Olivia Walsh, an intern with the beluga training team at the Georgia Aquarium, thought she was posing for a simple photo with her boyfriend, Gavin Hulberg, in front of the beluga habitat with Quin, one of the resident belugas. But Hulberg had a surprise in store that not even Qinu saw coming.
Just after their photo was snapped, Hulberg dropped to one knee and proposed. As he presented the ring, Qinu stole the spotlight with a hilariously perfect reaction — her mouth dropped open in an expression that seemed to say, “Wow!”
@withlovebyliv I’ve been interning with the beluga training team for the last 3 months so this was the most thoughtful way he could’ve done it #georgiaaquarium #belugawhale #proposal ♬ original sound – withloveliv
As the couple embrace and kiss (Walsh accepted), the curious beluga keeps an eye on the pair until a trainer motions the whale away.
Walsh (@withlovebyliv) wrote, “I’ve been interning with the beluga training team for the last 3 months so this was the most thoughtful way he could’ve done it.”
It turns out Hulberg contacted the Beluga training team to ask for their help to make the surprise extra special. However, the Aquarium Supervisor Katie Lorenz told PEOPLE that Quinu’s reaction was completely unscripted. “Qinu’s behavior at the window was her own — she was not intentionally trained to have any type of ‘reaction.'”
How adorable is that? Walsh wrote on her TikTok that it was “the most perfect proposal I could’ve asked for.”
Viewers were similarly enchanted with the moment and 16-year-old Qinu.
“Even the beluga is like ‘OHHH,'” wrote one viewer. Another person added, “The Beluga: GUUUUUUUUUURRRRRLLLLLL”
“The beluga NEEDS to officiate the wedding now,” someone wrote, with another TikToker adding, “The beluga has to be a bridesmaid at this point.”
We can just picture Qinu at the wedding; she’s sure to steal the spotlight again.
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