a big event so all eyes were going to be on her first walk.
Thankfully, according to Natalia, Donatella was able to put her fears at ease. “She was just so welcoming and sweet and made me feel so comfortable, especially with it being my first runway,” Natalia shared. “Meeting her definitely helped settle any nerves.”
She had another person there with her who also helped calm her nerves — her biggest fan!
On Instagram, Natalia’s mom, Vanessa, shared several other photos of Natalia on the runway. “Natalia, I’m so proud of you! You did it mama!!!! I love you so much and I’m so happy for you,” she wrote in one post that featured an image of Natalia on the runway.
Vanessa attended the fashion show in person for when she walked the Boss spring/summer 2024 show.
“Quick trip to Milano to cheer on my baby,” she wrote on social media.
Vanessa’s famous friends left comments on her post, showing Natalia with love.
"Wow!!!!! She is so beautiful," Khloé Kardashian wrote.
"Das my friennnnnn!!! Go bestie clock the eleganceeeee people it’s giving grace and beauty x1000," wrote Aoki Lee Simmons, one of Natalia's friends and daughter of supermodel Kimora Lee Simmons.
Kimora also left a comment, writing, "Yasss! So so proud!!"
Olivia Munn wrote, "Stunner," and former basketball star and husband to Gabriel Union, Dwyane Wade cheered with, "Let's go fam."
"Go Nani Go Nani Go!!" wrote one of Vanessa's best friends, Ciara. "What a special moment! Truly proud! Brava! Bellissima!"
Natalia credits her mom for her love of fashion, and the two are very close.
“I can always go to my mom and get her honest opinion. She keeps it real, and I know she always has my best interest at heart,” Natalia shared with Vogue.
Natalia said her mom has given great advice on how to cultivate her own walk on the runway. “She encourages me to have my own walk and establish my own way of doing things,” she shared.
“I’ve always loved watching videos of Naomi walking down the runway along with videos of other iconic supermodels I look up to. My mom says, ‘Walk like Naomi but remember to be yourself, put your own style to your walk and always with your head held high.’”
Later in the weekend, Natalia also walked the runway for the BOSS spring/summer 2024 show.
