September 28, 2023 • 36 mins
Long-time best friends Aldridge and Swanepoel walked the VS runway years before Instagram was there to capture it. Their experiences bonded them, allowing the women to support one another through everything from motherhood to major business decisions. In this wide-ranging, reflective interview, the two The Tour ’23 stars describe the changes they’ve seen at VS and the industry in general, what they admire about one another, and what sort of work they're investing in at this stage in their careers.
Watch the full-length special of The Tour ’23 on Prime Video and follow @amandadecadenet and @victoriassecret to never miss a moment.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to VS Voices. I'm Amanda Decadney. Lily Oldridge, and
Candice Wannapul are former Victoria Secret Angels, supermodels, entrepreneurs and
best friends. In this interview, we took about their ascent
to fame, how motherhood has changed their priorities, and why
they both decided to return to Victoria's Secret. Hi, Lily, Hi, can't.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Nice, lovely to see you both.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
How are you really good? How's everyone doing good?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Good? Sweating it out in Miami?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Okay, you're in Miami. I'm in La.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Where are you, Lily, I'm in Nashville.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Okay, So we've all managed to get on a zoom
at the right time, hear each other. We can see
each other, Lily.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
We should make this a thing.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
I know.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
It's so nice. We can just drink wine and have
chest zoom.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
And hang out. I love it. Everyone was at fashion
Week last week. I know. I'm really happy to be home.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Oh yes, yes, Oh it's a lot of fun. But
it's a lot of energy, right, and we had a
very exciting evening and Lily and I got to catch
up the morning before we both left, well you left
before me. But yeah, it's nice. We were in the
in rooms next to each other, so.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Oh my gosh, you had like a grown up sleepover.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
We literally did. I like knocked on the door in
the morning, like are you in there?
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Hello? It's so fun, isn't it. It's so fun when
you've been friends with someone for so long and then
your lives get busy with kids and all the stuff
that we deal with. But then you get to be
in the same place at the same time and you're like, yes,
my friends, I missed you.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
It literally was like that. We were like, sit down.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
I was like a quick hug to like one hour
run life run down.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
I know.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
So how long have you two been friends?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Oh? I mean we met obviously on the v Yes, sets.
I think probably more than eight years, nine years or
is it more? Lily, My sense of time is completely warped.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I'm like, if my calculations are correct, I think I
started VS when I was around twenty three, and which
means I met you because you started before me.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yep, Okay, let's let's do it like this. What was
what year was your first show? Oh? I don't know,
two thousand and nine, okay, so mine was two thousand
and seven. So oh, right, we would have met.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Now met, so we would have met a long time,
A long time.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Let's just say a really long time, A really long time.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Okay, So you started because you you met because you
were doing VS at the same time. Yeah, and that
was a significant amount of time ago, when VS was
a very different experience. And what is it like to
have been friends for so long and then to also
get to be a part of VS today.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I mean, I've met some of the most incredible people
through Victoria's Secret and a lot of my best friends.
You know, we spent it was a different time, so
a lot of work was you know, twelve hour shoot
days or just really long shoot days, and we got
to spend a lot of time together and really got
(03:31):
to know each other on a different level and experienced
this really unique thing together which I will never forget.
And I always say, I'm like, sometimes you think, like, wow,
you know, we worked so hard, but I'm just so
grateful to have those memories and with people like Lily,
(03:52):
like Lily's just miscongeniality.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
And.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
So are you.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
I feel the same. I feel very much the same.
I'm very very like we went through such profound time
together bonding so bonding, just working together, traveling together, going
through this experience together really made it like a sisterhood
for us. Like the girls that you know I was
working with were my best friends, my confidants. Going through
(04:20):
our twenties together, which you know, is an incredible time
in itself, and having this trust, in this respect and
kind of we just camaraderie, camaraderie it is and was
very special, like the bond we all have together.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I remember when we Bahadi and I got pregnant at
a very similar time and Lily we had like a
group chatt Lily was like our go to, like questions, Yeah,
you know.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
You on your second baby then.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Lily, I was not, but I had had my daughter
before they were pregnant, and I just like sending care
packages and I was like, ask me anything.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
And I still feel like that.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
I feel like we all come to each other at
different times in different circumstances and ask for advice and
we're very open and honest with each other, and it's
really special, like a sister.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
It sounds like being in a band, yes.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Totally, well literally yes, but we're a dancing or play instruments.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
I mean, damn it, But just that just that kind
of bond and the shared experience that you're going through
something so unique that nobody else other than your bandmates
or your women in that group who are also having
that experience can really know what it's like. You know,
And certainly for you both, Victoria's secret being a part
(05:42):
of that brand and that those campaigns I'm sure catapulted
you both into another dimension of visibility. How was that
for you both?
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Well, that was another thing we could connect on, was
you know, we were living quite pace wild lives and
and just being able to talk to each other about
it was was so.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Amazing how wild, Candice.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
I mean, we were traveling, we were traveling like crazy
and just dealing with fandom and you know, business decisions
in your twenties and just things that not regular people
go through in that at that age. But I have
(06:31):
to say the beauty of being part of this recent show.
You know, our lives got even more busy with children
and we rarely get to see each other. So Viez
brought us back together again.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah, the band is back together.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
It was I have to say, like that, getting to
do the tour and going to Spain and filming and
having that camaraderie again, and that like that feeling of
of just this bond we're all going through together and
meeting so many people that were doing it for the
first time, and them coming to me to talk to
me first stuff, and I was.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Like, because you're you're ogs.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
It just felt so nice and warm and welcoming, and
you know, such a wonder It's such a wonderful bonding experience.
And I'm just so grateful that I was asked back
to come and be a part of it again and
see my friends and see and we.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Got to walk together and walk together. It was so fun.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Don't you want to like smile at each other and
play make jokes when you pass each other on a catwalk?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
I did? You will see it for sure.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
We're definitely niggling most of it and then like they'll
get like five seconds of us me being fierce and
Candice is like the most amazing walker of all time.
It's like a nice beyond and I'm just like doodling
next to her.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Oh come on, Lily, I'm what curse words? Can I
use of podcasts?
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Whatever? So were you both surprised that you had been
asked back to be a part of this because you know,
the initial kind of understanding, and I have other friends,
my friend Martha, and you know, there's other friends of
mine who were involved with VS for many years. And
when I started working with VS, the conversations I had
with my girlfriends was that, you know, there weren't any
(08:22):
women who from the OG lineup involved, and so I
was super excited to hear that both of you had
been and Adriana had been asked to be a part
of it. Were you surprised when they reached out and
said we want you to be a part of this
new tour.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, of course. I mean the world and the industry
has changed so much. The time that I started slowing
down with Victoria's Secret was after my first son, So
it was kind of an organic thing that I was
just I took time out to to be with him
(09:01):
and focus on breastfeeding, and all of just wanted to
really live the mother experience. So I kind of was
starting to phase out. And then life gets so different
that you don't really think about it again, and then
suddenly you get an email. That's the beauty of our
(09:23):
work is you're faced with like amazing decisions and jobs
and opportunities that you never thought would happen, but they do.
So yeah, I was very surprised.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
And how about you, Lily, I.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Was surprised, Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
I mean I was honestly super touched that they thought
of me and you know, wanted me to continue to
represent you know, Victoria's Secret in this new chapter and
this new tour.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
And I'm always you know, I feel.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I try to live in like a state of gratitude
for everything in my life because we're so blessed and
fortunate and lucky, and you know, I truly enjoy the
experience of coming together with a group of people, and
that is what the tour kind of was for me,
is just celebrating each other and lifting each other up.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Like I said, getting to see canvas and I remember
we were like, are you going to? Are you going?
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Are you going? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah, we all talk to each other, you know.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I honestly, I just feel super honored and touched that
they thought of me and brought me back.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
And I love it. I love being a part of it,
So I'm very grateful. It also becomes such a different thing.
We were so used to being glamorous, and you know,
this extravagant, glamorous. These days that were like, you know,
a fantasy, and then you become a mom and after that,
(10:49):
when you go back into that, you appreciate it in
a different way, like it's more fun than work because
you're like, Wow, okay, I get to get my nails done.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Yeah, I need to get a wax. Literally, I was like,
oh my gosh, I forgot that.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
The only part is like, oh my god, let me
get to the gym.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Yeah, totally. But you know you talked about that. That's
interesting because actually when you were both you know, working
with VS previously, the concept and the image of womanhood
that was being promoted was more idealized and more of
a fantasy. And now I think through the lens of
(11:30):
what they're doing today, I see a difference. And I'm
curious from both of you what you see because you
are part of the og Women and Angels and now
you're part of this new rebrand through this different lens.
So what would you say, in your experience and your
observations is the shift.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
I think it's only natural to move and change with
the world, and that was a different time and had
a very special place for many people, even myself. You know,
I remember seeing Alessandra Ambrosia as a little girl and
(12:17):
thinking how gorgeous and amazing it was to see her
on the beaches, and you know, it was aspirational and
it really for me as a kid. It inspired me,
and I think that's also really important. But now, you know,
there's so much access to everything. You know, everyone is
(12:38):
connected in a different way, and celebrities are different, musicians
are different. I think people are celebrated more for their
personality and their being and I think that's what's beautiful
about what VS is doing now and incorporating just really unique, cool,
(12:59):
badass women in so many different ways.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yeah. I never would have been hired by VS to
work with them previously.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I'm not sure about that.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Yeah, you know, even the fact that I'm here working
with them, I think is testament. Yeah, I'm just one
of many women who you know, have the opportunity to
have their voice elevated through this platform now, and I
think it's really exciting. I mean to be a part
of something that you know, as you said, we need
(13:30):
to move with the times, and if people do actually
make the changes, I'm all for that. I want to
be a part of organizations that are growing and changing.
So I personally really appreciate being a part of this.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
They're lucky to have you.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
You're an amazing human in person, and I love your
platform and what you stand for and what you speak about.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
And thank you, Lily. Lily and I are friends, Candice,
by the way, just so.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
You know, like we are, well everyone's friends with Lily, but.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
We so what we lost so each other, like so
long ago, a few weeks ago, and I was there
with my son and you were that with your husband,
and it was so nice to see you, so.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Nice, and I missed you at the party. I saw
the red carpet pictures. There were so many people. I
feel like I didn't see I saw like.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Eisa, I didn't see you. It was I know, crazy,
it was. It was a crazy night.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
It was very it was very big, very fun. It
was it felt great. But once I saw the like
the red car pictures next day, I was like, oh
my god, I didn't see anybody.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
I know. That's how I felt as well, That's how
I felt. So will you tell me a little bit
about what this film is and what your experience was
on the film, because this film I feel like has
been top secret. So it would be great if you
could speak a little bit about what the film is
and what your experience was with being a part of it.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Oh, you go ahead, Lily, Okay.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Me and Candice we've done so many interviews to other
over the years. We have like telepathy of like, who's
going to answer the next thing?
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Do you feel that well? I feel like I answered
the last one, you know, all right?
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Well, to me, the tour was all I didn't know
what to expect, if I'm being perfectly honest, I didn't
know what exactly we were filming. Was it a runway,
how was it going to be? And you know, I
really trust the people behind it, and so I was like,
let's go, let's do this. And I got to Spain
(15:30):
and I you know, got to see all these beautiful
creations from these different designers from around the world, and
the inspiration from all these different locations and all the
love and care and thought that was put into the
show and really talking about other empowering other people and
their story and their creative journey, because you know, creativity
is so important, and I feel like this is like
(15:52):
a creative venture for Victoria's Secret. I feel like they're
really empowering people to explore. It is not like anything
you've ever seen before.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
The looks are.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Honestly, they're like pieces of art being displayed on the models,
and it blew me away. Even leaving Spain, I still
wasn't sure what it was about or how it was
going to look. And then when we were at the
viewing party last week and I got to see for
the first time, I was truly like, I got emotional.
It's very powerful, it's very moving, it's very inspiring and positive,
(16:29):
and I was just like, holy bleep.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Yeah, it's a culmination of designers, models, locations, culture, which
I thought was a really amazing step. And they allowed
each designer to interpret their vision and version of what
(16:53):
Victoria's Secret is in their mind, and so each section
is so so drastically different, which makes it really interesting.
So yeah, I also didn't get a lot of information
before the actual shoot, but when we were doing fittings,
(17:15):
I saw the boards and from a creative point of
view was mind blown just the detail of some of
the pieces and the time it takes to make them.
I mean, that was a part of Victoria's Secret always,
But if you take artisans from you know, Nigeria or
(17:36):
they did Tokyo as well, Like it's a cultural thing
and it comes with a whole other set of skills.
So I really like that was fascinating to me.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Which designer did you wear or how did that work?
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Lily and I were part of the icons section, which
is kind of homage to the iconic Victoria's Secret, which
I also think was really important to incorporate and feature.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Yeah, I agree, Why was that important? Why do you
think it's important to include.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
That, because that's also a part of what women love
is to feel glamorous and feel sexy and feel feminine.
And so I'm glad that it wasn't taken out and
we got to to step into our old shoes for
(18:36):
a moment.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Yeah, And it was really fun and it reinspired me
and reignited just the love of play and the love
of fashion and the love of creating and being a
part of creative teams. I mean we're working with the
best of the best, the best styling, the best hair
and makeup, the best nails, the best cinematographer, like everything
about it was just like I love to perform and
(19:00):
I love to be a part of that creative journey
and to getting to express it again through Victoria's Secret,
and the tour was really fun. And also just seeing
how everybody else interpreted Victoria's Secret and also seeing all
these people coming in that that so many, so many
people were just like I never you know, I didn't
think I'd ever be on a Victoria's Secret runway, and
(19:23):
I was just like so happy. I was just like,
so it felt so wonderful, and I felt the same.
I was like, I didn't think I was ever going
to be on a Victoria tok A runway again. You know,
like just everybody was just so genuinely happy to be
there and happy to be a part of it and
a part of this vision. So it was really it
was really wonderful to see everybody's different points of view.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
I you know, sorry to interrupt, Lily, No, not at all.
Like you said, like there's a certain trust that you
put in the team that's directing and edit and making it,
and I knew about the team, so it really wasn't
extremely worried about it. That was a nice thing to
(20:10):
be able to kind of step into it and have
some surprises and not you know, micromanage.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Oh yeah, yeah. I mean I would be really challenged
by not controlling the outcome of an image or a film.
If I was a model, I think I would have
a very difficult time where You're like, hang on, this
is my face and this is my body, and I
want to make sure I represent That is not the
best way to light me or write.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
Have challenges with that, you know, Yeah, we've all had
many challenges of that, But when you working with a
team of this caliber, you really you know, there's yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
I mean you saw the preview. It's exquisite.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I mean, it really is. I have to say I
also did not know what to expect. I've interviewed the designers,
I've been interviewing the models, you know, I've been into
doing different people. And I had not seen it until
I tried to see it before. But I had not
seen it until I saw that trailer, and I didn't
know what to expect. And I was blown away. And
(21:21):
I am a I am definitely a bit of a
snob when it comes to creativity, I will admit. And
I was right, I mean, and I was so impressed.
It was not what I expected, and I felt very
moved as well that these people had come together and
created this kind of mission statement.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Yeah, it's very powerful. I think anybody that sees it
and watches it will be blown away by by the
impact of.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
I mean we only saw fifteen minutes of it and
it's an hour long exactly exactly.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
So outside of modeling, both of you, you know, you've
been doing this for a long time. You both have kids.
How has your relationship to modeling as a job changed
since you've had kids. I'm assuming that you're both a
lot more selective about what you do.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
I think motherhood has you know, of course, changed the
you know, direction of my career, and you know, my
children come first. Like you, I have a husband and
a band, so we kind of take turns, like when
he's on tour, i'm home, when when I'm working, he's home.
So we can't both do all the jobs in the world,
(22:36):
and which is a good thing. I think it's kind
of slows you down and makes you be more selective
and pick and choose what you want to do.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
And you know, even.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Just doing stuff like flying to Spain and doing this,
it's you know, everything has to be in order and eat.
Candice too has two kids, so it really, you know,
you have to be more thoughtful.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Yeah. For me, it really gave my life a completely
different motivation. Yeah, and I'm also, yeah, more selective about
what I do, and it's kind of more of a
time management thing, like there's a lot of things that
I would love to do that I can't just because
(23:20):
I need to be home. And but yeah, it's also
these formative years, like my children are five and almost seven,
and I think that it's such a specific time for
forming their minds and teaching them things. I think, you know,
later on in life you can kind of get let
(23:42):
go a little bit more. But we're in the trenches
a little bit.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
I mean, you know, Lily, I think you and I
probably have the longest standing marriages that you know kings
ale In and the strokest it around the same time.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Your husband is the Strokes.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Yeah, okay, you know I'm twenty three years with Nick
between and you.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
And how long are you working with sixteen?
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Right? Oh my god, I know, yeah that is a
long ass time.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
You guys. You deserve metals.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
Oh you have no idea?
Speaker 2 (24:18):
I have one.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
It's night. Yeah, I actually have a couple, but yeah,
I brought that up just because yeah, it's navigating like
working and maintaining a relationship and being present for your kids.
It's like definitely changes what you can do and you
(24:39):
know what your priorities are, right.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Absolutely, absolutely why I don't have a relationship.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
It's like another child. I mean, I mean, you know,
it's I mean, not going to get too much into that,
but like you know, yes, it's a lot, it's a lot.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Candace just has that aura though, Like people are drawn
to Candace, Like it's amazing to be in a room
with her and watch people like gravitate towards her.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Oh, it's the same for you. It's just amazing. I
just know you're taken. No, I don't even.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
Mean I don't even mean for just like guys interested
in you. I just mean like people like human beings.
You're like a human being magnet. Yes, Like people are
just drawn to you just have this beautiful aura.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
But literally do people even Do people hit on you anymore?
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Because no one hits literally no, no, right never.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
I'm like, oh, I know so far from being hit on.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
The same, you know, Like my husband tells me stories
about like oh, yeah, you know the girl at the
coffee shop. Why people hit her all the time, and
I'm thinking, like, I mean, that must happen to you,
and I'm thinking, no, it actually doesn't.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
No, it's definitely no. I mean, yeah, you're you're a
beautiful woman.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
It's you know, nobody hits on me anymore. I feel like,
what happened here? Is it? Like the memo go out?
Like this woman's married for twenty three years, forget it.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Send a memo out? You cannot send.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Okay, But Candice, why why why are you not in
a relationship? Is it do you want to be in
one or do you just feel like your plate is
so full right now?
Speaker 2 (26:13):
It's not that I don't want to be in one.
I mean my plate is overflowing. I have my own business,
I'm a single mother of two boys, and I have
my career still. So yeah, the plate is full. But
I had a lot of healing, a lot of things
(26:34):
to get through and that takes time and you can,
you know, drag that into something new. So I'm slowly
getting there. But after a long time of being on
your own and you know, rowing your own boat, it's
(26:54):
kind of like, what are you going to bring to
the table, What can what can you give me? That
I don't care give myself right now?
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Are you adding to the equation for me in order
for me to compromise with everything that it requires to
be in a relationship, which is often giving up parts
of yourself exactly.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
And as mothers, it's like, it's very it's a very
delicate thing. Like I look at men in a completely
different way now that I look at them and say,
you know, would I ever want to introduce you to
my children? And my answer is ninety nine percent.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Yeah, yeah, that makes complete sense.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Maybe I'm just you know what, my friends like make
jokes with me, They're like, you're not going to meet
the man of your dreams from your like house, hiding
in your house.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
But I do respect that you. You know, it does
take time to heal, you know, and when you're in
a relationship trying to heal you still you still have
to do the healing, whether you're in a relationship or not,
and it does take time. And I respect you not
wanting to take that into the next thing because most
people don't hit the pouse button. They just keep attracting
(28:11):
the same person, going into the same dynamic and wondering
why the outcome is the same it's like, well, because
you didn't take a step back to actually change something
so that there was a different outcome.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Yeah, it's good to analyze your patterns and recognize them,
you know. Yeah, I'm just also very like like Lily said,
like I function on such an energetic way and it's
hard to meet people that can be on that same wavelength.
(28:47):
Oh you know, I think I'm crazy.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
I mean I operate in the same way and if
that is not there by the way, that's how I
met Ali. We completely connected over shared interests in you know,
spiritual practices and I you know, ideas and just philosophy,
(29:09):
and that's how we met. It had nothing to do
with work. It was just based in recovery for a
long time.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Yeah, He's amazing that way, Like randomly you get a
message just like an affirmation that is beautiful. I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
Yeah, I completely understand that, wanting to operate on a
certain level. And also I'm sure that people meet you
and they have an idea, a projected image of who
you are because of the way you look, and so
you have to they have to you have to crack
through that for them to actually get to you and
the truth of who you are.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
Yeah, I'm so. I have a certain detachment from my
physical and emotional being. I guess so you're reminded of
it on occasion. You know, being a Victoria's Secret Model
became such a this like pedestal or almost like a
(30:08):
goal for a lot of people, a man in the
world as well.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
So there's that to say that they date a Victoria's
Secret Model, it's like hashet.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
So yeah, I I try to stay far away from that.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
Yeah that makes sense. Well, what else should we talk
about that we haven't covered? I feel like we've covered
so much.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
And like, yeah, let'sh is there sweating?
Speaker 1 (30:45):
I'm sorry, It's just my nature to ask questions like that.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
I just know I love it.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
I love a good deep chest.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Yeah, curious. I just I don't even write questions. I
just go with your instinct and go with my instinct.
You both seem, you know, like you're really trying to
live your lives as authentically as possible.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
We are.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Yeah, what does that? What does that mean to you?
What does living an authentic life mean to you? I?
Speaker 3 (31:11):
You know, I am just constantly trying to grow as
a human, Like always, I want to be my best person,
live my best life, enjoy every moment everything, you know,
and I just feel like the path for me right
now is just like just growing and learning and evolving.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
That's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
My most authentic life, I guess, would be just to
be as happy as possible, make sure that my children
are as happy and healthy as possible. I have a calm,
nervous system, dreams, you know. I don't know, I'll just
(31:57):
it's small things like even being able to like take
care of my garden or have some me time, or
be able to see friends and laugh and have real
talk with people is another like big thing for me.
(32:17):
I think, yeah, just being around good people. And yeah, evolving,
like like Lily said, ever evolving learning. I mean, we've
all learned, so I'm like, I'm done with learning, but
I break.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
From learning, you know, this is what I would like.
I would like for learning to not have to come
from very difficult circumstances, right. I like to be able
to learn without that piece of it.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Just and if possible, Yes, that that is living your
authentic life. I don't know. I used to. I mean,
I don't know, if you remember, Lily, I used to
travel a lot in between vs. Shoots and go to
crazy locations. Just yes, but the sheer fact of being
immersed in nature and away from noise and being influenced
(33:14):
by nature, which was kind of just this massive calming
presence for me which I needed in such a chaotic lifestyle.
And that was also you know, let me go and
learn a new culture, let me experience something new, or
it's like taking your mind on a holiday.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
You know. I still do that now. I have to
be in nature. It's very calibrating and grounding, and that
is really important for me to stay balanced. So it's
good to know what those things are for you. You know.
It's why I couldn't live in New York City. I
can be there for five days or whatever, and then
I'm like, I gotta go. The noise. I'm it's so
(33:56):
overstimulating for me. I get dysregulated. I need to like
going ground, you.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Know, yes, yes, like And the last thing Lily said
to me was like passing me like apps of ways
to uh, you know, get fly out, ways to get
home if flight is delayed.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
I feel the same. I mean, I love New York City.
When I get there, I'm like, oh, at the energy
of the city. And then I'm like the same. I
live in Nashville now, I live in nature, and I
do strive to get back to nature after being around
so many people. But it's like a love. It's like,
(34:38):
you know, like there's a draw still to New York
for me. I'm like, I do, I do love that
energy of the city.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
The time that we were there, we were traveling in
and out so much. Yes, it's true, you you always
had a break from it, like it was amazing. Like
I just I loved seeing that that New York skyline,
like coming back, but I also loved to you know,
yeah exactly.
Speaker 3 (35:05):
But we would go we would go to like the
most beautiful places exactly.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
I'd be in St. Bart's at least like fifteen times
in the year. It was insane.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
I actually didn't even realize how much we were traveling
until I stopped doing it. And then I was like, wait,
you don't just go to the beach five times in February.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
You have to book it, wait until the kids are
on school break.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
I was just living in like bliss that this was
not the normal winter experience.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Yeah, thank you both so much for thank you for chatting.
It's so good to see you both.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Thank you. Thanks for getting real with us.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
Yeah, I can't do it any other way.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
You have been listening to VS Voices, the official companion
podcast to the VS World Tour. My thanks to today's guests,
and if you love our show, please comment, like, and
follow us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts, and
as always, you can join me amand decademy on Instagram.
VS Voices is part of Victoria's Secret's ongoing commitment to
(36:23):
creating positive change for women. Together, we are amplifying the
voices and perspectives of women from all backgrounds, and please
remember that sharing stories brings us closer together. Thank you
for listening.
Welcome to VS Voices. I'm Amanda Decadney. Lily Oldridge, and
Candice Wannapul are former Victoria Secret Angels, supermodels, entrepreneurs and
best friends. In this interview, we took about their ascent
to fame, how motherhood has changed their priorities, and why
they both decided to return to Victoria's Secret. Hi, Lily, Hi, can't.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Nice, lovely to see you both.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
How are you really good? How's everyone doing good?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Good? Sweating it out in Miami?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Okay, you're in Miami. I'm in La.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Where are you, Lily, I'm in Nashville.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Okay, So we've all managed to get on a zoom
at the right time, hear each other. We can see
each other, Lily.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
We should make this a thing.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
I know.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
It's so nice. We can just drink wine and have
chest zoom.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
And hang out. I love it. Everyone was at fashion
Week last week. I know. I'm really happy to be home.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Oh yes, yes, Oh it's a lot of fun. But
it's a lot of energy, right, and we had a
very exciting evening and Lily and I got to catch
up the morning before we both left, well you left
before me. But yeah, it's nice. We were in the
in rooms next to each other, so.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Oh my gosh, you had like a grown up sleepover.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
We literally did. I like knocked on the door in
the morning, like are you in there?
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Hello? It's so fun, isn't it. It's so fun when
you've been friends with someone for so long and then
your lives get busy with kids and all the stuff
that we deal with. But then you get to be
in the same place at the same time and you're like, yes,
my friends, I missed you.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
It literally was like that. We were like, sit down.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
I was like a quick hug to like one hour
run life run down.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
I know.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
So how long have you two been friends?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Oh? I mean we met obviously on the v Yes, sets.
I think probably more than eight years, nine years or
is it more? Lily, My sense of time is completely warped.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I'm like, if my calculations are correct, I think I
started VS when I was around twenty three, and which
means I met you because you started before me.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yep, Okay, let's let's do it like this. What was
what year was your first show? Oh? I don't know,
two thousand and nine, okay, so mine was two thousand
and seven. So oh, right, we would have met.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Now met, so we would have met a long time,
A long time.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Let's just say a really long time, A really long time.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Okay, So you started because you you met because you
were doing VS at the same time. Yeah, and that
was a significant amount of time ago, when VS was
a very different experience. And what is it like to
have been friends for so long and then to also
get to be a part of VS today.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I mean, I've met some of the most incredible people
through Victoria's Secret and a lot of my best friends.
You know, we spent it was a different time, so
a lot of work was you know, twelve hour shoot
days or just really long shoot days, and we got
to spend a lot of time together and really got
(03:31):
to know each other on a different level and experienced
this really unique thing together which I will never forget.
And I always say, I'm like, sometimes you think, like, wow,
you know, we worked so hard, but I'm just so
grateful to have those memories and with people like Lily,
(03:52):
like Lily's just miscongeniality.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
And.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
So are you.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
I feel the same. I feel very much the same.
I'm very very like we went through such profound time
together bonding so bonding, just working together, traveling together, going
through this experience together really made it like a sisterhood
for us. Like the girls that you know I was
working with were my best friends, my confidants. Going through
(04:20):
our twenties together, which you know, is an incredible time
in itself, and having this trust, in this respect and
kind of we just camaraderie, camaraderie it is and was
very special, like the bond we all have together.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I remember when we Bahadi and I got pregnant at
a very similar time and Lily we had like a
group chatt Lily was like our go to, like questions, Yeah,
you know.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
You on your second baby then.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Lily, I was not, but I had had my daughter
before they were pregnant, and I just like sending care
packages and I was like, ask me anything.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
And I still feel like that.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
I feel like we all come to each other at
different times in different circumstances and ask for advice and
we're very open and honest with each other, and it's
really special, like a sister.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
It sounds like being in a band, yes.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Totally, well literally yes, but we're a dancing or play instruments.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
I mean, damn it, But just that just that kind
of bond and the shared experience that you're going through
something so unique that nobody else other than your bandmates
or your women in that group who are also having
that experience can really know what it's like. You know,
And certainly for you both, Victoria's secret being a part
(05:42):
of that brand and that those campaigns I'm sure catapulted
you both into another dimension of visibility. How was that
for you both?
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Well, that was another thing we could connect on, was
you know, we were living quite pace wild lives and
and just being able to talk to each other about
it was was so.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Amazing how wild, Candice.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
I mean, we were traveling, we were traveling like crazy
and just dealing with fandom and you know, business decisions
in your twenties and just things that not regular people
go through in that at that age. But I have
(06:31):
to say the beauty of being part of this recent show.
You know, our lives got even more busy with children
and we rarely get to see each other. So Viez
brought us back together again.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah, the band is back together.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
It was I have to say, like that, getting to
do the tour and going to Spain and filming and
having that camaraderie again, and that like that feeling of
of just this bond we're all going through together and
meeting so many people that were doing it for the
first time, and them coming to me to talk to
me first stuff, and I was.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Like, because you're you're ogs.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
It just felt so nice and warm and welcoming, and
you know, such a wonder It's such a wonderful bonding experience.
And I'm just so grateful that I was asked back
to come and be a part of it again and
see my friends and see and we.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Got to walk together and walk together. It was so fun.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Don't you want to like smile at each other and
play make jokes when you pass each other on a catwalk?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
I did? You will see it for sure.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
We're definitely niggling most of it and then like they'll
get like five seconds of us me being fierce and
Candice is like the most amazing walker of all time.
It's like a nice beyond and I'm just like doodling
next to her.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Oh come on, Lily, I'm what curse words? Can I
use of podcasts?
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Whatever? So were you both surprised that you had been
asked back to be a part of this because you know,
the initial kind of understanding, and I have other friends,
my friend Martha, and you know, there's other friends of
mine who were involved with VS for many years. And
when I started working with VS, the conversations I had
with my girlfriends was that, you know, there weren't any
(08:22):
women who from the OG lineup involved, and so I
was super excited to hear that both of you had
been and Adriana had been asked to be a part
of it. Were you surprised when they reached out and
said we want you to be a part of this
new tour.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, of course. I mean the world and the industry
has changed so much. The time that I started slowing
down with Victoria's Secret was after my first son, So
it was kind of an organic thing that I was
just I took time out to to be with him
(09:01):
and focus on breastfeeding, and all of just wanted to
really live the mother experience. So I kind of was
starting to phase out. And then life gets so different
that you don't really think about it again, and then
suddenly you get an email. That's the beauty of our
(09:23):
work is you're faced with like amazing decisions and jobs
and opportunities that you never thought would happen, but they do.
So yeah, I was very surprised.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
And how about you, Lily, I.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Was surprised, Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
I mean I was honestly super touched that they thought
of me and you know, wanted me to continue to
represent you know, Victoria's Secret in this new chapter and
this new tour.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
And I'm always you know, I feel.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I try to live in like a state of gratitude
for everything in my life because we're so blessed and
fortunate and lucky, and you know, I truly enjoy the
experience of coming together with a group of people, and
that is what the tour kind of was for me,
is just celebrating each other and lifting each other up.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Like I said, getting to see canvas and I remember
we were like, are you going to? Are you going?
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Are you going? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah, we all talk to each other, you know.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I honestly, I just feel super honored and touched that
they thought of me and brought me back.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
And I love it. I love being a part of it,
So I'm very grateful. It also becomes such a different thing.
We were so used to being glamorous, and you know,
this extravagant, glamorous. These days that were like, you know,
a fantasy, and then you become a mom and after that,
(10:49):
when you go back into that, you appreciate it in
a different way, like it's more fun than work because
you're like, Wow, okay, I get to get my nails done.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Yeah, I need to get a wax. Literally, I was like,
oh my gosh, I forgot that.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
The only part is like, oh my god, let me
get to the gym.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Yeah, totally. But you know you talked about that. That's
interesting because actually when you were both you know, working
with VS previously, the concept and the image of womanhood
that was being promoted was more idealized and more of
a fantasy. And now I think through the lens of
(11:30):
what they're doing today, I see a difference. And I'm
curious from both of you what you see because you
are part of the og Women and Angels and now
you're part of this new rebrand through this different lens.
So what would you say, in your experience and your
observations is the shift.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
I think it's only natural to move and change with
the world, and that was a different time and had
a very special place for many people, even myself. You know,
I remember seeing Alessandra Ambrosia as a little girl and
(12:17):
thinking how gorgeous and amazing it was to see her
on the beaches, and you know, it was aspirational and
it really for me as a kid. It inspired me,
and I think that's also really important. But now, you know,
there's so much access to everything. You know, everyone is
(12:38):
connected in a different way, and celebrities are different, musicians
are different. I think people are celebrated more for their
personality and their being and I think that's what's beautiful
about what VS is doing now and incorporating just really unique, cool,
(12:59):
badass women in so many different ways.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yeah. I never would have been hired by VS to
work with them previously.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I'm not sure about that.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Yeah, you know, even the fact that I'm here working
with them, I think is testament. Yeah, I'm just one
of many women who you know, have the opportunity to
have their voice elevated through this platform now, and I
think it's really exciting. I mean to be a part
of something that you know, as you said, we need
(13:30):
to move with the times, and if people do actually
make the changes, I'm all for that. I want to
be a part of organizations that are growing and changing.
So I personally really appreciate being a part of this.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
They're lucky to have you.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
You're an amazing human in person, and I love your
platform and what you stand for and what you speak about.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
And thank you, Lily. Lily and I are friends, Candice,
by the way, just so.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
You know, like we are, well everyone's friends with Lily, but.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
We so what we lost so each other, like so
long ago, a few weeks ago, and I was there
with my son and you were that with your husband,
and it was so nice to see you, so.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Nice, and I missed you at the party. I saw
the red carpet pictures. There were so many people. I
feel like I didn't see I saw like.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Eisa, I didn't see you. It was I know, crazy,
it was. It was a crazy night.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
It was very it was very big, very fun. It
was it felt great. But once I saw the like
the red car pictures next day, I was like, oh
my god, I didn't see anybody.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
I know. That's how I felt as well, That's how
I felt. So will you tell me a little bit
about what this film is and what your experience was
on the film, because this film I feel like has
been top secret. So it would be great if you
could speak a little bit about what the film is
and what your experience was with being a part of it.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Oh, you go ahead, Lily, Okay.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Me and Candice we've done so many interviews to other
over the years. We have like telepathy of like, who's
going to answer the next thing?
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Do you feel that well? I feel like I answered
the last one, you know, all right?
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Well, to me, the tour was all I didn't know
what to expect, if I'm being perfectly honest, I didn't
know what exactly we were filming. Was it a runway,
how was it going to be? And you know, I
really trust the people behind it, and so I was like,
let's go, let's do this. And I got to Spain
(15:30):
and I you know, got to see all these beautiful
creations from these different designers from around the world, and
the inspiration from all these different locations and all the
love and care and thought that was put into the
show and really talking about other empowering other people and
their story and their creative journey, because you know, creativity
is so important, and I feel like this is like
(15:52):
a creative venture for Victoria's Secret. I feel like they're
really empowering people to explore. It is not like anything
you've ever seen before.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
The looks are.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Honestly, they're like pieces of art being displayed on the models,
and it blew me away. Even leaving Spain, I still
wasn't sure what it was about or how it was
going to look. And then when we were at the
viewing party last week and I got to see for
the first time, I was truly like, I got emotional.
It's very powerful, it's very moving, it's very inspiring and positive,
(16:29):
and I was just like, holy bleep.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Yeah, it's a culmination of designers, models, locations, culture, which
I thought was a really amazing step. And they allowed
each designer to interpret their vision and version of what
(16:53):
Victoria's Secret is in their mind, and so each section
is so so drastically different, which makes it really interesting.
So yeah, I also didn't get a lot of information
before the actual shoot, but when we were doing fittings,
(17:15):
I saw the boards and from a creative point of
view was mind blown just the detail of some of
the pieces and the time it takes to make them.
I mean, that was a part of Victoria's Secret always,
But if you take artisans from you know, Nigeria or
(17:36):
they did Tokyo as well, Like it's a cultural thing
and it comes with a whole other set of skills.
So I really like that was fascinating to me.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Which designer did you wear or how did that work?
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Lily and I were part of the icons section, which
is kind of homage to the iconic Victoria's Secret, which
I also think was really important to incorporate and feature.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Yeah, I agree, Why was that important? Why do you
think it's important to include.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
That, because that's also a part of what women love
is to feel glamorous and feel sexy and feel feminine.
And so I'm glad that it wasn't taken out and
we got to to step into our old shoes for
(18:36):
a moment.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Yeah, And it was really fun and it reinspired me
and reignited just the love of play and the love
of fashion and the love of creating and being a
part of creative teams. I mean we're working with the
best of the best, the best styling, the best hair
and makeup, the best nails, the best cinematographer, like everything
about it was just like I love to perform and
(19:00):
I love to be a part of that creative journey
and to getting to express it again through Victoria's Secret,
and the tour was really fun. And also just seeing
how everybody else interpreted Victoria's Secret and also seeing all
these people coming in that that so many, so many
people were just like I never you know, I didn't
think I'd ever be on a Victoria's Secret runway, and
(19:23):
I was just like so happy. I was just like,
so it felt so wonderful, and I felt the same.
I was like, I didn't think I was ever going
to be on a Victoria tok A runway again. You know,
like just everybody was just so genuinely happy to be
there and happy to be a part of it and
a part of this vision. So it was really it
was really wonderful to see everybody's different points of view.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
I you know, sorry to interrupt, Lily, No, not at all.
Like you said, like there's a certain trust that you
put in the team that's directing and edit and making it,
and I knew about the team, so it really wasn't
extremely worried about it. That was a nice thing to
(20:10):
be able to kind of step into it and have
some surprises and not you know, micromanage.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Oh yeah, yeah. I mean I would be really challenged
by not controlling the outcome of an image or a film.
If I was a model, I think I would have
a very difficult time where You're like, hang on, this
is my face and this is my body, and I
want to make sure I represent That is not the
best way to light me or write.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
Have challenges with that, you know, Yeah, we've all had
many challenges of that, But when you working with a
team of this caliber, you really you know, there's yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
I mean you saw the preview. It's exquisite.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I mean, it really is. I have to say I
also did not know what to expect. I've interviewed the designers,
I've been interviewing the models, you know, I've been into
doing different people. And I had not seen it until
I tried to see it before. But I had not
seen it until I saw that trailer, and I didn't
know what to expect. And I was blown away. And
(21:21):
I am a I am definitely a bit of a
snob when it comes to creativity, I will admit. And
I was right, I mean, and I was so impressed.
It was not what I expected, and I felt very
moved as well that these people had come together and
created this kind of mission statement.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Yeah, it's very powerful. I think anybody that sees it
and watches it will be blown away by by the
impact of.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
I mean we only saw fifteen minutes of it and
it's an hour long exactly exactly.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
So outside of modeling, both of you, you know, you've
been doing this for a long time. You both have kids.
How has your relationship to modeling as a job changed
since you've had kids. I'm assuming that you're both a
lot more selective about what you do.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
I think motherhood has you know, of course, changed the
you know, direction of my career, and you know, my
children come first. Like you, I have a husband and
a band, so we kind of take turns, like when
he's on tour, i'm home, when when I'm working, he's home.
So we can't both do all the jobs in the world,
(22:36):
and which is a good thing. I think it's kind
of slows you down and makes you be more selective
and pick and choose what you want to do.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
And you know, even.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Just doing stuff like flying to Spain and doing this,
it's you know, everything has to be in order and eat.
Candice too has two kids, so it really, you know,
you have to be more thoughtful.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Yeah. For me, it really gave my life a completely
different motivation. Yeah, and I'm also, yeah, more selective about
what I do, and it's kind of more of a
time management thing, like there's a lot of things that
I would love to do that I can't just because
(23:20):
I need to be home. And but yeah, it's also
these formative years, like my children are five and almost seven,
and I think that it's such a specific time for
forming their minds and teaching them things. I think, you know,
later on in life you can kind of get let
(23:42):
go a little bit more. But we're in the trenches
a little bit.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
I mean, you know, Lily, I think you and I
probably have the longest standing marriages that you know kings
ale In and the strokest it around the same time.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Your husband is the Strokes.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Yeah, okay, you know I'm twenty three years with Nick
between and you.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
And how long are you working with sixteen?
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Right? Oh my god, I know, yeah that is a
long ass time.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
You guys. You deserve metals.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
Oh you have no idea?
Speaker 2 (24:18):
I have one.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
It's night. Yeah, I actually have a couple, but yeah,
I brought that up just because yeah, it's navigating like
working and maintaining a relationship and being present for your kids.
It's like definitely changes what you can do and you
(24:39):
know what your priorities are, right.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Absolutely, absolutely why I don't have a relationship.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
It's like another child. I mean, I mean, you know,
it's I mean, not going to get too much into that,
but like you know, yes, it's a lot, it's a lot.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Candace just has that aura though, Like people are drawn
to Candace, Like it's amazing to be in a room
with her and watch people like gravitate towards her.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Oh, it's the same for you. It's just amazing. I
just know you're taken. No, I don't even.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
Mean I don't even mean for just like guys interested
in you. I just mean like people like human beings.
You're like a human being magnet. Yes, Like people are
just drawn to you just have this beautiful aura.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
But literally do people even Do people hit on you anymore?
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Because no one hits literally no, no, right never.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
I'm like, oh, I know so far from being hit on.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
The same, you know, Like my husband tells me stories
about like oh, yeah, you know the girl at the
coffee shop. Why people hit her all the time, and
I'm thinking, like, I mean, that must happen to you,
and I'm thinking, no, it actually doesn't.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
No, it's definitely no. I mean, yeah, you're you're a
beautiful woman.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
It's you know, nobody hits on me anymore. I feel like,
what happened here? Is it? Like the memo go out?
Like this woman's married for twenty three years, forget it.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Send a memo out? You cannot send.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Okay, But Candice, why why why are you not in
a relationship? Is it do you want to be in
one or do you just feel like your plate is
so full right now?
Speaker 2 (26:13):
It's not that I don't want to be in one.
I mean my plate is overflowing. I have my own business,
I'm a single mother of two boys, and I have
my career still. So yeah, the plate is full. But
I had a lot of healing, a lot of things
(26:34):
to get through and that takes time and you can,
you know, drag that into something new. So I'm slowly
getting there. But after a long time of being on
your own and you know, rowing your own boat, it's
(26:54):
kind of like, what are you going to bring to
the table, What can what can you give me? That
I don't care give myself right now?
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Are you adding to the equation for me in order
for me to compromise with everything that it requires to
be in a relationship, which is often giving up parts
of yourself exactly.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
And as mothers, it's like, it's very it's a very
delicate thing. Like I look at men in a completely
different way now that I look at them and say,
you know, would I ever want to introduce you to
my children? And my answer is ninety nine percent.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Yeah, yeah, that makes complete sense.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Maybe I'm just you know what, my friends like make
jokes with me, They're like, you're not going to meet
the man of your dreams from your like house, hiding
in your house.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
But I do respect that you. You know, it does
take time to heal, you know, and when you're in
a relationship trying to heal you still you still have
to do the healing, whether you're in a relationship or not,
and it does take time. And I respect you not
wanting to take that into the next thing because most
people don't hit the pouse button. They just keep attracting
(28:11):
the same person, going into the same dynamic and wondering
why the outcome is the same it's like, well, because
you didn't take a step back to actually change something
so that there was a different outcome.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Yeah, it's good to analyze your patterns and recognize them,
you know. Yeah, I'm just also very like like Lily said,
like I function on such an energetic way and it's
hard to meet people that can be on that same wavelength.
(28:47):
Oh you know, I think I'm crazy.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
I mean I operate in the same way and if
that is not there by the way, that's how I
met Ali. We completely connected over shared interests in you know,
spiritual practices and I you know, ideas and just philosophy,
(29:09):
and that's how we met. It had nothing to do
with work. It was just based in recovery for a
long time.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Yeah, He's amazing that way, Like randomly you get a
message just like an affirmation that is beautiful. I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
Yeah, I completely understand that, wanting to operate on a
certain level. And also I'm sure that people meet you
and they have an idea, a projected image of who
you are because of the way you look, and so
you have to they have to you have to crack
through that for them to actually get to you and
the truth of who you are.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
Yeah, I'm so. I have a certain detachment from my
physical and emotional being. I guess so you're reminded of
it on occasion. You know, being a Victoria's Secret Model
became such a this like pedestal or almost like a
(30:08):
goal for a lot of people, a man in the
world as well.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
So there's that to say that they date a Victoria's
Secret Model, it's like hashet.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
So yeah, I I try to stay far away from that.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
Yeah that makes sense. Well, what else should we talk
about that we haven't covered? I feel like we've covered
so much.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
And like, yeah, let'sh is there sweating?
Speaker 1 (30:45):
I'm sorry, It's just my nature to ask questions like that.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
I just know I love it.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
I love a good deep chest.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Yeah, curious. I just I don't even write questions. I
just go with your instinct and go with my instinct.
You both seem, you know, like you're really trying to
live your lives as authentically as possible.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
We are.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Yeah, what does that? What does that mean to you?
What does living an authentic life mean to you? I?
Speaker 3 (31:11):
You know, I am just constantly trying to grow as
a human, Like always, I want to be my best person,
live my best life, enjoy every moment everything, you know,
and I just feel like the path for me right
now is just like just growing and learning and evolving.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
That's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
My most authentic life, I guess, would be just to
be as happy as possible, make sure that my children
are as happy and healthy as possible. I have a calm,
nervous system, dreams, you know. I don't know, I'll just
(31:57):
it's small things like even being able to like take
care of my garden or have some me time, or
be able to see friends and laugh and have real
talk with people is another like big thing for me.
(32:17):
I think, yeah, just being around good people. And yeah, evolving,
like like Lily said, ever evolving learning. I mean, we've
all learned, so I'm like, I'm done with learning, but
I break.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
From learning, you know, this is what I would like.
I would like for learning to not have to come
from very difficult circumstances, right. I like to be able
to learn without that piece of it.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Just and if possible, Yes, that that is living your
authentic life. I don't know. I used to. I mean,
I don't know, if you remember, Lily, I used to
travel a lot in between vs. Shoots and go to
crazy locations. Just yes, but the sheer fact of being
immersed in nature and away from noise and being influenced
(33:14):
by nature, which was kind of just this massive calming
presence for me which I needed in such a chaotic lifestyle.
And that was also you know, let me go and
learn a new culture, let me experience something new, or
it's like taking your mind on a holiday.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
You know. I still do that now. I have to
be in nature. It's very calibrating and grounding, and that
is really important for me to stay balanced. So it's
good to know what those things are for you. You know.
It's why I couldn't live in New York City. I
can be there for five days or whatever, and then
I'm like, I gotta go. The noise. I'm it's so
(33:56):
overstimulating for me. I get dysregulated. I need to like
going ground, you.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Know, yes, yes, like And the last thing Lily said
to me was like passing me like apps of ways
to uh, you know, get fly out, ways to get
home if flight is delayed.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
I feel the same. I mean, I love New York City.
When I get there, I'm like, oh, at the energy
of the city. And then I'm like the same. I
live in Nashville now, I live in nature, and I
do strive to get back to nature after being around
so many people. But it's like a love. It's like,
(34:38):
you know, like there's a draw still to New York
for me. I'm like, I do, I do love that
energy of the city.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
The time that we were there, we were traveling in
and out so much. Yes, it's true, you you always
had a break from it, like it was amazing. Like
I just I loved seeing that that New York skyline,
like coming back, but I also loved to you know,
yeah exactly.
Speaker 3 (35:05):
But we would go we would go to like the
most beautiful places exactly.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
I'd be in St. Bart's at least like fifteen times
in the year. It was insane.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
I actually didn't even realize how much we were traveling
until I stopped doing it. And then I was like, wait,
you don't just go to the beach five times in February.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
You have to book it, wait until the kids are
on school break.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
I was just living in like bliss that this was
not the normal winter experience.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Yeah, thank you both so much for thank you for chatting.
It's so good to see you both.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Thank you. Thanks for getting real with us.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
Yeah, I can't do it any other way.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
You have been listening to VS Voices, the official companion
podcast to the VS World Tour. My thanks to today's guests,
and if you love our show, please comment, like, and
follow us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts, and
as always, you can join me amand decademy on Instagram.
VS Voices is part of Victoria's Secret's ongoing commitment to
(36:23):
creating positive change for women. Together, we are amplifying the
voices and perspectives of women from all backgrounds, and please
remember that sharing stories brings us closer together. Thank you
for listening.
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