Ocean Drive Cover Star Candice Swanepoel Channels Her Experience, Instinct and Intention into Her Next Chapter

Candice Swanepoel (@candiceswanepoel) is an unmistakable icon, a model whose career has helped define some of the biggest runways. For years, she has remained one of the most recognizable faces in fashion, a model whose walk, presence and instinctive understanding of the camera have made her a favorite of designers, photographers and editors worldwide. From high-fashion campaigns to unforgettable runway moments, she became part of a rare echelon of models whose names alone evoke an era.

However, longevity in fashion stems from evolution, and Swanepoel has consistently demonstrated a keen sense of when to expand her world. After more than a decade inside the industry, she reached a point where she wanted to build something of her own.

That instinct led her to Tropic of C, the swimwear and lifestyle brand she launched eight years ago. What began as a personal extension of her aesthetic and values has since evolved into a globally recognized brand, rooted in sustainability, intentional design and a profound connection to nature. Today, Tropic of C represents not just her creative point of view, but her evolution from supermodel to founder and creative director—roles she stepped into with both confidence and curiosity.

The new Tropic of C collection and designs are unmistakably hers, not just in style but in spirit as well. When she discusses the brand’s origins, her message is clear. 

“Nature has always been my greatest teacher and muse,” she shares. “It grounds me, challenges me, and reminds me of the simplicity and beauty we often overlook. When I created Tropic of C, I wanted the brand to feel like an extension of that connection: earthy, minimal and intentional. The colors, the textures, even the way pieces move on the body all come from observing the natural world. It shaped not just our aesthetic, but our values, to create with respect and to celebrate the effortless elegance of nature itself.”

It was a natural evolution—from being the face of major brands to building one of her own. But the shift from supermodel to founder was not instantaneous. Swanepoel describes the transition while acknowledging both the privilege of her past and the challenges of her present. 

“Modeling gave me an excellent education in fashion, brand strategy and visual storytelling, but transitioning into founder and creative director required an entirely new skill set,” she says. “It’s been a true master class in operations, leadership and strategic decision-making. The learning curve was, and still is, very real, with lots of trial and error, but it has been profoundly rewarding. Knowing that people love our product is something that makes me very proud. I’ve learned to trust my instincts, lead with clarity and build something that reflects not just how the world sees me as a model, but something with its own heartbeat.”

That heartbeat is most visible when she talks about the creative freedom Tropic of C gives her. Even after years of working with the world’s top designers, photographers and editors, this chapter feels different in terms of alignment. 

“The freedom to create artistically is my favorite role and the reason I started Tropic of C in the first place,” she says. “Collaborating with other creative minds, dreaming up concepts, exploring new materials and bringing those ideas to life is what makes it worth it for me personally. And seeing women from all over the world wearing my pieces never gets old.”

Swanepoel is someone who finds inspiration everywhere: in quiet moments, in far-flung places, in the mundane details people often overlook. “I stay curious,” she says. “I pay attention to the small things—the way sunlight hits water, the texture of a woven basket, the palette of a beach at dusk. Inspiration comes when I’m connected and grounded, but it can also come from my own chaos. Traveling might inspire a single idea or an entire collection. I’m drawn to the movement of the body, of materials and to the emotions I want to experience in my own life. I design from what I feel, not just from what I see.”

Again, it all ties back to nature. 

“I’m endlessly inspired by the ocean, its colors, its calm, its power,” she says. “I also love earthy textures like raffia, clay and raw fabrics. Culture and animals have unique patterns that always catch my eye. I take pictures of random colorways and patterns all the time. My phone is full of them.”

But beyond the aesthetics, sustainability has been built into Tropic of C from the beginning, which is another reflection of Swanepoel’s values. 

“It starts with intention,” she says. “Every piece has to serve a purpose: Look beautiful, feel comfortable and last. We work with responsibly sourced fabrics, recycled materials and low-impact production methods. To me, standing the test of time is the most important. I’m not creating something you will need to throw away after a couple of uses; they are pieces you reach for season after season because they fit well, feel good and age gracefully.”

Timelessness is something she’s familiar with, having experienced a career many models only dream about. She has walked the most iconic runways, starred in major campaigns and helped define an era in fashion. But she remembers the beginning—how one moment changed everything. 

“Walking the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show for the first time was life-changing,” she says. “It opened the world to me. Shooting with incredible photographers, traveling nonstop and being part of campaigns that became cultural moments all shaped me. But the most transformative moments were behind the scenes… the discipline, the resilience, the community and the realization that I could dream beyond modeling.”

Those early lessons became her entrepreneurial DNA. 

“Modeling, in many ways, is its own form of entrepreneurship,” she explains. “Your agents are your partners, but you are the CEO of your career. The sooner you understand that, the more empowered you become. You are both the business and the product, a walking asset whose value is shaped by vision, discipline, consistency and the choices you make.”

When she transitioned from being the product to creating a product, the parallels were unmistakable. 

“Being in that world taught me branding, communication, adaptability and how to show up under pressure,” she says. “For years, I absorbed how shoots come together, how teams collaborate, what elevates a product from good to unforgettable, and the lineage of fashion houses and the visions that define them. That kind of education is impossible to replicate.”

However, even with that education, she never set out to become an entrepreneur for the sake of entrepreneurship. “Entrepreneurship was never my dream or goal. What I care about is the success of something I built from scratch, inspiring others and staying inspired through the creative, and being proud of what I’m putting out into the world.”

In recent years, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returned—reimagined, restructured and anticipated in a world that has shifted dramatically since its early days. Having Swanepoel back on the runway felt like both a nod to the past and a statement about the future. “It’s been emotional in the best way,” she says. “There’s a sense of nostalgia mixed with evolution. The show has grown, and so have we. The feedback has been overwhelmingly supportive. People are excited, inspired and happy to see the magic return.”

She admits that the experience takes a toll on her too. “I feel honored to be part of this new chapter,” she adds. “There is almost a comedown period after participating in something of that scale. Probably from the pressure I put on myself, but also, it’s a lot of energy and exposure to process. I’m extremely sensitive, so I often get into a period of isolation after the show.”

That sensitivity—once something the industry overlooked or misunderstood—has become Swanepoel’s compass. It’s in the way she leads her brand, raises her children and shows up in the world. Tropic of C, in many ways, has become an extension of her interior life. 

“It’s a piece of me,” she says. “I’ve worked on it for eight years, watching it grow and become its own entity. Tropic of C is a blend of my values, my love of nature, my creativity and my womanhood. It’s a space where I can express all the facets of myself: mother, creator, entrepreneur, artist and model.”

That multiplicity is also present in how she cares for herself. Her energy has always appeared effortless, but she’s quick to clarify that it’s intentional. “I think it’s alignment,” she says. “When I’m connected to myself, to nature and to the things I love, I feel my best. I move my body every day, eat intuitively, rest when I can and protect my peace. And I have two little boys who keep me active, laughing and humble. Beauty, for me, is energy. When you feel good, you glow.”

She hopes that the next generation sees her not just as a model but as proof that evolution is powerful. “You don’t have to fit into one box,” she says. “You can reinvent yourself; you can be sensual and strong, soft and ambitious. Listen to your intuition, trust your creativity and your gut feelings, and don’t be afraid to build something of your own. Your voice and ideas matter, even if you don’t know everything in the beginning. Dive in and learn.”

As for what comes next—for both Swanepoel and Tropic of C—the horizon is wide. “We’re expanding in beautiful ways, introducing new categories, materials and collaborations that align with our ethos,” she says. “Personally, I’m leaning into creativity and what feeds my soul more than ever. The rest flows from there.”

She’s equally thoughtful about the concept of legacy, though not in the traditional sense. “When I think about legacy, I don’t feel a strong attachment to the idea of being remembered by the world at large,” she says. “To me, there is something egocentric about that. What matters to me is how the people I love hold me in their hearts. If they remember me as kind and loving, if they can laugh and think fondly of the stories and all the different layers that make me who I am, that’s enough.

“My deepest hope is that my children grow up to be whole and happy men, and that they look back and see a mother who loved them unwaveringly. That she was strong but gentle, soulful and unafraid to chase the dreams that lit her up. If that’s the imprint I leave behind, I don’t need anything else.”