How old was Crystal Hefner when she married Hugh Hefner? Former Playboy model announces engagement to boyfriend James Ward

Model Crystal Hefner announced her engagement to partner and marine biologist James Ward. The ceremony took place on April 25, 2025, at the model’s Hawaii home. She met James Ward through common friends. He proposed to her with a six-carat ring on a seaside deck that he built.

Crystal Hefner was previously married to Hugh Hefner. They got hitched in 2012, when Crystal was 26. Hugh Hefner died in 2017. In an exclusive statement to US Weekly about her engagement, the model said:

“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.”

She went on:

“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.”

Crystal Hefner initially believed they were going for a walk, but when she noticed the flowers, heartfelt notes, and the vast ocean view ahead, she sensed something special would take place.

As they walked, she became curious upon seeing a newly built staircase, followed by a series of handwritten notes that touched her deeply. By the time she reached the final message on a deck overlooking the sea, she was already emotional.

At first, she assumed it was a surprise for her upcoming birthday, but the messages gradually revealed a deeper meaning. When she discovered that the entire deck had been built for this specific moment, she felt moved. She appreciated it as a thoughtful gesture.

How did James Ward propose to Crystal Hefner?

James Ward lined the path with love letters for Crystal Hefner. In some of these, he appreciated her playful side and how she made him feel valued and safe. In one note, he shared his hope for their future, saying he wanted to keep building a life with her.

He wished for them to fill their time together with meaningful memories and to keep dreaming of a better world side by side. Crystal Hefner told the news outlet:

“The whole time we were 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 went on:

“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 recently went to Africa to celebrate their first anniversary. Speaking of her first anniversary with James Ward, Crystal Hefner shared that the past year felt both fast and slow. She believed they had come a long way because they put in effort in their relationship.

However, she was amazed to see everything they had experienced and built together in just one year. Crystal also mentioned that she and James often talked about marriage and described their bond as being best friends who constantly flirted with each other.

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