Congrats on your first MAXIM cover, Candice.
Thank you, it’s really exciting. The likes of Jennifer Hawkins, Jessica Gomes, Erin McNaught, Lauryn Eagle… have been on the cover and they’re such established women at what they do, so to be in their company is an honour.
Why did you decide to do this photo shoot?
So that in five or 10 years – whatever it may be – I can look back and have something I’m really proud of. I work so hard on my body and eating right, so it’s nice to have something like this, so I can show my kids what their mum looked like back in the day and they can see all the hard work and effort I’ve put in.
How did you prepare yourself for the big shoot day?
I always have to be in good shape and for what I do it’s all about power and strength. Before the shoot I cut back on a lot of the heavy weight training, which usually bulks me up a bit, and did a lot more running so I could be a little leaner.
Were you nervous posing in lingerie for the camera?
Every day I’m in the water in a two-piece or swimming costume, so I’m used to showing some skin with what I do for my career. Being in lingerie isn’t a big deal for me – I’m more than comfortable in it. If anything it was more fun and exciting to dress up and wear some beautiful underwear and try on some amazing jewellery.
At the shoot you said, “It was good to feel girlie.” Do you not often feel girlie?
I’m very much the tomboy. I do wear dresses, always have my nails done and that sort of thing, but I grew up at Maroubra Beach with all the boys down at the surf club and my two older brothers. I was always the one who made up the numbers in backyard basketball, footy, or soccer. I don’t own a hairdryer and don’t even know how to do my own hair! So to be pampered and made-up to feel really special was a nice change.
Well, you look awesome! What does your daily training regime involve?
I’m up at 4:08am every morning because 4:05am is too early and 4:10am is too late. It’s only a few minutes here and there but you don’t want to get to the swimming pool too early. It’s been 4:08am for a few years now. I swim between 5am and 6:30am, go home and have breakfast, then around 10am I have my second session, which is sprint training with my coach, or I’ll go to the gym. I have a rest mid-afternoon and then do surf training in the afternoon.
Sounds easy enough. Tell us about your background.
I have a lot of freckles, which I get from my mum’s side. I call it my Aussie side because my father is full-blooded Maltese and that’s where my olive skin is from. I’m a bit of a mix but I’m pretty happy with it.
You’re now back in the spotlight but what have you been up to the last few years?
I’ve basically dedicated my life to a sport I’ve been doing pretty much my whole life, as there’s still so much to achieve. I decided get a new coach, put my head down, and work my arse off getting results. And now I’m currently sitting on 18 Australian title medals, three world titles, and I’m the current NSW Ironwoman champion.
Nice one! Being an ironwoman, do men find you intimidating?
That’s a tough question. I’m the type of girl who is very approachable and honest but any time girls have muscles or are confident, it can be a little off-putting for guys because they don’t know how to approach that kind of woman.
Where do men go wrong with women?
Their lack of confidence. Sometimes men are afraid to approach women but if they can build up enough confidence they’ll actually find it’s not as bad as they first think.
If Tony Stark asked you to marry him, would you leave David Warner?
No, I wouldn’t leave David for anyone. He’s my ironman.
Nawww! You guys look like you’re very much of love. How are things going?
Unbelievable. It’s crazy how alike we are and how well we get along. We honestly are always smiling, laughing, and having fun. Being together is so easy and it’s like a dream. I wake up every day pinching myself, thinking, “How good is this?!”
What makes it so good?
We’re just a perfect match. We both grew up in the same area and both come from a blue-collar background. We know the importance of working hard to get somewhere in life and understand things don’t come easily. We share the same disciplines, morals, have very similar upbringings, and have this unbelievable connection. And we keep it fun. Every day he’s full of surprises and he’s a dream come true. I really am the luckiest girl in the world.
David’s father, Howard, says you’re the secret to his return to form. Do you agree?
David is his own secret to his current success. He just needed a bit of a push in the right direction and some encouraging. I’m a little bit of a motivator and we understand what sacrifices need to be made in order to achieve at a high level. We just rub off on each other in the best possible way. He’s always had it in him, and now that he’s on the right path, he’s only going to go onwards and upwards from here.
Being athletes, are you guys competitive around the house?
Yes, but in the best possible way. At home we just enjoy each other’s company but if we’re on the tennis court or challenge each other to a body surf competition or a swimming or running race, then all love is out the window and it’s all about who is going to win. If you’re going to have a race, you’ve always got to have a wager on it, so it’s all a bit of fun. He’s full of confidence and thinks he can beat me, and I always think I can beat him. On land he’s got me but in the water he’s no chance.
His comments after the first Ashes Test about the English team “being scared” made headlines. What’s the cheekiest thing he’s said or done to you?
He doesn’t ever cross the line with me because he knows I’ll give it back but he loves jumping out of places and scaring me. I get scared easily and one day he put this big, fake snake in the bed and I fell out kicking and screaming.
We hear he’s a good cook, too. What’s his signature dish?
He does go well on the barbeque but he makes a great chicken parmigiana.
You guys went to the One Direction concert together. Please explain.
I’m a massive closet One Direction fan and David has contacts with people who work with Harry Styles, so the opportunity arose to meet him backstage. My brother, David, and I had a chat to Harry Styles and he was really lovely and down to earth. When they came out onstage it was hilarious because I knew all the words to every single song and was up dancing the whole time. David was a little embarrassed but it was a really fun night.
Is their album the most embarrassing music on your iTunes?
No, I’m pretty sure I’ve got some old S Club 7 on there! It’s embarrassing because anyone who knows me knows I’m into my Jay-Z, Biggie, Tupac, and all that stuff.
Describe your perfect date with David?
We’d start off with a game of tennis, with the loser buying the winner dinner, then go home, get dressed up, and go out for a nice dinner, followed by some Cold Rock ice cream, then back home to watch a good movie. Or if it’s during the footy season we’d be watching the South Sydney Rabbitohs play.
You’re officially a WAG now. What do you girls talk about at the cricket?
It’s a label that doesn’t sit right but I understand that’s what I am to some people. We just talk about anything and everything. We’re no different to anyone else. I’m there to support David, so I make sure I’m cheering him on constantly, but I like to mix it up. I’ll sit in the stands with the other partners but I also love to get amongst it and sit with the general public, learn the game, and feel the atmosphere. Punch a beach ball around the crowd, do the Mexican wave, and all that kind of stuff – that’s what it’s all about.
What’s the biggest misconception about you?
That I’m not serious about my sport and that I’m too interested in partying. It couldn’t be further from the truth. People only see or read certain things about me and don’t realise how hard I work and what I’ve achieved.
How do you react when you read rumours about yourself in the tabloids?
If they’re positive stories it’s always nice but if it’s false things I’m pretty thick-skinned. I’ve been through a hell of a lot, as has David, so we’ve learnt not to let things bother us too much. If it’s a constant negative then we turn it around and use it as motivation and put it into our training.
What would you still love to do in your career?
I could always achieve more but I feel I could retire from my sport now and be pretty happy. I’m at the stage now where I’m about to bring out my own swimwear line and I’d love to do my own sporting apparel range, too.
FASHION CREDITS:
Candice Falzon credits
Seven ‘til Midnight ® lingerie available at GOLDBOXXX.com.au
Lovisa jewellery, lovisa.com.au
Peeptoe shoes, peeptoe.com.au
Triumph lingerie, triumph.com/au
Zu shoes, zushoe.com.au
Huit 8 lingerie, 03 9326 0318
Cerrone jewellery, cerrone.com.au
Calvin Klein lingerie, 02 9316 2800
Pierre winter jewellery, pierrewinterfinejewels.com
im lingerie, imboutique.com.au
Fred Shahed jewellery and clothing, 02 9331 0101
Missguided clothing, missguidedau.com
Marlies dekkers lingerie, 02 9557 7257
B tempted lingerie, 03 9326 0318
Pretty Little Thing clothing, prettylittlething.com.au
Steve Madden shoes, stevemadden.com.au
Ninewest shoes, ninewest.com.au
Wanderlust & Co jewellery, wanderlustandco.com
Voodoo hosiery, voodoohosiery.com.au
Miss Couture bodysuits and undergarments, 9231 1622
Skin shoes, skinshoes.co
For the full feature and images grab the January 2014 issue of MAXIM.
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