Victoria's Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel returned to work for a festive campaign shoot shortly after reports emerged of her new romance with former NFL star Tom Brady. The campaign featured Swanepoel in various lingerie sets, including a blue ensemble and a black outfit alongside fellow model Adriana Lima.
The burgeoning relationship between Swanepoel and Brady, who have reportedly been dating for several months and live in Miami, has allegedly caused a significant rift with Swanepoel's longtime friend, Joan Smalls. According to reports, Smalls, who had also been romantically involved with Brady on and off, is incensed by Swanepoel's new relationship, with mutual friends being urged to pick sides.
Smalls has reportedly made veiled comments on social media alluding to a betrayal and a breach of "girl code," with deleted posts suggesting a lack of remorse from Swanepoel. The two models, who have been friends for 15 years and shared numerous catwalks and even a campaign for Anne Klein, are no longer following each other on Instagram.
In contrast to Smalls' reaction, Brady's ex-wife, Gisele Bündchen, reportedly views the new romance between Brady and Swanepoel as a non-issue. Insiders familiar with the situation told TMZ that Bündchen does not consider the relationship a "betrayal." While Bündchen and Swanepoel have maintained a professional and sometimes friendly relationship, they were never close friends, and their professional timelines with Victoria's Secret did not overlap significantly.
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, was married to Bündchen from 2009 until their divorce in 2022. Since their separation, he has been linked to other celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Irina Shayk. Brady has largely remained private about his personal life, telling People in January that he has limited time for a personal life due to his work and his children.
Swanepoel, who previously dated Brazilian model Hermann Nicoli for nearly a decade before their engagement ended in 2018, shares two sons with Nicoli. Brady also has children from his previous relationships: Jack, with Bridget Moynahan, and Benjamin and Vivian, with Bündchen.
The new Victoria's Secret holiday collection, featured in the recent campaign, is now available on the brand's website, app, and in stores.