YouTube star MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has taken a significant step in his personal life by getting engaged to Thea Booysen. The 26-year-old popped the question on Christmas Day in an intimate setting with both families present, who were all part of the surprise.
Thea, aged 27, shared the romantic details with ‘People’, explaining, “My family flew in from South Africa for Christmas, and we planned to celebrate together in our home. While opening presents, he asked me to close my eyes for the very last gift because it was a surprise.”
MrBeast described his approach to the proposal, saying, “I dropped a big box to make some noise before pulling out the real gift, a ring. Then I got down on one knee. I wanted to catch her completely off guard. Thea is so close to her family, so having them there was really important. Christmas was perfect since her family had traveled all the way from the other side of the world.”
Their relationship started in 2022 during a dinner party in South Africa, where they met through a mutual friend. Jimmy noted, “Thea’s brilliance stood out immediately. She’s incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about her interests, like her work as an author. I kept thinking, ‘She’s so smart and beautiful.’ Within minutes, I knew I wanted to date her, and luckily, she felt the same spark.”
Thea echoed the sentiment of their unexpected connection, saying, “I expected him to have this big persona, but he was so down-to-earth and intelligent. He’s genuinely kind, no ego at all.”
Looking forward, the couple has shared their vision for their upcoming nuptials. Booysen mentioned, “We’re thinking of having it on an island, somewhere far away from everyone. It’s not going to be extravagant, just an intimate and beautiful gathering with close family and friends.”
The news of their engagement has been met with excitement from fans, who are keen to see what this next chapter brings for MrBeast and Thea Booysen.