Crystal Hefner is engaged.

The 39-year-old former Playboy model is set to marry marine biologist James Ward, following his romantic proposal on the seaside deck he built for her at her Hawaii home after one year of dating.

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.