One small gold band has set celebrity gossip alight. Victoria's Secret supermodel Candice Swanepoel was photographed out on Friday wearing a mysterious ring on her left ring finger — right as her romance with retired NFL superstar Tom Brady is heating up.
The sighting, reported by Page Six, comes amid a very public falling-out between Swanepoel and her former best friend of 15 years, Joan Smalls — who also previously dated Brady. Fans are now asking the same question: what does the ring really mean?
The Ring That Started It All
Swanepoel, 38, was snapped during a casual solo outing dressed in black leggings, a tank top and a black baseball cap. But it was not the outfit that caught everyone's eye — it was the gold band sitting on her left ring finger, alongside a gold pinky ring and a bracelet on the same hand.
She was later seen entering the garage of Brady's office building, according to Page Six. The outlet was careful to note that the ring has not been confirmed as an engagement ring — and neither Swanepoel nor Brady has commented publicly on their relationship at all.
A Romance Months in the Making
A source told Page Six that Brady, 49, has been seeing Swanepoel for months and really likes spending time with her, but added that the retired quarterback is not looking to jump into another serious relationship just yet. The pair were reportedly set up by a mutual friend and both live in Miami, which makes spending time together easy.
Brady has been divorced from supermodel Gisele Bündchen since October 2022 and has dated a number of women since then, the source said. Swanepoel, meanwhile, has kept her private life famously guarded — sources say she has been very secretive and selective about who she has told about Brady.
The Joan Smalls Rift: 15 Years of Friendship at Stake
The romance has come at a cost. Fellow Victoria's Secret model Joan Smalls, 38, is reportedly furious that Swanepoel started dating Brady after Smalls herself dated him. The two women were described as inseparable for 15 years — until now.
According to Page Six sources, when Smalls was dating Brady, Swanepoel repeatedly encouraged her to dump him — only to later start dating him herself. Smalls has since taken public swipes at her former friend, posting on Instagram: 'This Halloween, I'm dressing up as accountability.' In since-deleted comments obtained by DeuxMoi, she branded Swanepoel a 'backstabber' and said there was 'no girl code.'
Smalls is reportedly even telling mutual friends they need to pick a side. Neither model's representatives had responded to Page Six's request for comment at the time of reporting.
So, Is It an Engagement Ring?
For now, the honest answer is: nobody knows. A gold band on a ring finger is enough to send fans into a frenzy, but sources close to the couple insist the romance 'isn't too serious' — a far cry from an engagement announcement.
What is clear is that this story is far from over. With a 15-year friendship on the line, a seven-time Super Bowl champion in the middle, and a mysterious ring in the spotlight, every new sighting will be watched closely. Stay tuned — the next photo could change everything.
