Gisele Bündchen Breaks Her Silence on Ex-Husband Tom Brady’s Confirmed Romance with Former Victoria’s Secret Colleague Candice Swanepoel, Revealing She Still Has Feelings for Him

By Julian Vance

Senior Entertainment & Pop Culture Correspondent

Introduction: The Aftershock of a Hollywood Power Shift

When the world caught its first undeniable glimpse of NFL icon Tom Brady strolling through the tranquil streets of TriBeCa alongside supermodel Candice Swanepoel—a moment marked by an affectionate, unmistakable hand resting over a visible baby bump—it sent shockwaves through the global pop culture landscape. Social media exploded, news outlets scrambled for commentary, and the narrative surrounding one of sports and fashion’s most legendary figures entered an entirely new chapter.

Yet, amid the frenzy of headlines, one question hovered above all others: How does Gisele Bündchen feel about this?

For thirteen years, Bündchen and Brady were the gold standard of celebrity power couples. Their union bridged the worlds of international high fashion and American sports royalty. When their divorce was finalized in late 2022, it felt like the end of an era. In the years since, both appeared to move forward along separate paths. Gisele leaned heavily into her wellness platform, her return to high-fashion editorial work, and her devotion to her children. Brady focused on his post-football ventures and family life.

However, the latest turn of events—involving not just any partner, but Candice Swanepoel, a fellow Victoria’s Secret Angel with whom Gisele once shared runways and brand legacies—has added a layer of emotional complexity that no PR strategy could fully cushion.

Now, breaking her silence through an intimate, deeply reflective sitting, Gisele Bündchen opens up about the reality of watching her ex-husband build a new life with a former colleague, offering a rare, vulnerable confession: despite the time, the healing, and the distance, she actually still has feelings for the man she spent over a decade loving.

Chapter I: A Runway Connection and a Complicated Past

To understand the weight of Gisele’s response, one must first look back at the intricate web connecting these three global figures. Long before Candice Swanepoel was linked to Tom Brady, she was a younger contemporary in the elite ecosystem of supermodels.

When Gisele Bündchen hung up her Victoria’s Secret wings in the mid-2000s, it was icons like Swanepoel who stepped up to define the brand’s next golden era. While the two models were never close personal confidantes, they shared an unspoken bond born from navigating the exact same high-pressure industry, walking the same catwalks, and wearing the same legendary wings.

“The fashion industry is remarkably small at the top,” notes senior fashion editor Marcus Lin. “There is a shared sisterhood among Victoria’s Secret Angels. Seeing an ex-spouse move on is difficult for anyone. But seeing him move on with someone who occupied a parallel space in your professional sanctuary makes it impossible to ignore.”

When asked directly about the moment she saw the recent photographs of Brady and Swanepoel strolling through New York, Gisele does not posture or offer a cold, canned public relations statement. Instead, she takes a long, measured breath.

“I think people assume that when a contract is signed and a divorce is finalized, your heart simply shuts off a valve,” Gisele shares softly. “They think you press a button and suddenly the thirteen years of shared history, the children, the quiet mornings, and the deep emotional connection just evaporate. But that isn’t how love works. It doesn’t just disappear because life changed direction.”

Chapter II: The Vulnerable Confession

Gisele’s candid admission—that she still harbors deep, lingering feelings for Brady—is a striking departure from the carefully curated image usually projected by A-list celebrities. In an era where post-divorce narratives are dominated by “boss-era” comebacks and fierce independence, Bündchen chooses absolute candor over defensive posturing.

“I will always love Tom,” she admits, her voice steady yet layered with emotion. “When you spend a third of your life building a world with someone, supporting their dreams through seven Super Bowls, raising children together, and creating a home, that person remains woven into your DNA. Do I still have feelings for him? Of course I do. To deny that would be a lie to myself.”

She clarifies, however, that acknowledging her feelings does not mean she expects or even seeks a romantic reconciliation.

“Having feelings doesn’t mean you belong together in the same way you used to,” she explains. “It means you honor what was real. Loving someone doesn’t end just because the structure of your relationship had to fall apart. You can love someone deeply and still recognize that your paths had to separate for both of you to grow.”

Hearing about the pregnancy rumor mill and seeing the images of Swanepoel holding her bump on the TriBeCa sidewalk brought those latent emotions to the surface with sudden intensity.

“It hit me in waves,” Gisele reflects. “Not out of anger, but out of a profound realization that the past is truly the past. When you see the person you built a family with starting a brand-new family with someone else—someone you’ve known in your own professional circle—it forces you to process grief you didn’t even realize you were still holding onto.”

Chapter III: Navigating Co-Parenting Amid Public Headlines

Beyond the personal emotional landscape, Gisele’s primary focus remains anchored in protecting her children: Benjamin, 16, and Vivian, 13, alongside Jack, 19, Brady’s eldest son with actress Bridget Moynahan, whom Gisele has famously loved as her own.

Co-parenting under the intense spotlight of international tabloid culture is a challenge few can relate to. Add a high-profile new relationship and a potential new half-sibling to the mix, and the stakes become immensely delicate.

“My biggest concern has always been, and will always be, the kids,” Gisele stresses. “Children are incredibly perceptive. They feel the shifts in energy long before they read about them online or hear people talking at school. When big changes happen in their father’s life, my job is to be the rock—the constant anchor of stability and peace.”

She reveals that Tom took the step of speaking with her and the children privately before the public spectacle reached a fever pitch.

“Tom was respectful enough to have a conversation with me,” she notes. “Was it an easy conversation? No, of course not. But it was necessary. Communication is the only way co-parents survive this level of scrutiny. He wanted to make sure the kids heard the news from him first, not from a social media push notification. I respected him for that.”

When asked how the children are adjusting to the prospect of a expanding family structure with Candice, Gisele chooses grace over bitterness.

“Kids have an endless capacity to love if you don’t poison their minds with your own adult insecurities,” she says flatly. “They love their father. If he is happy, and if Candice brings peace into his life, then that ultimately benefits our children too. Candice has always been a gentle person in the interactions I’ve had with her over the years. I wish her a healthy, peaceful journey into this next chapter.”

Chapter IV: The Evolution of Grief and Gratitude

Gisele’s willingness to open up about her unresolved feelings highlights a broader conversation about modern relationships, divorce, and emotional maturity. Society often demands that women in the public eye perform one of two roles following a split: either the heartbroken victim or the unbothered, thriving queen. Gisele rejects both caricatures.

“We live in a culture that wants everything to be black or white,” she reflects, gazing out at the horizon. “People want you to either hate your ex or completely move on as if they never existed. But human emotions live in the gray areas. You can feel sadness, nostalgia, and love all at the same time. You can grieve the dream of what you thought your life would look like while still being grateful for where you are today.”

Her journey over the past several years has been one of deep introspection, heavily leaning into nature, meditation, holistic wellness, and writing. Her recent memoir and lifestyle guides have emphasized healing not as a destination, but as an ongoing practice.

“When Tom and I parted ways, people thought it was a sudden decision based on football,” she says, addressing long-standing media speculation regarding Brady’s decision to un-retire in 2022. “It was never that simple. Relationships don’t end over one thing. They end when two people gradually evolve in different directions, despite loving each other immensely.”

She pauses, choosing her next words carefully.

“I sacrificed a lot of my own ambitions for many years to ensure our family was grounded while Tom pursued his career,” she admits. “I don’t regret a single second of that. It made me who I am. But part of the grief I felt after the divorce was coming to terms with the fact that even your greatest sacrifices can’t force a relationship to work if the alignment is gone.”

Chapter V: Public Perception vs. Private Reality

The public’s fascination with the Brady-Bündchen-Swanepoel dynamic speaks to the broader appetite for celebrity narratives that mirror classic storytelling arcs. The former quarterback hero, the reigning supermodel queen, and the new chapter featuring a younger contemporary—it is the exact recipe that keeps entertainment outlets operating around the clock.

Yet, Gisele remains acutely aware of the disconnect between tabloid drama and real life.

“People read the headlines, look at the photos, and build entire soap operas in their minds,” she says with a slight smile. “They picture shouting matches, rivalry, and drama behind closed doors. The reality is far quieter, far more human, and much more mundane.”

She addresses the specific elephant in the room: her feeling toward Candice Swanepoel taking on a permanent role in Brady’s life and, by extension, entering the family sphere.

“Candice is doing what any woman in love does,” Gisele states plainly. “She didn’t steal anything. She met a man who was single, who had already closed a chapter of his life, and they fell in love. I hold zero resentment toward her. It would be foolish and toxic to project my own past feelings onto her future.”

However, Gisele does acknowledge the surreal nature of the situation.

“Is it strange? Yes. It’s surreal,” she laughs softly. “If you told me ten years ago when Candice and I were standing backstage at a fashion show that she would one day be expecting a child with my husband, I would have thought you were writing a fictional movie script. But life has a strange, unpredictable sense of humor.”

Epilogue: Moving Forward with Grace

As the interview draws to a close, the sun begins to set, casting warm golden hues across the room—a stark contrast to the chaotic media storm raging outside on the internet.

Gisele Bündchen stands at a profound crossroads. By speaking her truth—by admitting that love does not neatly vanish just because a marriage ends—she offers a masterclass in emotional authenticity. She refuses to hide behind a mask of indifference, choosing instead to own her vulnerability as a source of strength.

“I am not afraid to say that I still love Tom,” Gisele says in closing, her eyes clear and resolute. “He will always be a part of my story. But loving someone also means letting them go. It means wishing them joy, even when that joy is built without you.”

She leans back, looking toward the future with a quiet, unmistakable sense of peace.

“I am in a place now where I am focused on my own growth, my own happiness, and my children’s well-being,” she concludes. “I don’t need to erase the past to embrace my future. I can carry the love I had, acknowledge the feelings that remain, and still walk forward into my own light. I wish Tom and Candice nothing but peace, health, and happiness. Life moves on, and so do we.”

Key Takeaways from Gisele Bündchen’s Interview:

• Honest Reflection: Gisele admits she still harbors genuine feelings and deep love for Tom Brady, refusing to pretend the past thirteen years didn’t happen.

• No Resentment: She holds zero ill will toward Candice Swanepoel, emphasizing that Candice entered Brady’s life long after their divorce was finalized.

• Prioritizing Family: Her primary focus remains on maintaining a peaceful, supportive co-parenting environment for their children amid the media frenzy.

• Emotional Maturity: Bündchen rejects tabloid narratives of drama or rivalry, choosing to view Brady’s new chapter with grace and acceptance.