Top Model Eva Marcille Announces Her Engagement in Style

Santa brought America’s Next top Model Cycle 3 winner Eva Marcille some bling for Christmas. Her beau, House of Payne star Lance Gross asked for her hand in marriage on Christmas Eve in front of both their families. The happy couple broke their big news to Essence.com and shared some photos from their ultra glam engagement shoot.

While vacationing at the Big Bear Ski Resort in California’s San Bernandino Mountains, Lance suggested Eva open her gifts early. One of them was a pillow with a note that read: "Hope you like it. Give this pillow to the man you love and he will explain." Which he did, by using the pillow to drop to one knee and present his love with a 3.36-carat 1895 Pave Cartier engagement ring.

"I was in a complete state of shock!" the 24-year-old Los Angeles native says to ESSENCE.com. "I cried. It was totally unexpected. I'm still in shock. I could not even sleep because I was afraid that I might wake up from the most beautiful dream ever."

The gorgeous pair met a year and a half ago at a TV audition, and have been spotted working the red-carpet together nonstop ever since. The bride-to-be recently landed a role on the cast of The Young and The Restless.

The couple’s engagement photos are so glamorous they look like a high-fashion magazine spread. With celebrity weddings constantly upping the ante, your engagement photo style is definitely a good way to set yourselves apart. (Well done, Lance and Eva – we’re impressed!)

The couple’s obvious passion for one another really comes through in these sexy photos, yet they’re still classy. Want to upgrade your engagement shoot? Take a cue from this Hollywood hot couple and consider taking a bold risk instead of relying on the classic prom pose.

photo: Robert Ector