Maya Jama and Ben Simmons confirm engagement after romantic Christmas proposal as TV star seen with huge diamond ring
MAYA Jama and her basketball star boyfriend Ben Simmons have confirmed they are engaged.
The happy news, which The Sun exclusively revealed last year, comes after a whirlwind seven-month romance for the pair.
Maya, 27, began dating Aussie Simmons, 25, in May and fell in love with the 6ft 11in hunk during trips to the US.
She has since been splitting her time between the States and the UK - where she fronts Simon Cowell's new talent show Walk The Line.
The star spent Christmas with the Philadelphia 76ers star at his £3.7million mansion in Moorestown, New Jersey.
And now, with unsettled , Maya, from Bristol, is ready to make a permanent move to the US to be with him in a new city.
The NBA player, 25, asked TV star Maya to marry him over Christmas, but the pair kept the news quiet until now.
Maya was seen walking with Ben in Philadelphia this week sporting a huge emerald-cut diamond ring on her finger.
Most read in TV
She was shown sporting the sparkler - which he chose himself - as they returned from a workout at the gym.
A source told The Sun in December: "Ben adores Maya and has fallen head over heels for her.
"He picked up the ring on Jewelers’ Row in the diamond district of Philadelphia the day before he proposed.
“He chose the ring himself and felt he knew exactly what she would want. Maya said yes and they’re both thrilled.”
The source said Simmons had been nervous about popping the question because Maya had said no to a previous ex when he proposed.
They added: “He and Maya have been together for much less time but, thankfully, she said yes. Ben was so excited, but they’ve decided to keep the news low-key and tell only those closest to them.
“Maya flew to New Jersey to spend Christmas with him and is still there now.
“They had a small family gathering last weekend and announced their engagement.”
Simmons, who once dated Kendall Jenner, 26, and Maya, who dated rapper Stormzy, 28, have since had matching tattoos to mark their love.
