The boxer-turned-entrepreneur shared an unexpected twist in his romantic proposal story during the premiere of Paul American last month.
Paul, 28, had meticulously designed an oval-shaped engagement ring to honor fiancée Jutta Leerdam’s speed skating career—complete with their birthstones and symbolic heart accents—when the Olympic athlete made a last-minute request inspired by Selena Gomez.
“She saw Selena Gomez’s ring and loved the diamonds on the band,” Paul told Us Weekly, explaining how he rushed the modified design back to the jeweler just ten days before his March 21 proposal in St. Lucia. The Disney Channel alum (who starred in Bizaardvark alongside Gomez’s Wizards of Waverly Place era) managed to incorporate the extra sparkle in time for the beachside surprise, which included a cameo from Leerdam’s unsuspecting parents.
While the Dutch skater, 26, admitted she “had a feeling” the proposal was coming, Paul confirmed they’ll delay wedding plans until after the 2026 Winter Olympics to focus on perfection—and their demanding careers. The YouTube star turned boxer credits Leerdam with elevating his athletic discipline: “She pushes me to be better… I told her since day one I want to be a world champion like her.”
From Disney connections to diamond-encrusted deadlines, Paul’s proposal story proves even A-list inspired tweaks can’t derail true love—or a fighter’s determination
