A Carefully Orchestrated Ruse
Nine months after musician and filmmaker Rudy Mancuso proposed, Camila Mendes is finally pulling back the curtain on the elaborate surprise.
The 34-year-old Mancuso popped the question to the 32-year-old actress on October 24, 2025. Speaking on the July 27 episode of the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, Mendes revealed how she unknowingly walked right into the setup.
She believed she was attending a best friend’s birthday dinner at a “super secret speakeasy.” The plan was to head to actor Glen Powell’s tracksuit and tequila-themed birthday party immediately after.
The Wardrobe Dispute
Because of Powell’s party theme, Mendes originally planned to wear a tracksuit to dinner to avoid an outfit change. Her friend quickly intervened, insisting she dress in a “hot but mature” Sex and the City style instead.
After cycling through numerous outfit changes, the Masters of the Universe star admitted she started viewing her friend as a “little birthday zilla.”
“I put this jacket on, and thank God, because I would not have wanted all my engagement photos to be with the outfit I was wearing underneath,” Mendes noted.
Rudy Mancuso and Camila Mendes attend the Los Angeles Premiere of an HBO Original Series.
The Speakeasy Setup
When she arrived at the location, she performed the required knocks on the door, assuming it was simply part of the speakeasy experience.
Inside, she was greeted by a long white aisle lined with candles and white flowers. Since Mancuso was supposed to meet them at the dinner anyway, Mendes wasn’t shocked to see him standing at the end of the room.
“I was like, ‘Oh, my God. This restaurant is so gorgeous,'” she recalled. “I kept walking. And then I realized my friends weren’t walking with me.”
When she glanced over her shoulder, her friends had stayed behind and were giggling. She looked back at Mancuso, who was waiting with a smile.
A Cinematic Soundtrack
As the reality of the situation set in, “Engagement Party” from the movie La La Land began to play. The track holds deep meaning for the couple, who bonded over the film early in their four-year relationship.
“I was like, ‘Oh, my God. Oh, my God. It’s happening,'” Mendes remembered.
Camila Mendes and Rudy Mancuso at the 39th Annual Imagen Awards held at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes on September 8, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
The Post-Proposal Parties
Following a private moment, Mancuso pulled back a curtain to reveal a surprise engagement party packed with Mendes’ mother and closest friends.
The hours-long celebration took place at Lucia, a Caribbean restaurant in Los Angeles. The guest list featured Mendes’ former Riverdale co-stars, including Madelaine Petsch, KJ Apa, and Lili Reinhart.
Eventually, the newly engaged couple made their way to Powell’s tracksuit party. Mancuso, riding the high of the evening, immediately shouted their engagement news to the paparazzi waiting outside.
“I’m like, ‘You shouldn’t have done that, but I love you, and it’s fine,'” the Do Revenge star said, adding that the spontaneous announcement made for an incredibly fun night.
As for their upcoming nuptials, the actress confirmed they are taking the planning process very slowly, though they have already locked in a wedding venue.
