Mother's Day of 2018 was extra special for actress Taraji P. Henson. The "Empire" star revealed in an Instagram post on Monday that her boyfriend, NFL star, Kelvin Hayden, popped the big question and she is now engaged!
“I said yes y’all!!!” she captioned a Monday Instagram post of a photo showing two hands together -- as well as an engagement ring.
The now 50-year-old actress and mother of 24-year-old Marcel Johnson from a previous relationship said, “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!”
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In part of her caption, Henson who previously revealed that she raised Marcell on her own after leaving her abusive ex-boyfriend wrote, “#sheisofficiallyoffthemarketand she is sooooooooooooo HAPPY!!!!!!”
So who is this young man that has Taraji's heart?
After playing football at the University of Illinois, Hayden--who is 13 years younger than Taraji--was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
He played cornerback for the team for five years, racking up an impressive 239 tackles and nine interceptions.
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In fact, his first interception occurred during the Super Bowl XLI.
In 2011, he was picked up by the Atlanta Falcons, for whom he played for one year before signing with the Chicago Bears.
After one year with the Bears, Hayden was placed on injury reserved due to a torn hamstring. He was released in 2014.
Hayden hasn't specifically come out and actually said or posted that the two are engaged, but he did post a picture of the loving couple on the beach.
It looks like they are out here living their best life just as happy as can be.
Earlier in their relationship, Taraji was already head over heels.
During a special episode of ESSENCE’s Yes, Girl! podcast, Henson teased, “I’m happy in my personal life. Finally, it has happened to me!”
“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,” she added.
“I’m very, very happy. I just am. We’ve been together for two years.
And no one would really know that, because I don’t blast my info like that, but I’m very happy.”
The Golden Globe-winning actress previously told PEOPLE that Hayden is supportive of all of her projects, saying, “He likes it all.”
“He’s just like, my no. 1 fan, there for support.
What I love is that he doesn’t really pay attention to it all. He loves me for me.”
Before this, many people have linked Taraji's love life to many different actors such as Morris Chestnut, Shemar Moore or even her long-time co-star Tyrese.
But now, Henson says this is the real deal.
Even though Henson is one of the "Who's Who" in Hollywood, engaged and living her best life both in front of and behind the camera,
the 50-year old has to smile when reflecting on this amazing time, but she also knows the best is yet to come.
Taraji has had tremendous success as an actress.
If she puts the same energy into her marriage as she has into her acting, there can be nothing but success!
We wish nothing but love and years of bliss for this happy couple. Go 'head Taraji!
