Kai Cameron and James DeSantis are engaged, and the proposal comes after more than seven years of preparation.
The 32-year-old influencer proposed to 38-year-old DeSantis during a recent African safari, and, as People exclusively reported, DeSantis accepted. The couple have been together for over seven years, having met at The Eagle, a popular LGBTQ nightclub in New York City.
The marriage proposal didn't take place over a typical dinner table. Cameron planned a sunset proposal in the savannah, with a campfire, assistance from the Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara Safari Camp, and a joke shared between the two of them, from the night they met.
The marriage proposal brought them back to their first conversation.
Cameron told People that he collaborated with the hotel to create a secluded sunset setting on the steppe. Their guide filmed them walking to the filming location and then asked if there were "any bears around.".
This phrase was uttered the night Cameron and DeSantis met. DeSantis told People magazine that Cameron approached him at The Eagle pub and asked if he knew where the bears were. DeSantis replied, "I'm right here.".
The joke served as the cue for the marriage proposal. Cameron pointed into the distance, DeSantis turned, and Cameron dropped to one knee.
DeSantis said he was completely caught off guard. Cameron said the excitement wasn't so much about the offer itself, but rather the need to monitor the ring during the trip, which involved more than a dozen flights and shared luggage.
The night continued under the stars.
After DeSantis gave his consent, the couple returned to the hotel after dark.
Guests said they were treated to a surprise: music, drinks, and a celebration under the stars. Cameron said they spent the rest of the evening trying to wrap their minds around the engagement, while DeSantis called it an unforgettable evening.
The proposal also fit Cameron's public persona. He's known for his comedic videos, including a viral parody series about learning to perform various tasks "like a real man." He reportedly has a combined following of 1.3 million on Instagram and TikTok.
Their relationship developed rapidly after one big step.
After their first meeting, the couple's relationship soon ceased to be merely friendly.
For their second date, Cameron flew to Miami to meet DeSantis, who was working at Art Basel Miami Beach at the time. DeSantis admitted to People that the trip was a big step into the unknown after just one meeting, but the risk paid off.
A month later, in Palm Springs, they said "I love you" to each other for the first time.
Two years into their relationship, they moved in together. They eventually bought a house together.
Cameron told People magazine that there wasn't one big moment in the film where he suddenly realized DeSantis was the one. Every subsequent step seemed obvious.
They are not rushing the wedding.
For now, Cameron and DeSantis are waiting for the engagement dust to settle before jumping into wedding planning.
In an interview with People magazine, Cameron joked that same-sex engagements can last anywhere from six months to a lifetime, so the couple decided to enjoy this phase of their lives first.
DeSantis added that the next step will be finding a ring for Cameron, which he joked could take some time.
The marriage proposal now completes their relationship in a neat cycle: a joke about a bear in The Eagle, a flight to Miami for a second date, a shared house, and the same phrase spoken on the first night that served as the signal for the presentation of the ring in the savannah.