The Ultimate List of Female Celebrities Who Unconventionally Popped the Question

There are multiple instances where women in the entertainment industry have taken the initiative to propose to their partners, showcasing that it is not solely a man's role. In 2009, Dax Shepard initially proposed to Kristen Bell; however, the couple decided to postpone their marriage until the United States recognized marriage equality. Following the Supreme Court's decision in June 2013 to support same-sex marriage, Bell seized the opportunity to ask Shepard to marry her through a Twitter proposal.

The longtime couple got married in a courthouse in Beverly Hills later that year. The co-stars of Chips then went on to have two daughters, Lincoln in 2013 and 2014.

Britney Spears also made a change in her relationship with Kevin Federline. In the fourth episode of her series in 2005, Britney and Kevin: Chaotic, Spears revealed that she proposed to Kevin Federline while they were on a flight to New York City for the filming of her music video "Outrageous." Federline admitted that he was surprised, although he had a sense of where their relationship was going.

"I said, 'No, no. It wasn't supposed to happen like that. I had to be the one to propose, get down on one knee, and beg and plead,'" he reminisced. "But she responded, 'Well, then you better ask me.'"

Spears further stated, "And he did, right at that moment."

In 2004, the couple got married, and they were blessed with two sons, Sean Preston in 2005 and Jayden in 2006. Unfortunately, their marriage ended in divorce in 2007. Both Britney Spears and Kevin Federline have since moved on and found new partners, with Spears now with Sam Asghari and Federline with Victoria Prince.

Keep scrolling to discover a list of remarkable female celebrities who took the bold step of proposing to their male partners.

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Kristen Bell, Britney Spears and More Female Stars Who Proposed to Their Significant Others

A man doesn’t have to be the one who pops the question — and there are many female stars who have taken control and proposed to their significant others.

Dax Shepard first proposed to Kristen Bell in 2009, but they decided to delay their wedding until same-sex marriage was legalized in the United States. When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality in June 2013, Bell surprised Shepard by asking him to marry her on Twitter. The couple then got married later that same year in a courthouse in Beverly Hills. They later became parents to their daughters, Lincoln and another child born in 2014.

During her relationship with Kevin Federline, Britney Spears made a surprising move. In the fourth episode of her 2005 series, Britney and Kevin: Chaotic, she shared that she proposed to Kevin Federline while they were on a flight to New York City to film her "Outrageous" music video. Despite having a sense of where their relationship was headed, Kevin admitted that he "didn't expect it." He had imagined being the one to propose and go down on one knee to beg and plead, but Britney turned the tables on him, saying, "Alright, you gotta ask me then."

Spears stated, "He did, at that exact moment."

The couple got married in 2004 and became parents to two sons: Sean Preston in 2005 and Jayden in 2006. They ended their marriage in 2007. Both Spears and Federline have since started new relationships with Sam Asghari and Victoria Prince, respectively.

Scroll down to see all the badass female stars who chose to ask their male partners to marry them:

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Rita Ora and Taika Waititi

In August 2023, the director disclosed to Vogue that the pop star had proposed to them during their vacation in Palm Springs, a year into their relationship. They eagerly accepted the proposal and tied the knot.

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Becca Kufrin and Thomas Jacobs

The Bachelor in Paradise veterans made their engagement public in May 2022, as the victorious contestant from season 22 of The Bachelor disclosed that she had taken the initiative and proposed to her partner. Via Instagram, she joyfully exclaimed, "In an unexpected twist... HE ACCEPTED!" In response, Jacobs affectionately described Kufrin's proposal as the pinnacle of strategic maneuvers, akin to an "ultimate UNO reverse card / power move."

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Sarah Snook and Dave Lawson

Amidst the global pandemic, the talented actress from Succession tied the knot in a clandestine ceremony with "one of her closest friends." Opening up in an exclusive interview with Vogue Australia in October 2021, she disclosed that it was she who took the leap and proposed.

"We've been close friends since 2014, sharing a living space and embarking on adventures together. Our bond has always been purely platonic," expressed the Australian actress as she discussed her newlywed husband, a comedian from Australia, in an interview with the magazine. "Coincidentally, we have never found ourselves unattached simultaneously."

She further revealed, "I took the initiative and proposed to him, and we exchanged vows in February, surrounded by the serenity of my own backyard."


Her Succession costar — and fellow countryman — Ash Zukerman acted as a witness to the Brooklyn ceremony.

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Jodie Turner-Smith and Joshua Jackson

During a July 2021 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jackson disclosed the heartwarming moment when his partner asked him to marry her. This special occurrence unfolded on New Year's Eve while they were in Nicaragua, surrounded by captivating beauty and an incredibly romantic atmosphere. As they strolled along the beach, the unexpected proposal took place, catching Jackson off guard. However, he expressed his admiration for how determined she was and acknowledged that accepting her proposal was the greatest decision he had ever made.

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Britney Spears and Kevin Federline

The "Toxic" singer was the one to initiate the question during a flight to New York City, leading to their split after two years of marriage. Initially, Federline declined, only to propose to her minutes later. Their divorce was finalized in 2007.

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Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga

In 2009, Hudson received a birthday proposal from the WWE wrestler, but five months later, she turned the tables and surprised him with a birthday proposal of her own. The couple, who became engaged and welcomed their son David Jr. in the same year, ended their relationship in 2017.

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Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard

The "Armchair Expert" podcaster was proposed to by the former Veronica Mars actor in 2013, following the initial proposal made in 2009. To commemorate the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide, the couple exchanged vows at a courthouse, celebrating this significant milestone.

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Haley Lu Richardson and Brett Dier

The Jane the Virgin actor was proposed to by The Edge of Seventeen star while enjoying pizza at the mall. To commemorate the special moment, they exchanged handmade twig rings from a nearby bush. "We realized we needed something to symbolize our commitment because we didn't have any rings," the actress from Five Feet Apart shared with Cosmopolitan in 2019. "We found these twigs from a bush, and one by one, we knelt down and tied them around our ring fingers. We still have them stored in a little baggie."

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Jenna Bush Hager and Henry Chase Hager

The businessman had declined the proposal of the former first daughter five years prior to him finally popping the question in the year 2007. On a segment of Today with Hoda & Jenna in February 2020, she revealed, "He turned me down," and added, "After three months of dating — I might’ve had a Christmas cocktail — and we were dancing. I just knew in that moment, let’s just get married, what are we waiting for?" Although he expressed his genuine affection towards her, he mentioned, "I'm crazy about you, but you're young," with a smile.

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Pink and Carey Hart

The vocalist behind the hit song "So What" proposed to her partner during his participation in the Pro 250 class finals in Mammoth, California back in 2005. Amidst the third lap, she proudly displayed a sign with the heartfelt message, "Will you marry me? I'm serious!" Their marital union ensued the following year, and soon after, they joyfully welcomed their two children: daughter Willow in 2011 and son Jameson in 2016.

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Judy Sheindlin and Jerry Sheindlin

The renowned television personality from Judge Judy revealed details about her marriage proposal to her husband Jerry, with whom she had previously been married from 1977 to 1990. Speaking candidly to DuJour in 2013, she recalled, "I took the initiative and proposed to him. I had a serious conversation, asking him about the future of our relationship." Despite his attempts to evade the question by questioning the necessity of marriage, she persevered. "Eventually, he relented. I insisted that he choose a date, and he settled on Flag Day."

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Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller

The fashion designer declined multiple offers from the founder of the Fox Broadcasting Company, but ultimately took matters into her own hands and proposed herself. They have been happily married since 2001.

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Lindsey Vonn and P. K. Subban

The Minnesota native proposed to the ice hockey star in December 2019, just months after his original proposal. They called it quits in December 2020.

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Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley

The Real Housewives of Orange County alum proposed to Smiley on a popular episode of the Bravo hit in 2013. Despite not having tied the knot yet, the couple joyfully welcomed a child together in 2019 and commemorated their 11th anniversary in 2020.

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Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Wilding

The actress who portrayed Cleopatra had been married eight times until her death in 2011 at the age of 79. Among her numerous marriages, she proposed only once to the actor known for his role in Stage Fright. The couple, who have sons named Michael Jr. and Christopher, exchanged vows in 1952 and ended their marriage in 1957.