The model Winnie Harlow and the N.B.A. player Kyle Kuzma announced their engagement on Tuesday, posting photos on Instagram and sharing details of the proposal in an interview with Vogue. Mr. Kuzma, 29, a forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, proposed to Ms. Harlow, 30, on Feb. 13.
According to Vogue, he chartered a private plane to Turks and Caicos Islands for the long weekend, returning to a special spot where they had vacationed together in 2022. The plane was decorated with roses, balloons, chocolate and Champagne, but Ms. Harlow didn’t see a proposal coming, instead thinking it was a grand romantic gesture for Valentine’s Day.
He read her a poem he’d written, which ended with the line: “Will you be my wife?” She said yes.
The ring — an “8.5-carat oval-cut engagement ring with two baguette stones on the side,” per Vogue — was designed by Mr. Kuzma. He told the magazine: “I just wanted to draw a picture of what I felt resembled her — something that was elegant, but very timeless and simplistic at the same time.”
After their plane touched down, Mr. Kuzma surprised Ms. Harlow yet again. Her family, Mr. Kuzma’s family, as well as some friends, were waiting at a private villa for them to celebrate their engagement all together.
“I’ve dreamed of this moment ever since I was a little girl, and it was even more beautiful than I could have imagined,” Ms. Harlow told The New York Times in an emailed quote sent by a representative. “I’m overflowing with love for him and so excited to start this incredible new chapter of our lives.”
By Wednesday evening, the couple’s joint announcement post on Instagram had more than 900,000 likes and thousands of comments. Stars of the entertainment, fashion and sports worlds and beyond commented, sending their congratulations to the couple.
“Oh honey I’m so happy for you both!!!” wrote the actress Keke Palmer.
“One thing about a Jamaican woman, she’s a WIFE,” wrote the Jamaican dance hall singer Shenseea, adding, “congrats sis” and a ring and fire emojis, in a nod to Ms. Harlow’s Jamaican roots.
The Canadian model, whose career began when she competed on “America’s Next Top Model,” is the first model with vitiligo to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition that causes patches of skin to lose pigment.
Mr. Kuzma, who is from Flint, Mich., is an eight-year N.B.A. veteran and champion whose bold pregame tunnel fashion sense had people talking for years.
“STOPPPP!! omgeeee!!! yessss so beautiful!!,” commented the star basketball player Angel Reese, with a heart-eyes emoji.
Also sending along well wishes on the Instagram post were Naomi Osaka, Ciara, Lori Harvey, Tems, Justine Skye, Dixie D’Amelio, Alton Mason, Anitta, La La Anthony, Madison Beer, Chloe Bailey, Sunisa Lee and Normani.
The couple has been dating since 2020. In a 2021 interview on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” Ms. Harlow explained how she met her now-fiancé.
Mr. Kuzma sent her a message on Instagram in 2019, and reached out again in spring 2020, messaging her and posting a picture of her. She hadn’t seen his first message, but she saw the second, and replied. “He shot his shot, you know? He slid in the DMs,” she said, adding, “That was cute.”
They spoke on FaceTime for “24 hours every single day for a month,” she said, until she went to Los Angeles to see him. She said she had been in the city ever since.
In an episode of the show “Hot Ones Versus,” Ms. Harlow was asked if she had ever lied about watching one of his games. The couple laughed. “That is hilarious. No, I have not, thank you very much,” Ms. Harlow replied. She added that she attends some games, watches games on TV, and often tracks the scores. She said Mr. Kuzma had recently asked her to attend more of his games, which she found cute.
Mr. Kuzma added, “But I always have good games in front of her. I’ve rarely had bad games — in front of her, at least.”
The couple hasn’t yet shared their wedding plans, but Ms. Harlow said: “I’m really looking forward to the planning process. Both Kyle and I are both really creative, and love attention to detail, so I’m excited to make it a special event for our family and friends to celebrate our love.”
