39-year-old American model and widow of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, Crystal Hefner, is engaged to marine biologist and entrepreneur James Ward. She announced the news on her Instagram, sharing photos of the moment, including a luxurious ring with a vintage diamond.

«I said yes (of course) with my smile, my soul, every cell in my body, because loving you is the most natural thing in the world to me», wrote the bride-to-be.

In a comment to Us Weekly, the couple shared that the special moment took place in a truly romantic setting. James Ward proposed to the model on the ocean shore in Hawaii, shortly after their romantic vacation in Africa.

«James completely surprised me. He found a hidden staircase and cleared a winding path that led to a wooden deck overlooking the ocean. It was the exact spot where we had a quiet picnic a year ago – a place that became ours. I had no idea he was secretly turning it into something symbolic», Crystal Hefner shared. «As we began walking down the path, I was confused to see new steps, and then I started noticing notes – each handwritten and filled with deep emotion».

Crystal’s fiancé is 41 years old. He owns SeeThrough Sea in Kailua-Kona and has been organizing adventure and photo tours in Hawaii since 2013. The couple met through mutual friends, and their romantic relationship began in April 2024. Crystal now spends much of her time with her future husband in Hawaii.

Photo: Instagram @crystalhefner