Vanessa Bryant honors late husband Kobe Bryant on the anniversary of their first meeting in 1999

Vanessa Bryant honors late husband Kobe Bryant on the anniversary of their first meeting in 1999 as she calls it ‘Love at first sight’

Vanessa Bryant is paying tribute to her late husband Kobe Bryant on the 21st anniversary of their first encounter in 1999. 

Reminiscing on the day she and Kobe first met on November 27th, Vanessa shared a loved-up photo of the pair at Disneyland as she called it ‘Love at first sight.’

After being married for 19 years the 38-year-old suffered the tragic loss of 41-year-old Bryant and their then 13-year-old daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash on January 26th which she continues to grieve. 

Love at first sight: Vanessa Bryant, 38, is paying tribute to her late husband Kobe Bryant on the 21st anniversary of their first meeting in 1999 calling it ‘Love at first sight’

‘Love at first sight 11/27/99 #21’ she captioned the throwback snap as she and Kobe cuddled close at the amusement park with her mouse ears in tow.  

Vanessa was only 17 when the pair connected for the first time on an Eastsidaz music video shoot where she was working as a background dancer. 

A then 21-year-old Kobe was in the same building working on his debut album – which was never released – and they struck up a conversation and exchanged numbers. 

Reportedly he would send her flowers to her Huntington Beach high school office and pick her up after class with the pair swiftly getting engaged six months after meeting when she turned 18. 

Swift proposal: Kobe and Vanessa are pictured as an engaged couple six months after they first met in 1999; pictured in 2000

Swift proposal: Kobe and Vanessa are pictured as an engaged couple six months after they first met in 1999; pictured in 2000

Just married: The two were married in April 2001 though Kobe's parents did not attend the wedding as they were reportedly disappointed he was not marrying a Black woman; pictured in 2001

Just married: The two were married in April 2001 though Kobe’s parents did not attend the wedding as they were reportedly disappointed he was not marrying a Black woman; pictured in 2001 

The pair were married the following year in April 2001 though Kobe’s parents took issue with the quick proposal and did not attend their wedding as they were reportedly disappointed he was not marrying a Black woman.  

Last year Kobe paid tribute to Vanesa just two months before his shocking death as he posted a photo from their Disneyland date on their 20th anniversary. 

‘On this day 20 years ago I met my best friend, my Queen. I decided to take her on a date to Disneyland tonight to celebrate old school style (pre 4 princesses) I love you my mamacita per sempre,’ he wrote. 

The pair share four daughters together, Natalia, 17, Gianna, 14, Bianka, three, and Capri, one. 

Fairytale romance: Kobe shared a snap of the duo on their 20th anniversary last year where they went to Disneyland to celebrate their life together just two months before his tragic passing; pictured November 2019

Fairytale romance: Kobe shared a snap of the duo on their 20th anniversary last year where they went to Disneyland to celebrate their life together just two months before his tragic passing; pictured November 2019

 In September Vanessa filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County sheriff claiming that deputies shared unauthorized photos of the helicopter crash which has prompted legislation to make the act of doing so a misdemeanor. 

After reports circulated that graphic photos of the victims were being shared Bryant was understandably ‘shocked and devastated,’ which prompted the suit where she is seeking damages for negligence, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.  

Sheriff Alex Villanueva told news outlets in the spring that eight deputies were found to have taken or shared the graphic crime scene photos which he then ordered them to delete.  

Vanessa called his statement a ‘cover up’ and alleges in the suit that the images very well still could exist.   

Seeking reparations: Vanessa filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County sheriff for negligence, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress after she found out that graphic photos of the victims at the helicopter crash scene were circulating; Kobe and Gianna pictured in 2019

Seeking reparations: Vanessa filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County sheriff for negligence, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress after she found out that graphic photos of the victims at the helicopter crash scene were circulating; Kobe and Gianna pictured in 2019