Heidi Klum and Germany’s Next Topmodel shared the first look at this week’s episode of the 21st circle.
The participants will be shooting a Harper’s Bazaar Germany cover on the semifinals with South African supermodel Candice Swanepoel and Harper’s Bazaar Germany editor Kerstin Schneider
Portrait of a Fashion Icon
From the Farm to the World Stage: How GNTM Guest Star Candice Swanepoel Became a Supermodel
Victoria’s Secret icon Candice Swanepoel joins Heidi Klum on the GNTM jury for the semifinals Victoria’s Secret Angel, Forbes-listed top earner, entrepreneur: over the course of two decades, Candice Swanepoel has achieved much of what many Germany’s Next Topmodel contestants dream of. In the semifinals, she sits across from them—as a guest judge.
Candice Swanepoel: The Astonishing Path from Rural Life to the Major Runways
Candice Susan Swanepoel was born on October 20, 1988, in Mooi River, a small town in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. She grew up in an Afrikaans-speaking family of Dutch descent and was involved from an early age in the daily routine of the farm—a dairy and beef farm operated by her family. She led a life that had very little to do with designer fashion and international glamour.
As she has repeatedly emphasized in later interviews, back then she didn’t remotely think about a career in front of the camera. As a teenager, she was very shy, lanky, and wore braces, and she never imagined becoming a model. Instead, she recalls, her passion was ballet—a dream she seriously pursued for a time.
From Paris to New York: Candice Swanepoel‘s International Breakthrough
In 2003, the then 15-year-old Swanepoel visited a flea market in Durban, where model scout Kevin Ellis immediately recognized her potential. What followed was the rapid launch of an incomparable career: going straight from the tranquil farmland to the runways of Paris, Milan, and New York. Starting in 2007, she walked for Victoria’s Secret and was officially named an “Angel” in 2010—one of the most coveted titles in the modeling business. This placed her in an exclusive circle of women who shape the face of the world-famous lingerie brand. Furthermore, the top model has graced the covers of magazines like Vogue and Elle, and has worked with industry giants ranging from Dior and Givenchy to Nike and Tommy Hilfiger.
Royal Fantasy Bra: Candice Swanepoel and the $10 Million Bra – A Career Highlight
The pinnacle of this era came in November 2013: Swanepoel presented the so-called “Royal Fantasy Bra” at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Crafted by jeweler Mouawad in 18-karat yellow gold, the piece was valued at ten million US dollars. It was set with over 4,200 precious stones—including diamonds, rubies, and yellow and blue sapphires—featuring a spectacular 52-karat pear-shaped ruby as its centerpiece. Including the matching belt designed for it, the ensemble featured more than 5,400 precious stones with a total weight of over 1,540 karats.
From 2010 until Forbes discontinued its model earnings ranking in 2018, she was continuously listed among the highest-paid models in the world—a status she has maintained to this day.
Tropic of C, Children, and Charity: Candice Swanepoel‘s Commitment Off the Runways
In 2018, she founded her own label, Tropic of C—a luxury swimwear brand focused on sustainable materials and eco-friendly production. The project unmistakably bears her signature, blending aesthetic standards with the deep awareness of nature instilled in her during her childhood on the farm. Tropic of C won the “Launch of the Year“ award at the Daily Front Row Awards in its very first year.
Swanepoel is also a mother of two sons. Anacã Swanepoel Nicoli was born in October 2016, followed by his brother Ariel in the summer of 2018. Alongside her success in the fashion business, the top model uses her platform for social causes. As a dedicated patron of the organization mothers2mothers, she helps HIV-positive mothers in South Africa.
GNTM Semifinals: Candice Swanepoel Brings Her Supermodel Experience to the Jury
In the semifinals of Heidi Klum’s Germany’s Next Topmodel, supermodel Candice Swanepoel sits alongside Kerstin Schneider as a guest judge. For the contestants, this is more than just a celebrity cameo.Swanepoel knows every step of this journey from personal experience. She knows how it feels to arrive young and without a safety net in a foreign city, what it means to have to perform under pressure, and how to assert oneself in an industry that has little patience for insecurity.
The episode will air on Thursday May 21 on Prosieben and Friday May 22 on Sixx.
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On Saturday May 09, Candice Swanepoel shared the first previews of the upcoming collection of her swim brand, Tropic of C.
Later that day the full collection was unveiled under the name of L’Animal.
The campaign was lensed in Paris by Miroslav Kovalenko with Sofia Trotta, Marc Eram as stylist as makeup artist and Tosh as hair stylist. Ana Woza was in charge of creating social media content.
Price ranges go from $95 to $125
These are pieces available for L’Animal collection:
Skinny bralette in tigresa ($100)
Solanas bottom in tigresa ($100)
Equator top in banana spine ($95)
Praia bottom in banana spine ($95)
The C bralette in spine banana ($100)
The C bottom in banana spine ($100)
Santorini short in banana spine ($125)
Skinny bralette in spine aegean ($100)
Solanas bottom in spine aegean ($100)
Equator top in spine lagoon ($95)
Praia bottom in spine lagoon ($95)
Mariel top in zebra tomato ($150)
Luna bottom in zebra tomato ($100)
Shell equator top in kiwi tomato ($125)
Shell luna bottom in kiwi tomato ($125)
Shop now at tropicofc.com
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On Wednesday April 22, 2026 Victoria’s Secret and Tropic of C released officially their newest partnership featuring new prints for best sellers such as equator top, praia bottom in shimmer blue lurex and phyton print and the return of the blaze one piece from their first collection.
Shop it now at selected US Victoria’s Secret stores, Victoria’s Secret website and Tropic of C.
@victoriassecret The perfect summer starts with new Tropic of C. #victoriassecret #tropicofc #candiceswanepoel
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The new drop has been named Elemental.
‘Elemental is about the quiet power of nature – the strength of rock, the fluidity of water and the warmth of sun on skin,’ Swanepoel, 37, told the Daily Mail.
‘It’s a reflection of the effortless confidence every woman carries within her. With this third collaboration, I was drawn to the idea of returning to what’s essential.
‘Elemental explores the balance of strength and softness, inspired by the raw beauty of nature and the way a woman moves through it.’
Tropic Of C’s exclusive Drop Three collection for Victoria’s Secret debuted on Wednesday.
‘Designed and creatively directed by Swanepoel, this latest chapter explores the balance of strength and softness, drawing inspiration from the raw beauty of nature,’ the brand told the Daily Mail on Wednesday.
‘Rooted in sculptural silhouettes, intuitive fits, and emotionally driven storytelling, Elemental is an ode to a woman who is untamed, effortless, and entirely in her element – designed to move with her, not against her.’
Victoria’s Secret and Tropic of C released a new collection on March 25, 2026.
The drop features the following items: orb strapless one piece in tomato soft compression, solanas one piece in ocelot, solanas top in ocelot, solanas bottom in ocelot, orb back universo bralette in tomato soft compression, orb curve bottom in tomato soft compression, celeste top in black, celeste bottom in black, celeste assymetrical one piece in black, chloe dress in black.
You can shop it at Tropic of C and VS websites and selected US Victoria’s Secret stores.
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@coveteur @Candice never misses #candiceswanepoel #vsmodel #candice #celebritynews #redcarpet ♬ original sound – Coveteur
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Public Appearances > 2026 > Mar 20 – Candice Swanepoel At Clarins Night Of Extra Held At The Academy Museum Of Motion Pictures In Los Angeles, California
@victoriassecret A classic and the moment all at once. @Candice is timeless in Dream Angels. #victoriassecret #candiceswanepoel ♬ original sound – Victoria's Secret
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