Kanye West revealed he had had a crush on Kim Kardashian ever since seeing this 2006 picture of her and then-friend Paris Hilton in Australia

Their romance can only be described as whirlwind , with a mere 17 months of dating producing first a baby, then an engagement.
But Kanye West has revealed that while he and new fiance Kim Kardashian only went public with their love in April 2012, he had his eye on her for much longer.
'I just knew I wanted her to be my girl for a long time,' he told an On Air With Ryan Seacrest radio interview on Tuesday, in which he also confirmed she will take his married name.
'I remember I saw a picture of her and Paris Hilton, and I remember telling my boy, 'Have you seen that girl Kim Kar-dijon?'"

Caught his eye: Kanye West revealed he had had a crush on Kim Kardashian ever since seeing this 2006 picture of her and then-friend Paris Hilton in Australia

The picture was taken in 2006, while Kim was known simply for being heiress HIlton's friend.
One sex tape, and a successful reality franchise later, Kim was the bigger star. And despite both having high profile relationships Kanye formed a strong friendship with his crush which eventually led to love.
During his lengthy chat Kanye also confirmed that Kim will take his name, and that he will wear a wedding ring after their nuptials. Kim also confirmed the plan, telling E News that she will be Kim Kardashian West after her marriage, with Kardashian being a middle name.
Talking to Seacrest Kanye also revealed his ambitious plans for his wife-to-be.
'There's no way Kim Kardashian shouldn't be on the cover of Vogue. She's like the most intriguing woman right now. She's got Barbara Walters calling her like everyday,' he said.
'And collectively, we're the most influential with clothing. No one is looking at what [Barack Obama] is wearing. Michelle Obama cannot Instagram a [bikini] pic like what my girl Instagrammed the other day.'

Opening up: Kanye, seen on Monday in LA, also revealed that Kim would take his name, and he would wear a wedding ring

And he was delighted when Kim was chosen to cover CR Fashion Book, the new publication by Former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfe.
'Carine Roitfeld supports my girl. That's a breakthrough,' he explained. 'There's a wall of classism that we are breaking through.'
And he shared new details of his much-discussed proposal at a baseball stadium in San Francisco.
'The ring was four-hours-old from when I put it on her finger,' he explained, of the 15-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond band.
'I had to pick it up in LA. I was working on it for a while. I was working on it with four different jewelers. I just put it in my bag.'

Perfectionist: Kanye West revealed he agonised over his proposal, ensuring ever detail was perfect, from the ring to the lighting

And despite his famous self-confidence, Kanye was by no means certain as to Kim's response.
'I was nervous. I was talking to her cousin.
'I was like, "I don't know, what do you think she's going to say?" I'm not arrogant about love and feelings at all.
'I'm confident in the work I put so much work in to but this is someone else's feelings.
'You never know what someone else may feel at the time.'
And he shared: 'Everybody that came in just thought it was a surprise party… As soon [Kim] heard the [Lana Del Ray] song playing, she just figured I was going to have Lana sing and we were going to have dinner. Because at a certain point she just knows I'm going to do something turnt up. So she was expecting something awesome.'

Power couple: Kanye, seen with Kim at her birthday celebrations in Vegas last week, added 'There's no way Kim Kardashian shouldn't be on the cover of Vogue'

Of course, this being Kanye, everything had to be perfect.
'The guy who organized it was talking about this romantic lighting and I was like, "Enough already! We're at a baseball field. It has to be fully lit!" That was one of the things that was making me really mad.
'I was like, "Let me do it like how I would do it."'
He told 97.1 AMP Radio station he felt his proposal was patriotic.
'I just thought of it. It seemed so all-American. I just love being American, you know, and I love you know, family ... I feel so blessed.

'I feel God gave me exactly what I wanted, I have to do the right thing in God's eyes. Just follow what God really wants me to do it will come tenfold by doing the right thing.'

Influential: Kanye explained 'Michelle Obama cannot Instagram a [bikini] pic like what my girl Instagrammed the other day'

Despite their short relationship, Kim and Kanye are already a family, with daughter North born on June 4.
And the rapper claims he plans to take his daddy duties to the next level in the future by teaching the four-month-old his favourite sport.
'I hang out with my girl [Kim] and my daughter every day. No place I'd rather be. Not even when I'm thinking about things I'm creating in business, my biggest goal is to get home to family.
'I want to figure out a way to do my work and be my daughter's soccer coach. I'm going to be a soccer coach and redesign their uniforms. I'll redesign the mini van.'