Candice Swanepoel in Bathing Suit Takes "Stairway to Heaven"

Candice Swanepoel is not just a model, she’s an entrepreneur. Her brand of swimwear, Tropic of C, is worn by some of the world’s top celebs, including herself. “Stairway to heaven,” she captioned a recent photo shoot of her on the beach. “Beautiful,” said fellow model and Cannes superstar Charlbi Dean. “🔥🔥🔥,” commented skin care guru Joanna Czech. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Candice Swanepoel stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1. She Prioritizes Being a Mom

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Candice has two children. “It’s such a crazy experience, pregnancy and giving birth,” she told Vogue. “You don't really feel normal until a year afterwards. You really don't feel like it's your body. The fact that we can create a human being and and do that, it makes you proud no matter how your body looks or how you're feeling… After my last show or event in Milan, I fly back to New York for two days to be with my kids. So it's kind of like, you sacrifice that day of rest in between the shows to be with my kids. Like other people are like, yeah, I'm gonna go and have a rest when I get home. But when I get home, it's like when the real work starts.”

2. It’s Been a Rollercoaster

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“As a little girl, I wanted to be a ballet dancer. When I was a bit older, around 15, I was scouted at a flea market with my mom. I mean I've been in the industry for 15 years. It's definitely funny. Now when I think about how it used to be, you know, back in the day, we definitely had a lot more privacy. Like people couldn't go on Instagram and see what you're doing. People had to talk about you and you won over the client and the crew job by job. Like it was word of mouth.” Now? “I've been able to support my family and travel to the most amazing places. And it's a crazy, crazy roller coaster for sure,” she told Vogue.

3. She Grew Up “Raw”

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“Growing up in South Africa was definitely very different,” she told Vogue. “I grew up on a farm. It was just very raw, very free. And I wish I could give my kids that same farm life, but I have a very different reality.”

4. She Uses Sunscreen Daily

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“Protection from UV rays is important all year, not just during the summer. UV rays can reach you on cloudy and cool days, and they reflect off of surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow. In the continental United States, UV rays tend to be strongest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daylight saving time (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time),” says the CDC. “The UV Index forecasts the strength of UV rays each day. If the UV index is 3 or higher in your area, protect your skin from too much exposure to the sun.”

5. Here’s Her Take on Makeup

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Candice wears a concealer, mixing in some oil to smooth it out. “Doing your makeup I think, it's a moment for yourself as a woman to just tune into you and make yourself feel good," she told Vogue. “I have some sun damage and markings from pregnancy. It's a normal thing that happens. So just to set that a little, I use this MAC Prep and Prime. It's very lightweight. My skin is oily so, the shine comes through really quickly.”