One of the best parts of loving a celebrity couple is when one of them pops the question. You get so excited for them as if they were one of your girls from your book club. You want to know everything: from the ring to if they’ve set a date yet. And one of the biggest things we want details on is how they proposed.
We love how romantic — or even silly — some proposals are. For instance, we swooned over how Travis Barker proposed to Kourtney Kardashian on the beach, how Sam Asghari proposed to Britney Spears by surprise, and even how Dylan Meyer proposed to Kristen Stewart. But what we love more is when the women in the partnership shake up gender norms by popping the question themselves.
When proposals come up, the traditional way for heterosexual couples has typically been for the man to pop the question. A 2019 study from The Knot showed that 97% of grooms were the ones to propose to their brides, per The Atlantic. So when one of our favorite celebrity women does it, we’re obsessed.
From Britney Spears to Jodie Turner-Smith, check out some famous women who have proposed to their partners over the years.
A version of this article was originally published in November 2021.
Maureen Lipman & David Turner
Dame Maureen Lipman announced her engagement to boyfriend David Turner in Sept 2024. “In truth I had been rather against the “M” word, but on a train coming back from Edinburgh he mentioned that it was the minor festival of Tu B’Av – a day when a Jewish woman can ask a man to marry her,” she said to Spectator. “Unable to resist the gag, I slid under the table separating us onto one knee and asked him for his hand. To my surprise and slight panic, he gave it.”
Rita Ora
Rita Ora revealed in Aug 2023 that she was the one who proposed to her husband Taika Waititi in a recent deep-dive with Vogue.
Becca Kufrin
During Memorial Day weekend 2020, The Bachelorette star Becca Kufrin popped the question to her now-fiancé Thomas Jacobs, after a little over a year of dating. The pair have been vocal about taking the next step, and it seems as though Kufrin was the one to do it! She posted the news on Instagram, saying, “In the ultimate plot twist…HE SAID YES!”
Kat Dennings & Andrew W.K.
During her February 2022 appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, actress Kat Dennings revealed the magical moment she and fiancé Andrew W.K. proposed to each other. “We had a special moment that makes me believe in magic,” Dennings shared with Barrymore.
“We were doing kissing, and we had, like, a shared feeling. I felt this intense … thing that I was like, ‘This is my person. This is it. I can’t live without him. This is the man I’m supposed to be with.’ And we looked at each other, and we both proposed at the same time.”
Britney Spears & Kevin Federline
Early 2000s pop culture royalty Britney Spears and Kevin Federline went outside the norm for their engagement. Spears spontaneously proposed to him on a flight, but sadly, they divorced three years later.
Jodie Turner-Smith & Joshua Jackson
Jodie Turner-Smith proposed to Dawson’s Creek actor Joshua Jackson on New Year’s Eve in Nicaragua. They married soon after and welcomed a baby girl, Janie in April 2020. They later split up in 2023.
Sarah Snook & Dave Lawson
During the lockdown, Successionstarlet Sarah Snook ended up falling in love with one of her best friends, comedian Dave Lawson, and she proposed to him soon into 2020. Then they secretly wed last month on Oct 2021.
Elizabeth Taylor & Michael Wilding
Elizabeth Taylor proposed to her second husband Michael Wilding while working on a joint film in 1952. After having two children, they divorced less than five years later.
Kristen Bell & Dax Shepard
Kristen Bell proposed to long-time partner Dax Shepard through Twitter after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage. They frequently said they didn’t want to tie the knot before everyone could marry. They’ve been together since!
Jenna Bush Hager & Henry Hager
Jenna Bush Hager actually asked her husband, Henry Hager, to marry her after three months of dating — and he said no. Then five years later, Henry popped the question himself.
Jennifer Hudson & David Otunga
After David Otunga proposed to Jennifer Hudson on her birthday, she returned the favor five months later on his birthday. Sadly, they separated in 2017 after a decade together.
Zsa Zsa Gabor
It’s rumored that legendary actress Zsa Zsa Gabor actually proposed to all nine of her husbands. Seven ended up in divorce, one annulment, and her final marriage to Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt lasted until her death in 2016.
Pink & Carey Hart
Pink proposed to Motorcross racer Carey Hart while he was racing in the Pro 250 class finals. She hung up a sign that said “Will You Marry Me?” and after a while, she added “Serious” to really have it hit home. He said yes, they got hitched in 2006, and have been together since.
Diane von Furstenberg & Barry Diller
Apparently, Barry Diller proposed to Diane von Furstenberg multiple times with no success. It wasn’t until von Furstenberg called him up on his birthday and said, “You know, if you want, for your birthday I’ll marry you.” They’ve been married for 20 years.
Judge Judy & Jerry Sheindlin
Judge Judy Sheindlin revealed she proposed to Jerry Sheindlin after having a conversation about their relationship. They then got married on Flag Day and have been married for over 40 years.
Lindsey Vonn & P.K. Subban
Retired Olympic alpine skier Lindsey Vonn originally got engaged to New Jersey Devils defenseman PK Subban back in Aug 2019. However, Vonn asked him to marry her on Christmas and posted the romantic gesture to her Twitter. Unfortunately, they split up in Dec. 2020.
Lindsey Vonn & P.K. Subban
Retired Olympic alpine skier Lindsey Vonn originally got engaged to New Jersey Devils defenseman PK Subban back in Aug 2019. However, Vonn asked him to marry her on Christmas and posted the romantic gesture to her Twitter. Unfortunately, they split up in Dec. 2020.
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