Tom Brady and Candice Swanepoel reportedly dating after Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
Tom Brady and supermodel Candice Swanepoel are reportedly a couple, with the news emerging nearly two weeks after the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Sources cited by People and Us Weekly say the pair have been seeing each other for months and spend plenty of time together.
One source said they both live in Miami, making it easy to meet up. Another told People that Swanepoel has been discreet about the relationship and that the two have taken care to avoid being seen together.
Brady and Swanepoel have not publicly commented on the reports.
Swanepoel’s early life and modeling career
Swanepoel was born in South Africa in 1988 and grew up on a dairy and beef farm in Mooi River, a small town in KwaZulu-Natal. In a 2023 interview, she recalled watching her father get up at 4 a.m. to tend to the farm. His dedication, she said, stayed with her.
A talent scout spotted Swanepoel at a flea market when she was 15. At the time, she was a student at St. Anne’s College, an all-girls boarding school. By 16, she was booking modeling work across Europe, a big change from her relatively sheltered upbringing.
At 18, after working in Paris, Milan, London and South Africa, she moved to New York to pursue modeling full-time. She later wrote that being overseas on her own meant leaving behind a more typical teenage life with family and friends, though she felt the decision had brought her a great deal in return.
Not long after moving to New York, Swanepoel made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut. She recalled being nervous at the casting and bringing her mother, who flew in from South Africa, to the show. The sense of family she saw backstage made her want to be part of something beyond the often-solitary fashion world.
Swanepoel became a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2010. Three years later, she wore the brand’s Fantasy Bra, valued at $10 million. She has walked in 14 of the company’s fashion shows.
After the 2026 show earlier this month, Swanepoel shared clips and photos from the event, saying it was difficult to put into words what walking in the show felt like. She also expressed gratitude for the experience.
Brady’s past relationship and reports of tension among models
News of the reported romance has drawn attention in part because Brady was married to Gisele Bündchen from 2009 until 2022. They share two children, Benjamin and Vivian. The two models have crossed paths over the years and have reportedly been friendly and supportive, though sources told TMZ they were not especially close.
There are also reports of tension between Swanepoel and fellow Victoria’s Secret model Joan Smalls, a longtime friend. Page Six reported that the pair, who had been close for 15 years, fell out after Swanepoel became involved with Brady. Smalls was reportedly linked to Brady on and off for about a year.
According to the report, Smalls has asked mutual friends to choose sides, adding strain within their circle. In comments that were later deleted, Smalls allegedly accused someone of betraying her trust and violating “girl code,” and wrote that the way she had been treated after 15 years of friendship had left her feeling hurt.
Swanepoel’s representative told Page Six that she has always kept her personal life private and remains focused on raising her children. The representative added that Swanepoel respects her longstanding friendship with Smalls.
Swanepoel’s family life
Swanepoel was in a relationship with Brazilian model Hermann Nicoli for 14 years. They got engaged in 2015 and split in 2018. They have two sons, Anacan and Ariel. Swanepoel largely kept the relationship out of public view, and she has not been publicly linked to another partner since their separation.
In 2018, she spoke about adjusting to life as a family of four. Having a second child was easier in some ways, she said, though caring for two children brought its own challenges. She also described how her older son was still learning to handle all the affection he felt for his new baby brother.
