Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird is officially off the market. The “Pumpkin engaged” news broke Thursday, October 8, when the 26-year-old Mama June: Family Crisis star announced her engagement to boyfriend Darrin Kitchens, sharing a photo montage of his rooftop proposal that has fans buzzing. “ENGAGED,” she gushed in her TikTok caption, “I am literally STILL over the moon.”
A Wednesday-night proposal in Atlanta
According to sources with direct knowledge who spoke to TMZ, Kitchens popped the question on Wednesday evening at a rooftop terrace in Atlanta, which he rented out entirely for the occasion. The setting was straight out of a rom-com: candles, glittering city views, and one very nervous boyfriend getting down on one knee.
Pumpkin said yes — and the two sealed the moment with a passionate kiss, all captured in the photos she shared on TikTok and Facebook.
“Pumpkin engaged”: the ring close-up fans are zooming
No proposal montage is complete without a ring close-up, and Pumpkin delivered. She showed off a sparkling split-shank diamond engagement ring across several photos in the montage, praising Kitchens for his endless support. Judging by the close-ups fans are screenshotting, the diamond doesn’t disappoint.
Family was there to witness it — mostly
Pumpkin’s younger sister Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, 19, stood by for the proposal along with her boyfriend Dralin Carswell, according to Page Six and TMZ. Photos show Pumpkin hugging her sister right after the big moment.
One notable absence, reported by The Ashley’s Reality Roundup: Mama June Shannon herself did not appear to be present for the proposal. Given the family’s famously complicated dynamics, fans will be watching closely for her reaction.
The backstory: two years, a “wild ride,” and a famous family connection
Pumpkin and Kitchens have been dating for roughly two years, after she filed for divorce from her ex-husband Josh Efird. In her announcement post, Pumpkin reflected on what she called the “wild ride” of their relationship: “These last 2 years have been a WILD ride, but it’s a wild ride I wouldn’t wanna take with anyone else.”
She added, per TV Shows Ace’s reporting on her full post: “We’d had SO many good times, made so many memories, and I’ll never lie… we’ve definitely had our disagreements too. But at the end of the day, this love has always felt so different from anything I’ve ever experienced.”
There’s a wrinkle that has the internet talking: Kitchens is the cousin of Pumpkin’s ex-husband Josh Efird, as The Ashley’s Reality Roundup and Pulptastic reported. Kitchens has acknowledged the connection publicly and indicated the two cousins are not on speaking terms, per Pulptastic’s coverage. Pumpkin, for her part, thanked Darrin for how he loves her children and “always lifts” her up.
It’ll be on TV
Per TMZ’s sources, production cameras for the family’s WE tv reality series were filming the engagement — and the proposal will be featured on the upcoming season. Reality TV fans know: if the cameras were rolling, the wedding may be too.
What Kitchens posted — and how the relationship went public
Kitchens marked the moment too: per The Ashley’s Reality Roundup, he posted his own set of photos on Facebook with the caption, “Sooo I did a little thing last night… here’s to the future Mrs. & Mr. Kitchens.” His photos show him getting down on one knee in front of large illuminated letters spelling out “Marry Me.”
The engagement arrives about two months after Pumpkin first went public with Kitchens on social media, per Pulptastic’s reporting — a debut post that confirmed months of speculation about her dating life after her divorce. She’d kept much of the relationship out of the spotlight until then. In interviews around her divorce, she’d also spoken about learning to prioritize herself after years of focusing on others, according to Pulptastic — a theme her engagement post echoes: “this love has always felt so different from anything I’ve ever experienced.”
“The future Mrs. Kitchens has a NICE RING to it” — Pumpkin’s engaged sign-off
Pumpkin closed her announcement the only way she could: “I’m so excited for the next chapter, for our future, for our family, and for all the memories we still have ahead of us. The future Mrs. Kitchens has a NICE RING to it.” A pun, a prophecy, and a punchline in one.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pumpkin engaged to?
Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird, 26, is engaged to Darrin Kitchens, her boyfriend of about two years. He proposed on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, on a rooftop terrace in Atlanta.
How did Darrin Kitchens propose to Pumpkin?
Per TMZ sources, he rented out an entire rooftop terrace at an Atlanta restaurant for the proposal, complete with candles and city views. He got down on one knee, and after she said yes, the couple shared a passionate kiss.
Is Darrin Kitchens related to Pumpkin’s ex-husband?
Yes — Darrin Kitchens is the cousin of Pumpkin’s ex-husband Josh Efird, from whom she filed for divorce last year. Kitchens has acknowledged the cousins are not on speaking terms.
Will the proposal be on TV?
According to TMZ, WE tv cameras filmed the engagement, and the proposal will be featured on the upcoming season of the family’s reality series.
Sources: Page Six (Oct 8); TMZ (Oct 8); The Ashley’s Reality Roundup; TV Shows Ace; Pulptastic. Relationship details attributed per outlet; no wedding date has been announced.
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