Pages 64–65

Kim Kardashian Engaged! A Dream Come True

ROSE PETALS! A 20.5-CARAT RING! GLITTER HORSES! (WAIT, WHAT?) THE REALITY STAR TELLS ALL ABOUT ACCEPTING THE FAIRY-TALE PROPOSAL FROM THE MAN SHE LOVES
By Jennifer Garcia
Photographs by Nick Saglimbeni

Caption, p. 65: “I didn’t expect this at all,” says Kardashian, who celebrated her engagement to Humphries with two glittery guests.

Pages 66–67

Opening the bedroom doors of her Beverly Hills home on the afternoon of May 18, Kim Kardashian was certain she was home alone. Instead the reality mogul discovered the surprise of her life. Her boyfriend of six months, New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries, sat anxiously awaiting her arrival—on bended knee. “I was in such shock,” she recalls. Surrounded by dozens of tiny twinkling candles, the reality star gasped as she looked down at four words written in red rose petals: “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” Then he presented the ring: a staggering 20.5-carat diamond dazzler (see box). Her delighted reply: “Yes!”

It was a happily-ever-after moment that Kardashian—who just weeks before meeting Humphries last fall told People, “I know I’ll find love”—had been dreaming of for years. After her marriage to music producer Damon Thomas ended in 2003, Kardashian, 30, had a three-year relationship with New Orleans Saints player Reggie Bush and a subsequent romance with Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin. But it wasn’t until a chance meeting in November with Humphries, 26, and a night spent bonding over hot chocolate that Kardashian realized she had found “the one.” Three days after the storybook proposal, the couple sat down with People to share all their romantic engagement details—and a glimpse at their wedding plans.

Congratulations! What was the proposal like?
Kim: My hand was shaking as he put the ring on my finger—shaking! I was so excited, but this calm came over me. It was very overwhelming but in the best way possible.
Kris: I wanted it to be private—just us—at home. She didn’t have a microphone on; nobody was filming. It felt so right at that moment that all my nerves went away.
Kim: He almost had a panic attack!
Kris: I was in total shock setting up. I wasn’t really breathing that well; the [continued on p. 68] anxiety was killing me. It was intense.

Kim, what was your initial reaction?
Kim: I almost felt bad because the first thing I did was gasp. I had always envisioned tears for this moment, but I wasn’t crying. He was sitting there, on one knee, the candles lit all around him—it was so romantic.

So Kris, how did you manage to keep this a secret until the last minute?
Kris: I told my parents [William and Debra]. And I went golfing with Bruce [Jenner, Kim’s stepfather] to ask his permission. It took me until the last hole to muster up the courage. I also talked to Kris [Jenner, Kim’s mother]. She was really excited. She cried.
Kim: Always! Nobody knew until after he got the ring—he did it all himself.

Kim, did you suspect anything?
Kim: His sister Kaela came into town for a visit, and my friend Jonathan [Cheban] was in town too, so that was a little odd. And I noticed he’d been acting weird. We went to Malibu at one point earlier in the week. We were on the beach and I kind of thought to myself, “Oh my God, this is going to happen!” But it didn’t, so I moved on.

How did you tell the rest of your families once it happened?
Kim: We called his parents on the way over to meet my family for dinner. They were so sweet and said, “Welcome to the family.”

What about telling Kim’s sisters Kourtney, Khloé, Kendall and Kylie and her brother Robert?
Kris: Kim’s mom had asked if she could throw us a party, and I let her handle the details. . . .
Kim: And we were late, so I walked in and apologized as I stroked my hair, flashing the ring. Nobody noticed. I did it two more times before Kylie started screaming. Then Khloé goes, “Is this a joke?” Nobody believed us at first. After three minutes of arguing, everyone finally started jumping.

Sounds like a great time.
Kim: Kris really didn’t want a big celebration, but he had jokingly told my mom he’d be fine if there were mini horses there. Later that night at the party, my mom brought out two mini horses, covered in glitter, for us! It was hysterical!

Kris, what’s it been like getting to know the Kardashian clan?
Kris: It’s nice that they’re motivated …

[The interview continues on p. 69. The pages after 68 are not in the press file.]

Caption, p. 66: “I had to have my sister Kaela help me,” says Humphries of setting up his rose-petal proposal.

Caption, p. 66: “I’ve never seen her this happy,” says mom Kris Jenner (tearing up at the engagement dinner).

Caption, p. 66: To celebrate Kim’s “Cinderella” moment, Jenner ordered a princess-themed cake from Hansen’s Cakes.

Numbered caption box, p. 67: (1) At dinner, Humphries bonded with fellow NBA player Lamar Odom and his wife, Khloé. (2) Kourtney gave a heartfelt speech. (3) “They’re cute together,” says Jenner, raising a glass with husband Bruce. (4) The family all donned glowing fake engagement rings.

Page 68

Pull quote, p. 68: “I really put myself out there with Kim. If I jump, I know she is going to catch me” —Kris

Caption, p. 68: “It’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” says Kardashian of the ring. “It’s perfect.”

Box, p. 68: All About The Ring
Kim Kardashian had long dreamed of the perfect man—and the perfect ring. “In high school I went to Macy’s and bought this fake ring, my ‘perfect’ ring, and this is almost the exact same,” she says, staring down at the 20-plus-carat gem Humphries designed with jeweler Lorraine Schwartz, a longtime Kardashian friend. The 16.5-carat emerald cut center stone is flanked by a pair of 2-carat trapezoids. Wanting something distinctly her own (“Khloé’s is a radiant cut,” she says of her sister’s ring), the reality star loves the classic design. Humphries had simpler requirements: “I just knew I wanted it to be big!”