Michelle Obama Gets Loud Supporting Vanessa Bryant

Wikimedia | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michelle_Obama_2013_official_portrait.jpg

Michelle Obama, 57, was born in Chicago, Illinois. She is the wife of former President Barack Obama and was the first African-American woman to serve as the First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017.

The Harvard University grad has over 46 million followers on Instagram, and often uses her profile to share candid snaps of her family.

Ever since the untimely passing of Kobe Bryant, Michelle has been demonstrating her compassion for the Bryant family and supporting Vanessa Bryant through her grief.

Instagram | michelleobama

Michelle recently took to Instagram to show her support for Vanessa Bryant once again; this time, by promoting the sports foundation Vanessa created in memory of her husband and daughter.

“As a wife and mother, I have thought a lot about what Vanessa Bryant has been going through this past year,” she began. 

“I was touched hearing her speak with such strength this past weekend at the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony honoring Kobe, and I am proud to join so many others in building upon Gianna’s legacy by supporting the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.”

She closed the post tagging Vanessa, and added, “all my love to you and the girls and the next generation of athletes you are working to empower.”

Instagram | vanessabryant

The mission statement of Vanessa’s foundation is to create a “positive impact for underserved athletes and young women in sports.”

The foundation also “provides funding and sports programming for underserved athletes to enable participation in school and/or league sports that enrich socio-emotional and physical development.”

They also seek to fund programs that support Kobe and Gigi’s vision to “create a world where young women had equal opportunity to pursue their dreams through sports and life.”

Instagram | vanessabryant

Back in February of this year, the foundation announced that experienced non-profit executive Kat Conlon would be taking on the role as its first executive director.

"I am so proud to have Kat Conlon come on board as our Executive Director," Vanessa said in a statement. "She brings an abundance of knowledge and experience that embodies supporting young women and equal opportunity."

Conlon is a former athlete herself who played both basketball and hockey, and has also served as president of “Friends of the American University of Afghanistan,” a non-profit that supported higher education in Afghanistan’s not-for-profit schools.

Instagram | vanessabryant

The comments on Michelle’s post were overwhelmingly positive, with one fan writing, “Still inspiring us with your gracious humility #ForeverFirstLady.”

Another fan wrote, “Women, friends, sister, Moms supporting each other is such a beautiful thing! So much love!” alongside a double heart emoji.

Keep scrolling to see how other celebrities paid their tribute to the late Kobe Bryant.