Crystal Hefner is engaged to James Ward after one year of dating, they exclusively reveal to Us Weekly.
Ward proposed to Hefner, 39, with a six-carat, vintage mine-cut diamond set on a whisper-thin band earlier this month on the seaside deck that he built the former Playboy model at her Hawaii home.
“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,” Hefner told Us. “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.”
Ward popped the question over the weekend on Friday, April 25, after the couple returned stateside from a one-month first anniversary trip to Africa. The romantic moment also took place days before Hefner’s 39th birthday on Tuesday, April 29.
After her traumatic five-year marriage to Hugh Hefner, Crystal Hefner didn’t expect to find romance and to be in a “healthy relationship” — but then she met James Ward. “I’ve done a lot of healing that was very necessary since the mansion,” Crystal, 38, exclusively reveals in the latest issue of Us Weekly while dishing on her recent […]
Before Hefner said “yes,” she was completely taken aback when she realized Ward had organized the milestone moment with the help of a local team.
“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,” she recalled to Us. “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 realized 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.”
As part of their love story, Ward sprinkled the pathway with personal love letters to his bride-to-be – “I love you when you’re silly, I love you when you love, I love the way you make me feel about myself and the space you make for both of us to nurture the child inside,” he wrote.
“Let’s continue to build a life together. A home in this magical place (or wherever life takes us next.) Let’s fill all of the time we have left with memories like the ones we’ve started with already and continue to dream of an even better world.”
According to Hefner, she “didn’t suspect a thing” before Ward got down on one knee.
“The whole time we were [on a vacation] in Africa, I thought we were having a peaceful, unplugged adventure — but behind the scenes, he was coordinating this incredibly elaborate and meaningful proposal back home,” she told Us. “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.”
Hefner and Ward plan to “enjoy being engaged for awhile,” though have started discussing tying the knot in 2026. According to the former model, the pair want to have an intimate, outdoor ceremony that is “full of love, meaning and connection.”
Prior to her relationship with Ward, Crystal was in a five-year marriage with the late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. Crystal rose to fame after her 2009 debut on E!’s The Girls Next Door while living at the Playboy Mansion and dating Hugh.
Crystal and Hugh got engaged in December 2010 and briefly split in June 2011. They rekindled their romance and tied the knot in December 2012. The pair were married until Hugh’s death in 2017 at age 91. Following Hugh’s passing, Crystal relocated to Hawaii where she eventually met Ward, a marine biologist. The couple was introduced through mutual friends in April 2024 and had an instant connection.
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“It’s just been this beautiful thing ever since,” Crystal exclusively told Us of the relationship in September 2024. “I’ve never felt like I’ve had someone that truly protects me. And in this relationship, I feel like I have a protector.”
Earlier this month, Crystal reflected on her whirlwind romance with Ward after celebrating their anniversary exploring Africa.
“Honestly, it feels like time flew and stood still at the same time,” she exclusively told Us on April 16. “I can believe we’ve come this far because we’ve been so intentional, but it’s still wild to look back at how much we’ve built and been through in just one year.”
Crystal revealed that she and Ward, who had talked about marriage, call themselves “best friends who can’t stop flirting.”
“We’re not in a rush, but we’re also not afraid of forever,” the Only Say Good Things author explained. “We both value building a strong foundation, and I think that’s what makes the idea of the future together feel so exciting and grounded.”
While discussing her engagement with Us, Crystal noted that her journey with Ward “feels like real life.”
“This chapter feels like real life — in the most grounded, beautiful, and emotionally honest way,” she said. “My first wedding was part of a chapter that felt performative, more about public perception than genuine partnership. I didn’t even wear white. It didn’t feel like a sacred milestone; it felt like playing a role in someone else’s story. This time, with James, it’s completely different. We’re best friends. We laugh, support each other and navigate life hand-in-hand. Our wedding will reflect that — simple, heartfelt, and full of love. Not a show, but a celebration of the life we’ve built together.”
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