Eileen Swanepoel (Candice’s Mother): “Living down here in South Africa, not even in Mooi River, I never ever thought that her dream would become a reality”.
When Candice was just 15 years old, her wish came true. An unexpected, modern-day fairy godmother in the form of model scout Kevin Ellis spotted Candice at a Durban flea market.
Kevin Ellise (Model Scout): 'It was like… honestly, like a beautiful flamingo walking past my shop. the way she walked past just did it for me”.
Devi Sankaree Govender (Carte Blanche presenter): The new faces of international fashion are no longer being found just on the streets of Europe or America. In recent years model scouts have been casting their eyes further afield to Africa - and more specifically, South Africa.
South African supermodel Georgina Grenville was discovered at a Durban shopping centre and went on to become the face of Gucci. Charlize Theron, Tanya Fourie and Esta Terblanche all won modelling contests in their teens, and went on to successful international careers. But none of them were catapulted onto the catwalks of the world as fast as Candice.
'It's all, like… I can't really explain. It's all hit me so fast I didn't really have time to think about it'. Candice Swanepoel said.
Kevin set up an appointment for Candice and Eileen to meet with a local model agency. Model boss Tiffany Prior says she was instantly enchanted.
Tiffany Prior (Ice Models): 'She walked up the stairs, this elegant young teenager, 15 year[s] old and we all just… I mean our jaws dropped”.
According to Tiffany, the world’s top designers dictate trends when it comes to deciding the latest international look and what type of face will best sell the next Gucci or Galliano campaign.
Tiffany: 'The trend now is that fresh faced, beautiful, doe-y-eyed, gorgeous featured kind of girl. Very willowy, long limbed... and that's Candice!'
Tiffany snapped a handful of Polaroids of Candice then and there.
Tiffany: “This is just Polaroids taken on the steps of the agency without a stitch of make up on. I know, it's insane”.
Candice didn't even have any make up on. She sent these amateur pictures to Kirsty Reilly in Cape Town who books models internationally. She in turn sent Candice's pictures to Select, a top London agency, [who] represents the likes of Sienna Miller and Helena Christiansen.
The response was immediate. Within 25 minutes of receiving the Polaroids, Select called back.
Kirsty Reilly (International Booker): “I wasn't surprised, but I was shocked when they said ‘We want her here, now!’ “
Candice was even more surprised: “I hadn't been to London before. I hadn't actually been overseas before. So I was like ‘Yay!’ ”
In the two weeks that followed, Candice faced over 40 castings in London and New York. And less than a year after Kevin first spotted her, she was sharing a catwalk with the likes of Alek Wek at the Dolce and Gabbana show and being used in photo campaigns for Italian Vogue, Fornarina and Top Shop.
Candice currently commands no less than 5 000 Euros or R40 000 for a day's work.
Devi: “But she's still a 16-year-old girl, which means that even though she earns more than the CEO of a top company, she cant' sign her own cheques and, while she may have been to New York, London and Milan, she's not old enough to drive a car”.
