Natalia Bryant and Trinity Rodman have a friendship that goes back much further than their glamorous appearance at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2026. Long before they were walking the runway together in Los Angeles, the daughters of two NBA legends were little girls playing soccer on the same team.
The longtime friends reunited backstage at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on October 18, 2026, where they shared hilarious childhood memories, reflected on their very different personalities, and celebrated an unexpected full-circle moment.
© FilmMagicBoth made their Victoria's Secret runway debuts during the show's PINK segment, turning a major career milestone into an even more memorable experience.
Natalia Bryant and Trinity Rodman Reveal Their Childhood Friendship
During a backstage interview with Victoria's Secret PINK, Bryant and Rodman revealed that their connection began when they were approximately five years old. The two played youth soccer together, although their recollections suggest they approached the game with very different levels of competitiveness.
Rodman, who eventually became a professional soccer player and went to the Olympics with Team USA, remembered being frustrated that her teammates weren't taking the game as seriously as she was. "Nobody was trying," Rodman recalled.
© Getty Images for Victoria's SecrBryant, meanwhile, remembered a much more relaxed experience. She joked that while Rodman was focused on winning, she was more interested in enjoying herself. Bryant described how she would occasionally leave the soccer field in the middle of a game to bring her parents a bird feather she had discovered. "Mind you, she, like, already scored five goals," Bryant joked about Rodman's athletic abilities.
The exchange revealed a playful dynamic between the childhood friends. Even at five years old, Rodman was intensely competitive, while Bryant was content to explore her surroundings. Looking at how their lives have developed, their childhood personalities seem particularly fitting.
© Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images
© Getty ImagesRodman became one of America's most recognizable women's soccer stars, while Bryant pursued modeling, fashion, and film. Their careers took different directions, but their shared history made their reunion at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show especially meaningful.
Trinity Rodman Calls Their Victoria's Secret Reunion a Full-Circle Moment
For Rodman, walking in the same fashion show as someone she had known since childhood was an unexpected bonus. "Full circle to now, Victoria's Secret," Rodman said during their backstage conversation.
In a separate interview with Good Morning America, the soccer star explained why seeing Bryant backstage helped her feel more comfortable. "Me and her have known each other since we were little kids, like 4 or 5 years old," Rodman told the program.
© Getty Images for Victoria's SecrShe also described how reassuring it was to recognize Bryant immediately upon arriving at the event. Despite having competed on some of the world's biggest soccer stages, Rodman admitted that stepping onto a fashion runway brought a different kind of pressure. "I would say I'm more nervous for this than probably a World Cup game," she told Hypebae.
How Natalia Bryant and Trinity Rodman Went From Soccer Teammates to Fashion Stars
Natalia Bryant, 23, is the eldest daughter of the late basketball icon Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant. Trinity Rodman, also 23, is the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman. Their fathers also share a basketball connection. Kobe Bryant and Dennis Rodman were briefly teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1998-99 NBA season.
However, Natalia and Trinity's friendship has its own history, beginning on the soccer field years before either woman established a public career.
Rodman eventually turned her childhood passion for soccer into a profession, becoming a standout forward for the Washington Spirit and the United States women's national team. She also helped the United States win Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games.
Bryant followed a different path. She played volleyball during her school years before attending the University of Southern California, where she studied film. She also signed with IMG Models and began building a career in fashion.
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© Getty Images for Victoria's SecrNatalia Bryant Makes Her Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Debut
Bryant's appearance at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2026 marked another significant step in her modeling career. She walked in the PINK segment wearing a black branded bra, a hot-pink shrug, and embellished jeans decorated with colorful gemstones. Her look also featured a sparkling handbag, silver heels, and playful accessories.
© Getty Images for Victoria's Secr
© Getty Images for Victoria's SecrThe young model had previously walked for Versace, Boss, and Off-White and appeared in campaigns for Adidas and David Yurman. She also worked with Victoria's Secret PINK on a campaign in 2024.
Speaking with HOLA! ahead of the show, Bryant described her excitement about participating in an event she had admired since childhood. "I’m so exvcited! So over the moon. I can't wait," she told us backstage.
She also explained that she had watched previous Victoria's Secret runway shows to prepare for her debut, studying the performances of established models.
Her participation was particularly meaningful because she had grown up watching the annual fashion event and was now part of its lineup.
Trinity Rodman Trades the Soccer Field for the Victoria's Secret Runway
Rodman's participation was equally remarkable, especially considering her demanding schedule. On October 17, just one day before the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, Rodman played a full match for the Washington Spirit as the team defeated Gotham FC 1-0 to secure a place in the NWSL playoffs.
© Getty Images for Victoria's SecrBy the following evening, she was in Los Angeles making her Victoria's Secret runway debut. The soccer star appeared in the PINK segment wearing a black cropped top, shorts, and heels, accessorized with a silver PINK dog.
Rodman has previously described her fashion aesthetic to Vogue as "loud, colorful, creative."
