Tom Brady’s Alleged Romance Keeps Candice Swanepoel And Joan Smalls Apart At Victoria’s Secret Show

Tom Brady’s romance reportedly divides Candice Swanepoel and Joan Smalls© X formally Twitter

A 15-year friendship between two supermodels has reportedly collapsed, and Tom Brady sits in the middle of the story. A source alleges that Candice Swanepoel, said to have been Brady's girlfriend since May, and Joan Smalls were kept apart backstage at the October 18 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles. The source says organizers knew about the falling out beforehand. Representatives for Victoria's Secret, Smalls and Swanepoel did not comment on the latest claims, and all of the details below come from unnamed sources.

Candice Swanepoel and Joan Smalls backstage at the Victoria's Secret show

The source says the two models were "isolated from each other backstage." Once described as "inseparable," they reportedly had a friendship that stretched across 15 years. The split became public only days after the show.

Organizers were allegedly briefed in advance. "Everyone on the team knew in advance that they had a falling out and that Joan would not go near her," the source said. "Thats why you won't find one photo of them together at the show."

Smalls has spoken up online. After a fan asked whether the pair were no longer friends, she called a fellow model a "backstabber" in a comment obtained by DeuxMoi. She did not name anyone in the reported comment. In another post, since deleted, she wrote there "was no girl code." She added that "the way they gaslight, lie and minimize your feelings is the worst slap in the face after 15yrs or friendship. Not a sorry said or written. Onwards and upwards!!!"

She also pointed fans toward a Bravo reality show. "Two words: 'SUMMER HOUSE!' That'll explain everything." The show's latest season followed a friendship that broke apart when one cast member secretly dated another's ex.

Tom Brady's role in the Swanepoel and Smalls feud

According to a source, Smalls met Brady at Michael Rubin's Fourth of July party in 2024, and they began dating about six months later. "She dated him casually on and off for almost a full year," the source said. Another source previously claimed Swanepoel had urged her friend to end things with the former Patriots quarterback, who was once married to Gisele Bündchen.

When the relationship soured, Swanepoel allegedly became the friend Smalls leaned on. Smalls was reportedly upset after Brady was seen looking cozy with influencer Alix Earle at a St. Barts party welcoming 2026. "Joan was hurt when she saw all the rumors," the source said. "She was sad and confiding in Candice about being hurt."

Smalls has reportedly asked friends to choose sides. "It's just so insane and so messy," the source said.

Swanepoel's representative, Amanda Ruisi, previously said, "Candice has always been exceptionally private about her personal life, with her focus remaining on raising her children. She and Joan share a longstanding history and a friendship that Candice will always respect."

Swanepoel has two sons with her ex-fiancé, Hermann Nicoli. Brady has two children with Bündchen and a son with Bridget Moynahan.