INTRODUCTION
Candice Swanepoel (@candiceswanepoel) is a South African supermodel and business mogul who remains one of the most influential figures in the fashion industry. Best known as the “golden girl” of the Victoria’s Secret Angels, she has successfully transitioned from a runway icon to a leading entrepreneur in sustainable fashion. In 2026, she is celebrated as a “legacy supermodel” who continues to dominate high-fashion campaigns while expanding her eco-luxe empire.
Birth name: Candice Susan Swanepoel
Career
Supermodel, Founder & Creative Director (Tropic of C), Brand Ambassador, Philanthropist
Birthday
October 20, 1988
Age: 37
Zodiac Sign:
Libra
Birthplace: Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Nationality: South African
HOW BIG IS Candice Swanepoel ON THE NET?
Candice is a digital titan with over 20 million followers on Instagram. Her influence is multi-generational; in late 2025, she trended globally after her triumphant return to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, proving her enduring “Angel” status to a new Gen Z audience. Her brand, Tropic of C, is a social media powerhouse, frequently cited as one of the most successful influencer-led sustainable brands in the world, with a net worth estimated at over $30 million.
HOW DID Candice Swanepoel become famous?
Discovered at a Durban flea market at age 15, Candice’s rise was meteoric. She became a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2010 and reached the pinnacle of the modeling world in 2013 when she was chosen to wear the $10 million “Royal Fantasy Bra”. Since then, she has graced over 50 international Vogue covers and walked for every major house from Chanel to Versace. In 2018, she pivoted to entrepreneurship with Tropic of C, a brand focused on eco-friendly materials and female empowerment.
BEFORE THE FAME
Growing up on a dairy and beef farm in rural South Africa, Candice describes herself as a former “tomboy” who spent her days helping her father with cattle and delivering calves. She was a dedicated classical ballet dancer as a teenager, a training that gave her the signature fluid walk that would later make her a runway legend. She left home at 15 to pursue modeling in Europe, living in a model apartment in Paris while learning to speak Portuguese (which she now speaks fluently) and English.
CLOSE WITH (ASSOCIATED);
Candice is a central figure in the “Model Elite,” counting Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Behati Prinsloo, and Lily Aldridge as her closest friends. She is a dedicated mother to her two sons, Anacan and Ariel, whom she shares with her former partner, Brazilian model Hermann Nicoli. Professionally, she is a muse to photographers like Russell James and continues to collaborate with industry icons like Pat McGrath. She is also a passionate global ambassador for mothers2mothers, a charity working to eliminate pediatric AIDS in Africa.