Clear Cut Couples: Leslie and Khephren

Leslie and Khephren first crossed paths while working for the travel brand Away in 2021. Unlike a traditional office romance, their relationship blossomed remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, with both working from home. They got to know each other through Zoom meetings, Slack messages, and virtual happy hours. As restrictions eased and New York City began to open up, their friendship transitioned from the digital realm to real life. They started spending time together in person, and during a board game night at Leslie’s apartment, Khephren was the last guest to leave. The two ended up talking late into the night, marking the beginning of their romantic relationship. They soon started dating and have been together ever since.

After that fateful board game night, Khephren and Leslie began texting and talking nearly every day. For their first official date, Khephren, who is proudly half-Malaysian, took Leslie to his favorite Malaysian restaurant, Laut. They sat outside, and by coincidence, one of their coworkers walked by. The pair hid behind their menus, attempting to stay discreet.

By October 2024, Leslie and Khephren will have been together for four years. During this time, they have traveled to seven countries, found new jobs (no longer working together), moved in together, bought a car, and adopted a black German Shepherd named Coast.

Traveling is Khephren and Leslie's absolute favorite activity. Even before announcing their relationship, they knew they needed to test their compatibility as travel companions. Less than a month after they started dating, they flew to Saint Thomas and spent five days swimming, hiking, eating, and drinking. To this day, they still consider it their best date ever.

On June 7, 2024, Khephren proposed to Leslie on their rooftop. When asked why he chose that spot, Khephren explained that, despite all the places they had traveled and the activities they loved, his favorite place was at home with Leslie and their dog, in the little sanctuary they had created together. Leslie was over the moon, though not entirely surprised, as her friends had been hinting for weeks, encouraging her to get her nails done with their terrible poker faces. The ring was exactly what Leslie wanted. She always knew she wanted an antique stone and after trying different ones on at The Clear Cut office, she fell in love with an old euro which is exactly what Khephren got her.

Leslie and Khephren are set to marry in September 2025. Reflecting their love of travel, the ceremony will be held in Sintra, Portugal. They had envisioned this time of year for a while and had already secured their venue and date before the engagement. Their wedding planner was perhaps the most excited of all to hear that they were finally engaged.

Photos by: @aliasher