Taraji P. Henson Announces Her Engagement to Kelvin Hayden
Congratulations are in order for Taraji P. Henson! The award-winning actress is now engaged to her formerly mysterious boyfriend of more than two years, former NFL star Kelvin Hayden, who simultaneously turned the moment into a duel proposal and Mother’s Day surprise.
“I said yes y’all!!! He started with the Cartier love bracelet BUT that was my #Mothersday gift and then he dropped to his knee and I almost passed out!!!” the Empire star wrote on Instagram. “#sheisofficiallyoffthemarket and she is sooooooooooooo HAPPY!!!!!!” In the picture, which Henson posted on Monday morning, she shows off both pieces of jewelry, as well as an adorable plate with three chocolate-dipped strawberries, a slice of chocolate cake, and the words “Congratulations” written in a chocolate drizzle.
Hayden has yet to commemorate the happy occasion on social media, but he did take to his Instagram story with a snap of the couple cuddling and posing with glasses of wine. Since Henson’s left arm is not visible in the photo, it’s not clear whether this was before or after Hayden popped the question.
Henson first confirmed the pair were dating last December on an episode of Essence‘s “Yes, Girl!” podcast. “I’m happy in my personal life. Finally it has happened to me!” she said. “I’m not the type to blast my personal business, but you know, I think that it’s important for people to know that I’m happy. I’m very, very happy. I just am.”
“We’ve been together for two years,” she added. “And no one would really know that, because I don’t blast my info like that, but I’m very happy.”
Henson made a small exception to her rule of secrecy for People earlier this year, revealing that Hayden loved all of her performances. “He’s just like, my number one fan, there for support,” she said. “What I love is that he doesn’t really pay attention to it all. He loves me for me.”
Related: Taraji P. Henson’s Years of Hard Work Has Paid Off: Now She’s Invited to the White House
Empire Actress Taraji P. Henson Always Makes a Statement on the Red Carpet
The actress first appeared on the scene with a supporting role in 2001 film Baby Boy, wearing a sequined top, lace-up suede skirt and oversized flower hair accessory.
At the Matrix Reloaded premiere, Henson stuck to the theme of the film and rocked a black vinyl trench coat, fishnet tights and black patent pumps.
Henson wore a fitted lace and silk midi dress and gold peep-toe kitten heels with a pile of high pin curls, a style typically reserved for preserving a hairstyle overnight, at MMPA’s 13th Annual Diversity Awards.
The actress looked like an alluring mermaid in an Aquamarine gown with a jeweled neckline at the 2006 Oscars.
Henson wore a floral, teal midi dress and short pin-up girl-inspired bangs at a film premiere in Los Angeles.
Henson looked elegant wearing a navy J.Mendel corseted chiffon gown with a plunging neckline to the premiere of her film ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’.
In a simple black gown, the actress looked refined at the 2009 BET Awards.
Henson looked sweet and sophisticated in a lace and jersey shift dress and peep-toe pumps at the 2010 Vh1 Hip Hop Honor Awards.
At the 63rd primetime Emmy Awards, Henson nailed it in the hair and makeup department thanks to a low, messy side bun and radiant bronze makeup that coordinated with her metallic floor-length dress.
A sequined, ombre-colored halter dress by Brian Rennie for Basler original proved to be a flattering, elegant choice for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.
At the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival, Henson looked stunning and vibrant in a cobalt-blue Stella & Jamie ‘Fabiola’ dress that showed off her curves.
Henson arrived to the ‘Think Like A Man Too’ premiere in a red maxi dress wth hand-beaded Swarovski crystal embellishments.
Henson attended the 2015 Met gala as the date of Alexander Wang, wearing a black and white strapless column dress by the fashion designer for Balenciaga.
The Empire star wore another Alexander Wang gown while attending the 67th annual Emmy Awards, where she nabbed her second Emmy nomination for the breakout FOX drama.
Henson channeled her Empire character Cookie Lyons at the 2016 Golden Globes, where she received the award for best actress in a TV drama, in a simultaneously fierce and ethereal white strapless Stella McCartney gown.
Actress Taraji P. Henson wore custom Alberta Ferretti at the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
