EXCLUSIVE: IMG Models Signs Natalia Bryant
“Ever since I can remember, I wanted to model,” said the 18-year-old.
Natalia Bryant has signed with IMG Models.
The agency will represent the 18-year-old Los Angeles native — the daughter of Vanessa Bryant and the late Kobe Bryant — in beauty and fashion.
“I have always been interested in fashion since a very young age,” said Natalia Bryant in an exclusive statement. “I have a love for the industry, and ever since I can remember, I wanted to model. There is a lot to learn, but I feel this is a great opportunity for me to learn and express myself creatively.”
IMG Models will focus on building Bryant’s profile through editorial and brand endorsements, noted the agency.
“Natalia has such a bright future ahead of her, and we were taken aback by her beauty, talent and drive from our first encounter,” said IMG Models’ senior vice president Maja Chiesi. “We’re honored to partner with Natalia in shaping her career in fashion and beauty, and we look forward to connecting her with fresh, exciting opportunities that showcase her multifaceted personality and look.”
Bryant, who has taken to Instagram to share messages honoring her late sister, Gianna, and her father, the NBA and L.A. Lakers legend — whose sudden deaths last year rocked the world — celebrated her 18th birthday on Jan. 19.
“Thank you everybody for all the birthday wishes!!! Also, thank you for always making my birthday so special @vanessabryant,” she posted on the app to her 2.3 million followers.
Other recent high profile signings by IMG include Vice President Kamala Harris’ stepdaughter Ella Emhoff and poet laureate Amanda Gorman, signaling the agency’s investment in the next generation of talent.
Kobe Bryant’s daughter Natalia just landed her first modeling contract
- Natalia Bryant has been signed by IMG Models.
- Kobe and Vanessa Bryant’s eldest daughter joined the agency weeks after her 18th birthday.
- IMG Models also recently signed Amanda Gorman and Ella Emhoff.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Natalia Bryant is following in her mother’s footsteps — straight into the world of modeling.
Kobe and Vanessa Bryant’s eldest daughter announced on Monday that she has signed a contract with IMG Models.
The agency shared Natalia’s headshot on its official instagram page, as well as a statement from the teen.
“I have always been interested in fashion since a very young age,” the caption read. “I have a love for the industry and ever since I can remember I wanted to model. There is a lot to learn but I feel this is a great opportunity for me to learn and express myself creatively.”
Natalia shared the same headshot and caption on her own Instagram page, adding: “I am beyond thrilled and honored to be a part of the IMG family!”
Vanessa — who met Kobe while working as a model in a music video when she was 17 — also posted her daughter’s new headshot on her own Instagram, writing: “I’m so happy for you! I love you Nani!”
The proud mom was congratulated by some very famous models, including Cindy Crawford and Gigi Hadid. The latter is also signed with IMG.
Natalia’s big news comes just a few weeks after her 18th birthday
Vanessa marked her daughter’s milestone birthday by posting a photo of her and Kobe holding Natalia on the Los Angeles Lakers court when she was just a baby.
In another post, Vanessa praised her eldest daughter for displaying “so much strength and grace throughout the most difficult years of our lives” after both Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter crash alongside seven other passengers on January 26, 2020.
“Mommy and Daddy are so proud of the young lady that you are,” she wrote. “Thank you for stepping in to help me with your little sisters.”
“You’re such an incredible big sister and a beautiful role model to so many people. Thank you for being kind, polite and gracious in everything that you do,” the caption continued. “You have no idea how happy and proud mommy and daddy are that you’re our daughter. We love you always and forever, forever and always.”
Natalia is the latest up-and-comer to join IMG Models
The eldest Bryant daughter was signed just a few weeks after IMG signed Amanda Gorman following her big splash at President Joe Biden’s inauguration with her poem “The Hill We Climb.”
—IMG Models (@IMGmodels) January 26, 2021
Gorman, 22, is a Harvard graduate and the nation’s first-ever youth poet laureate.
Ella Emhoff, the stepdaughter of Vice President Kamala Harris, also caught the agency’s attention during the inauguration and was quickly signed as well.
—IMG Models (@IMGmodels) January 28, 2021
Emhoff, 21, was praised for her style that day, opting to stand out in a sparkling Miu Miu coat and a burgundy dress by Batsheva.
The three newly signed models will be in good company at IMG, where they join the likes of Hadid, tennis star Naomi Osaka, and Kate Moss
Natalia Bryant Signs with IMG Models: ‘I Am Beyond Thrilled’
Natalia, 18, is the eldest daughter of Kobe and Vanessa Bryant
Kobe Bryant‘s eldest daughter is launching a career in modeling.
Natalia Bryant has signed with IMG Models, the agency announced on Instagram Monday.
“I have always been interested in fashion since a very young age,” Natalia said in a statement. “I have a love for the industry and ever since I can remember I wanted to model. There is a lot to learn but I feel this is a great opportunity for me to learn and express myself creatively.”
“I am beyond thrilled and so honored to be a part of the IMG family!” Natalia wrote on her Instagram Stories, reposting her headshot from IMG.
![natalia bryant](https://imagesvc.meredithcorp.io/v3/mm/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.onecms.io%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F20%2F2021%2F02%2F09%2Fnatalia-bryant-1.jpg&q=85 "Premiere Of Disney's "A Wrinkle In Time" - Arrivals")
Vanessa Bryant also shared IMG’s original announcement on her Instagram Stories and added a GIF that said “I am so proud of you.”
Natalia shared her mom’s post and added, “Thank you momma.”
The Bryant family celebrated Natalia’s 18th birthday last month, and Vanessa marked the day with several throwback photos of Kobe, who died alongside their 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in a tragic helicopter crash in January 2020.
“Dear Natalia, Happy Birthday! Mommy and Daddy are so proud of the young lady that you are,” Vanessa wrote. “You have displayed so much strength and grace throughout the most difficult year of our lives. Thank you for stepping in to help me with your little sisters.”
Vanessa called Natalia an “incredible big sister” and “a beautiful role model” and thanked her “for being kind, polite and gracious in everything that you do. You have no idea how happy and proud mommy and daddy are that you’re our daughter.
“We love you always and forever, forever and always,” she added. “Happy 18th birthday to our first born, Natalia, our principessa! Love always, Mommy, Daddy, Gigi, BB and Koko❤️.”
Natalia later shared a photo of her birthday balloons, which included two in the shape of the number “18.”
“Thank you everybody for all the birthday wishes!!!” she wrote in the caption. “Also, thank you for always making my birthday so special @vanessabryant ❤️☺️.”
Vanessa Bryant Praises Daughter Natalia for Pursuing a Modeling Career: ‘Daddy Would Be So Happy’
Vanessa Bryant is one proud mom!
On Saturday, Vanessa, 38, shared a stunning image of her daughter, Natalia Bryant, as the mom of four praised her eldest child for pursuing a career in modeling.
“My baby (with makeup) 😁❤️,” she began the caption of her post before adding the hashtag “#grown” and tagging Natalia in the post.
“Daddy would be so happy that you’re pursuing your modeling career now that you’re 18,” she continued. “You’re beautiful inside and out. We love you.”
On her Instagram Story, the matriarch also reshared a post from Natalia — in which the teen wrote, “I love you,” to her mom — responding, “You better! You stole my face with daddy’s lips,” alongside a two emoji.
The day prior, she also shared another glamorous image of Natalia, writing “That’s my baby!” alongside the photo.
Earlier last month, Natalia launched her career in modeling, signing with IMG Models.
“I have always been interested in fashion since a very young age,” the model said in a statement shared to IMG’s Instagram account. “I have a love for the industry and ever since I can remember I wanted to model. There is a lot to learn but I feel this is a great opportunity for me to learn and express myself creatively.”
“I am beyond thrilled and so honored to be a part of the IMG family!” Natalia later wrote on her Instagram Story as well, reposting her headshot from IMG.
Vanessa also shared IMG’s original announcement on her Instagram Story and added a GIF that said “I am so proud of you.”
Speaking with PEOPLE recently, Vanessa, who is the cover honoree in this week’s Women Changing the World issue, said she’s “extremely proud of Natalia,” and called her daughter “my right-hand woman.”
“On top of her own grief, she has balanced her senior year of high school, applying to colleges, nurturing her sisters, and just recently signing her own modeling contract with IMG,” the proud parent said. “She is a wonderful big sister and an incredible daughter.”
Vanessa Bryant Praises Daughter Natalia for Pursuing a Modeling Career: ‘Daddy Would Be So Happy’
![a woman posing for a picture: Natalia Bryant]({"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"87","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1ejFho.img?h=871&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=711&y=233"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"68","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1ejFho.img?h=680&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=711&y=233"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"68","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1ejFho.img?h=680&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=711&y=233"}})
“We love you always and forever, forever and always,” she added. “Happy 18th birthday to our first born, Natalia, our principessa! Love always, Mommy, Daddy, Gigi, BB and Koko ❤️.”
