Candice Swanepoel is a South African model, influencer, and philanthropist. She is a former Angel of Victoria’s Secret and walks the runway for the biggest fashion houses.
She has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Elle, and many other magazines over the years. She has walked the runway for other famous designers like Tommy Hilfiger, Dona Karan, Ralph Lauren, and many others over the years.
Here are 10 interesting facts about Candice Swanepoel.
1. Candice Was Discovered at a Flea Market
Candice Swanepoel was born on 20th October 1988 in Mooi River, Natal, South Africa to her parents Willem and Eileen Swanepoel. They were Dutch settlers living in the coastal KwaZulu Natal Province. Her father is originally from Mutare in Zimbabwe while her mother is from South Africa.
Candice has a brother named Steven whom she grew up with on a dairy and beef farm. She attended boarding school at St. Anne’s Diocesan College in the nearby town of Hilton.
She grew up learning ballet and was convinced that she would become a professional ballet dancer. She even wanted to go to a ballet school in New York.
Candice was discovered when she was spotted by a modeling scout named Kevin Ellis in a flea market in Durban, a small South African harbor city that’s extremely popular with surfers. She was only 15 years at the time.
2. She Began Modeling in Europe 
Deciding to pursue modeling full-time, Candice moved to Europe, and the move paid off. In the first year, she modeled for major designers and began booking more modeling contracts all over Europe.
Barely two years into pursuing modeling full-time, she began to seriously consider giving up on her high fashion dreams and moving back home to her parents’ farm and continuing her old life.
The industry insiders kept telling her to lose more and more weight and she was working with different people every day. They all spoke different languages, so she was never able to form any relationships.
Her first ramp walk was Ready to Wear, a Spring or Summer 2006 fashion show for Tommy Hilfiger, and Dolce & Gabbana. She was earning 5000 euros a day by then. After traveling through Europe for two years, she moved to the big apple, New York City. This is where she took her career to new heights.
3. Candice Speaks Three Languages
Because of her Dutch background and living in South Africa, Candice is fluent in Afrikaans, English, and Brazilian Portuguese. She learned Portuguese from Hermann Nicoli, a Brazilian model while they were dating.
4. She’s a Mother of Two
Candice met Hermann Nicoli, a Brazilian model during a trip to Paris in 2005. They began dating when she was 17 years and he was 23 years old.
In August 2015, the couple announced their engagement. Early the following year, she announced she was pregnant with their first child who was born on October 5, 2016. They named the baby boy Anaca Nicoli. In June 2018, the model gave birth to her second son Ariel Nicoli.
The couple acrimoniously split up in November 2018. They were together for 13 years before calling it quits. They are still active co-parents to their two sons. Candice splits her time between Brazil and New York City.
5. She Was a Victoria’s Secret Angel
Candice got a contract with Victoria’s secrets modeling their clothing. In 2010, Candice became a Victoria’s Secret Angel and officially opened the first Victoria’s Secret retail store in Canada, at West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton.
In 2013, she was named the cover model of the coveted Victoria’s Secret Swim Catalogue. Candice was chosen to wear the “Fantasy Bra” in the 2013 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. 
The 10-million-dollar bra, named the “Royal Fantasy Bra”, was created by Mouawad. The bra and its matching belt featured over 4,200 precious gems, including rubies, diamonds, and yellow sapphires set in 18-carat gold with a 52-carat ruby at the center.
In 2021, Victoria’s Secret announced it was ditching its legendary Angels, calling them “no longer culturally relevant.” The news came as a big shock to the lingerie brand’s biggest stars, including this supermodel.
6. Candice Has Modeled for Other Brands Too
Apart from Victoria’s secret, she was working with other brands. She modeled for the Kardashians’ 2010 swimwear line.
Candice has walked the runway and appeared in advertising and marketing campaigns for Fendi, Chanel, Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce and Gabbana, Nike, Juicy Couture, Ralph Lauren, and many others.
7. Brazil is Her Favorite Place on Earth
Picking one favorite place for her to be is not hard at all. She loves Brazil because people there don’t care that much about the fashion industry or what she does.
She feels the freest and the happiest there because she can just be the normal Candice unlike in New York where People are based on what they do and how much money they have. In Brazil, people just want the beach and the sun and the fun.
8. She Does Not Have a Strict Diet
Candice eats whatever she wants. She does not follow a strict diet but instead eats fresh healthy food. She doesn’t cut anything out of her diet she eats what she craves and works out more. She likes boxing because to her, it is the best full-body workout that helps her burn excess calories.
9. Candice Owns Tropic of C.
In 2018, she launched her swimwear collection Tropic of C. The brand is influenced by nature and is
inspired by the female form and a life spent at the beach. She won the Launch of the Year award at the 5th Annual Daily Front Row Awards.
Candice gives back by doing charity work for HIV in Africa. She fights HIV and AIDS in Africa by collaborating with a charity that is committed to helping moms who have HIV get information from health care providers and then share it with other mothers and moms-to-be who are also HIV positive.
10. Her Secret is Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has gained popularity over the years with a long list of health and beauty benefits. Candice uses organic coconut oil to take off her makeup. She also adds it to her smoothies to keep her skin glowing. It’s a great round natural beauty product for her.
