Gina Kirschenheiter is starting the new year with a new relationship status.
The Real Housewives of Orange County star is officially engaged to longtime boyfriend Travis Mullen after a New Year’s Eve proposal in Big Bear, California.
“I was in complete shock!” Kirschenheiter, 41, told People in an interview published Wednesday, January 7. “My nervous system was trying to catch up to what just happened in this magical moment, and I was also trying to process the iceberg that was being presented to me as well! I of course said ‘yes,’ and melted into what was the sweetest kiss I’ve ever felt!”
The couple were enjoying a ski vacation and dressed up for their family’s “Fancy Dinner Night” New Year’s Eve tradition when the magical moment happened.
Mullen, 40, brought Kirschenheiter out onto the back porch to “scope out the right spot for a family picture.” Minutes later, he got down on one knee and presented the Bravo star with a 6-carat, oval-cut diamond ring made in partnership with Wove.
“It was perfect!” Kirschenheiter shared when recalling the moment. “It meant so much to be there as a family celebrating all together. We were all so happy. Truly a pinnacle moment.”
Gina shares Nick, 13, Sienna, 11, and Luca, 10, with ex-husband Matt Kirschenheiter. As for Mullen, he is dad to Presley, 14, Bennett, 12, and Joey, 9, from a previous relationship.
The newly engaged couple and their blended family celebrated all night before heading back home to Orange County to resume school and real estate work at The Gated Group with eXp Realty.
The Real Housewives of Orange County viewers have had a front-row seat to Gina and Mullen’s love story ever since they were set up through a mutual friend.
During season 18 of The Real Housewives of Orange County, Gina and Mullen agreed to spend more time apart, partly due to his divorce battle taking a toll on their relationship.
In the most recent season, which concluded airing in November 2025, the pair found themselves stronger than ever as they balanced a modern family and work commitments.
“Cheers to all the men who helped her shimmer her light back,” Gina wrote via Instagram in October 2025. “And what a beautiful life it is @travis.mullen.85 ❤️ “#relit #secondchanceromance #goodmen #lifeofashowgirl #taylorswift.”
When asked if an engagement could be in her future, Gina appeared open to the idea.
“I didn’t feel like I knew whether I wanted to commit, overall, to this situation… what comes with Travis. And now that I feel so deeply committed to that and more stable, and I think like we’re finally in a place where we could even possibly entertain something like that,” she told Bravo’s The Daily Dish in August 2025. “This is a Travis question. You know, I’m not going to propose to Travis.”
Since posting about her engagement on social media, Gina has received well-wishes from many of her costars, including Tamra Judge and Emily Simpson.
“So happy for you! Congratulations!!! ❤️❤️❤️,” Shannon Beador wrote in the comments section. Gretchen Rossi added, “Ahh congrats love! Soo happy for you! ❤️😍.”
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