Crystal Hefner is engaged

Crystal - the widow of late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, who died in 2017 - told Us Weekly: "It truly feels like a full-circle moment. James completely surprised me. He had a hidden staircase and a winding trail cleared to reveal a handcrafted deck perched above a dramatic cliffside overlooking the ocean.

"It was the exact spot where we'd had a quiet picnic together a year ago - a place that became 'ours.' I had no idea he was secretly turning it into something permanent and symbolic. I thought we were just going for a walk, but when I saw the flowers, the handwritten notes, and the sea stretching endlessly in front of us, I knew something extraordinary was about to happen.

"As we started down the path, I was puzzled to see a brand-new staircase, and then I began to notice the notes - one after another, each one handwritten and deeply heartfelt. I was already tearing up when I reached the final card, which was waiting for me on the deck, overlooking the waves. At first, I thought it was an early birthday surprise. But the words in the notes gently hinted at something more. And when I saw he had built an entire deck just to create a space for this moment, I was overwhelmed. It was one of the most thoughtful things anyone has ever done for me."

James proposed with a six-carat, vintage mine-cut diamond and Crystal said: "I'm still amazed he pulled it off so seamlessly. I had told him I had never really been surprised before, so I think he felt like the challenge was accepted."

The pair have not set a date but have discussed a possible 2026 wedding.