Tom Brady’s rumored romance with supermodel Candice Swanepoel has put her past relationship with Brazilian model Hermann Nicoli back in the spotlight. Before the Victoria’s Secret Angel was linked to the seven-time Super Bowl champion, she spent more than a decade with Nicoli, whom she became engaged to in 2015.
The former couple welcomed two sons together before confirming their separation in 2018. But what went wrong in a relationship that once appeared headed for marriage? Here’s a look back at their love story.
Candice Swanepoel and Hermann Nicoli’s love story began in Paris
Swanepoel had been in a long-term relationship with Nicoli, a Brazilian model she met while building her career in Paris. According to reports, the pair met when Swanepoel was 17, and Nicoli was 23. Their connection soon developed into a romance that lasted for more than a decade.
Swanepoel occasionally spoke warmly about her partner during their courtship. In a 2010 interview with GQ, she revealed that they had been together for several years and described Nicoli as someone who had supported her through different stages of her life.
Despite being two of the industry’s A-listers, Swanepoel and Nicoli managed to maintain a mostly private romance, away from the constant glare of celebrity attention. They shared occasional glimpses of their life but rarely made it a topic of entertainment gossip.
After nearly 10 years together, the couple took a major step forward. In August 2015, Swanepoel announced her engagement to Nicoli. However, the model made it clear that marriage was not something she felt pressured to rush into. In an interview with HELLO!, Candice explained that after spending a decade together, she and Nicoli had already developed a sense of commitment.
“I kind of feel married already,” Candice said, adding that 10 years together felt like a marriage in itself. She also credited Nicoli with helping her through the experiences they had shared over the years. The couple’s relationship entered a new chapter when they became parents for the first time. They welcomed their son, Anacã, on October 5, 2016. Their second son, Ariel, arrived on June 19, 2018.
Motherhood became an important part of Swanepoel’s life, even as she continued working internationally. In a 2017 interview with Vogue, she spoke positively about the transition, explaining that becoming a mother allowed her to direct her love and energy toward something beyond her career.
With two young children and an engagement behind them, Swanepoel and Nicoli appeared to have built a life together. Yet, only months after Ariel’s birth, reports of their separation began circulating.
Why did Candice Swanepoel and Hermann Nicoli split?
Speculation about the couple’s relationship intensified in 2018 when fans noticed changes in their social media activity, including reports that they had unfollowed each other on Instagram. The online observations fuelled questions about whether their long relationship had come to an end. Later that year, Swanepoel confirmed that she was single during an Instagram Q&A session.
Neither Swanepoel nor Nicoli has provided a detailed public account explaining what led them to end their relationship. Although online chatter has hinted at possible infidelity and other reasons for the breakup, those claims have not been substantiated.
Since the split, Swanepoel has largely kept her personal life private. She has also continued her work with Victoria’s Secret and to the runway for the brand’s 2026 fashion show. Nicoli, too, has maintained a low profile, and their kids are reportedly under the primary care of their mother. The ex-couple has remained in touch as co-parents to the boys.
Tom Brady, meanwhile, has also experienced a high-profile relationship breakdown that keeps making headlines to this day. The star player was famously married to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen from 2009 until their divorce in 2022, and it reportedly took Brady a long time to get over the heartbreak.
Brady shares two children, Benjamin and Vivian, with his ex-partner, while also fathering a son, Jack, during his former relationship with actress Bridget Moynahan. They’ve developed a healthy co-parenting relationship in a blended family dynamic. Brady often features Gisele and beautiful family moments with the children in his social media posts.
After months of speculation about the NBA star’s personal life, reports from October 2026 have linked Brady romantically with Swanepoel. A source claimed to Us Weekly on Saturday, October 24, 2026, that the pair has been dating “for a while,” although no further details were provided.
Neither Brady nor Swanepoel has publicly confirmed the reported relationship.
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