Candice Swanepoel: What to know about Tom Brady's Victoria's Secret model girlfriend
Tom Brady and Candice Swanepoel Dating Rumor Ignites Social‑Media Buzz
Rumors that former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is in a relationship with Victoria’s Secret supermodel Candice Swanepoel have taken the internet by storm, sparking a flurry of speculation and debate among fans, friends, and industry insiders. The speculation surfaced nearly two weeks after the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, the same event that has long been a staple of the modeling world.
The rumor was confirmed by multiple outlets, including People and US Weekly, which cited unnamed sources. One source told People that the pair have been “dating for a while now” and are “spending a lot of time together.” “They both live in Miami, so it’s very convenient,” the source added. Another source told a different outlet that the couple “have been dating for months,” describing Swanepoel as “very secretive and selective” about who she’s told, and that they go “to great lengths not to be spotted” when they meet.
Neither Brady nor Swanepoel has publicly acknowledged the relationship. Brady, who left the NFL after a 22‑year career that culminated in seven Super Bowl titles, is now in a new chapter of his life. Swanepoel, whose career began on a dairy and beef farm in Mooi River, KwaZulu‑Natal, South Africa, is known for her 14 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show appearances and the 2013 Fantasy Bra that was valued at $10 million.
A Brief Look at Swanepoel’s Background
Swanepoel was born in 1988 and grew up on a farm with her family. In a 2023 interview with V Magazine she recalled a childhood memory that had shaped her: “One of my most vivid memories as a child was seeing my father wake up at 4 am to take care of our farm. His dedication and drive is something that is now part of me.” Her early life at St. Anne’s College, an all‑girls boarding school, set the stage for an unlikely path to the runway.
At 15, while shopping at a flea market, a talent scout discovered her. By 16, she was booking modeling jobs across Europe, and at 18 she spent several years in Paris, Milan, London, and South Africa before moving to New York City to pursue a full‑time career. Her debut at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show came after a nerve‑wracking cast‑away interview, an experience she later described in a 2012 W Magazine interview as a turning point that shifted her focus from solitude to belonging.
Swanepoel’s personal life has largely stayed out of the spotlight. She and former boyfriend Hermann Nicoli were engaged in 2015 but split in 2018. The couple share two sons, Anacan and Ariel. In 2018, Swanepoel shared with People that “having two children makes it harder” but also “amazing,” describing her eldest son’s transition into a big‑brother role.
The Ripple Effects of the Rumor
The rumor’s timing is notable. Brady’s relationship with Gisele Bündchen, who he married in 2009 and divorced in 2022, remains a public point of interest. Bündchen and Swanepoel have reportedly been friendly, with Bündchen not publicly expressing discontent