Who is Candice Swanepoel? That’s a question everyone has been asking since a hot new photo of her appeared on Instagram the second week of Jan. in 2013. TMZ spotted the fabulous swimsuit model’s racy bikini pic and ran a thank-you story about her sharing it. On Jan. 14, Elle magazine reported Swanepoel was wholeheartedly endorsing the new VS beachwear. But by the time her new Victoria’s Secret Swim Collection photos hit the stores for unveiling in the wee morning hours of Jan. 15, 2013, her name had already been associated in the news the preceding week for endorsing another swimwear company — something that could be seen as problematic for the model’s contract-holding company.
According to Elle, Swanepoel loves modeling for VS and really likes this new season’s product. “Swanepoel told us… the Very Sexy Bandeau has… won her over.” The model told the fashion magazine publishers, “[It’s] so sexy and comfortable, [and] it is inspired by old Hollywood glamour, which I love. Plus, it comes with a removable halter strap, so it’s perfect for all activities at the beach!”
But no one is really talking about the famous company’s new clothing line this week. Instead, press seems to be focused almost exclusively on Swanepoel herself and her endorsement of another bikini made by a mom-and-pop rival company.
Gather Celebs reports:
[TMZ] shared, “[The Victoria’s Secret Model graciously] posted the photo on her [Instagram] account… modeling a brand new bikini she got sent in the mail by a company called Frankies Bikinis.”
According to the source, Candice wrote, “Thank you @frankiesbikinis for the Gift!” But their male staff member seemed even more appreciative than her. They added the silly message, “Yes, thank you Frankies. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
To that end, Swanepoel may find herself out of favor participating in future marketing campaigns for the larger company. Her bum might be famous now, but her future modeling contracts could theoretically be in jeopardy.
After all, at a time like the new launch of a product line — in her case marketing Victoria’s Secret new bandeau bikini style for the 2013 swimwear season — should the celeb have erred on the side of caution and sent a simple thank you note to Frankie’s? Would it have been a smarter career move to have followed them on Twitter to give them a free bump of press promotion (rather than making a big deal about how much she liked their take on a classic bikini)?
It will be interesting to see if the star celeb has any legal problems arise with regard to her contractual obligations to be one of the faces of Victoria’s Secret with regard to exclusivity. As a company they keep people’s attention by branding the look of their famous models in their magazine sales flyers and have their “Angels” (like Swanepoel) pose in groups for charity benefits like last year when they all donned Lycra and cycled to raise money for a non-profit organization.
While it is unlikely that Swanepoel could ever get in trouble modeling street wear clothing or haute couture for another company, marketing another company’s swimsuits just a week before a new product hits American stores nationally might not have been too PC. The South African model has also worked for top fashion design house Tom Ford concurrently while endorsing the underwear company so there might not be any contractual issue arise — but it certainly is a situation that should be discussed with models in the future who are hired by either company.