Candice Swanepoel was born in Mooi River, Kwa-Zulu Natal Province, and was spotted by a model scout in a Durban flea market at age 15. By age 16, Swanepoel was earning €5,000 or R40,000 for a day's work. Swanepoel's resume includes covers for Vogue (Greece & Italia), ELLE (Germany), and Ocean Drive (U.S.) and advertisements for Nike, Diesel, Guess?, and Versus Eyewear. Swanepoel has walked the runway for Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce and Gabbana, Shiatzy Chen, Sass and Bide, Betsey Johnson, Diane von Fürstenberg and numerous other designers, as well as for Victoria's Secret in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. In addition to appearing in the lingerie brand's commercials, she was a featured model in the 2010 "SWIM" catalog, along with Lindsay Ellingson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Erin Heatherton. In 2010, Swanepoel became a Victoria's Secret Angel. Swanepoel modeled for the Kardashians' 2010 swimwear line. On August 12, 2010 Swanepoel officially opened the first Victoria's Secret retail store in Canada, at West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton. Candice Swanepoel was voted #61 in FHM Magazine's annual 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll and has been on the cover of Vogue Italia.
Swanepoel made her debut at No. 10 on Forbes' The World's Top-Earning Models list, with estimated earnings of $3 million between 2010 and 2011.