KEVIN COSTNER has broken his vow of silence to publicly celebrate his love for his young supermodel girlfriend.

CHRISTINE BAUMGARTNER, 26, who was still at school when the 45- year-old Costner picked up an OSCAR for DANCES WITH WOLVES, is the first woman the ageing actor has wanted to introduce to his family since splitting from ex-wife CINDY six years ago (95) - and friends report marriage is on the cards. He gushes, "It feels easy. She is the first person in the last six years who I felt comfortable to put my arm round in public. "She is the first person I felt comfortable enough with to introduce to my children."

An old school pal of Christine from EL MODENA HIGH SCHOOL confirms, "She was always a very popular girl in school. She's lots of fun. I can understand why someone like Kevin Costner would fall for her. "She still keeps in touch with a couple of friends in the area and they said that Kevin and her have talked about marriage." The couple were recently spotted looking at diamond rings in Aspen, Colorado in America, where Costner has a home. (KW/WNTEX/PDD)

Source: WENN