Vanessa and Natalia Bryant make mamba mentality a forever thing

Los Angeles, California – To honor the late Kobe and Gianna Bryant, Vanessa and oldest daugher Natalia got tattoos in their honor.

Natalia (l.) and Vanessa Bryant keep their cool while getting tattooed in honor of Kobe and Gianna (collage).
Natalia (l.) and Vanessa Bryant keep their cool while getting tattooed in honor of Kobe and Gianna (collage).  © Screenshot / Instagram / vanessabryant

Though they didn't get matching tattoos, Vanessa and Natalia opted to getting inked at the same time with the same intention in mind: to make a mamba mark on their bodies in memory of the late Kobe and Gianna Bryant.

Since Kobe's passing, his wife Vanessa has gotten multiple tattoos to keep their memory with her for a lifetime.

But there's something special about the mother-daughter duo getting tattooed alongside one another.

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Kobe was known for having "mamba mentality" – a mindset referencing constant self-improvement and awareness while on the path to reaching your highest potential. The Lakers' legend lived this out both on and off the court, and it's something he passed on to Gianna.

In her honor, Vanessa got "mambacita" tattooed on her forearm. Though People Magazine reported that the tattoo took five hours to conceptualize, it only took about five minutes to complete.

The tattoo was done with elegant cursive letters, curved off with a small floral vine.

Natalia went in for a two-for-one tattoo experience, getting one on her right middle finger of the word "muse," and another on her left wrist.

Muse was a documentary about her dad's journey throughout his 18-year career with the Lakers, and how he pushed through obstacles to become a pioneer in and outside the NBA.

Keeping the memory alive

The duo seemed to be in good spirits throughout the tattoo process, according to the videos Vanessa shared on her Instagram of the experience.

Cover photo: Screenshot / Instagram / vanessabryant

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