Candace Collins Jordan began her career at age 13 in St. Louis, Mo. as the youngest fashion coordinator in the history of major retailer Famous-Barr.  After a stint at St. Louis University she became a Bunny at the St. Louis Playboy Club and was quickly promoted to the Chicago Playboy Club, the center of Playboy Enterprises all at the age of 19.  Upon arrival in Chicago she moved into the original Playboy Mansion at 1340 N. State Parkway while Hugh Hefner (Hef) was in residence.

In 1976 she was named Chicago’s Playboy Bunny of the Year and appeared on the first, live televised international pageant on ABC.  In 1979, she became Playboy Magazine’s December centerfold and has made numerous appearances in the past 3 decades as one of the most popular Playmates ever to grace the magazine.

In addition, as one of Chicago’s top models in the late 70s and throughout the 80s, Candace appeared on over 20 magazine covers including 8 for Playboy (2 American, 6 international). Her famous “Eyes” cover (February 1980) was one of the best selling issues of all time and won a “National Marketing Bestseller” award for Playboy. She has appeared in numerous editorial features around the world, worked opposite Tom Cruise in “Risky Business” and had a billboard in Times Square.  She has been featured in magazines around town as a “Chicago Style Setter,” a “Style Icon,” a “Style Influencer,” one of the “Top 25 Most Fashionable Chicagoans,” a “Chicago Personal Brand,” and included in TCW Magazine’s “The A-List: 60 Chicagoans of Style,” and “100 Women Making a Difference” features.  She was named in Michigan Avenue Magazine as one of “100 Powerful Chicagoans” as well as being named “Chicago’s Unofficial Hostess” by AOL’s City’s Best.”  In a recent contest hosted by Racked Chicago, Candace was voted “Chicago’s Most Social Scenester.”

Today, she’s involved in numerous charitable organizations including The Joffrey Ballet Women’s Board (where she served as Vice-President), sits on the Board of Directors for Common Threads, is a founding member of the Ronald McDonald House Auxiliary Women’s Board at Lurie Children’s, the Service Club of Chicago and is a PAWS Development Board member among other affiliations.  Candace co-founded The Joffrey Ballet’s second largest fundraiser, “Couture & Cocktails,” now in its 8^th year, and chaired Macy’s Glamorama in 2010, 2011 and 2012.  Last year, she co-chaired the Joffrey Ballet’s Spring Celebration Gala which was a record breaker for the organization.

She and her successful blog, Candid Candace (www.CandidCandace.com), were featured in Chicago Magazine’s “Belle of the Blog” cover story feature as well as in CS Magazine’s “Best of the City 2012” issue.   Candace is also the Social Columnist for the Chicago Tribune and her column, Candid Candace, appears weekly in its Sunday magazine.

Her internet show, “Candid Candace Chicago”, can be seen on Chicago’s online network, www.Watch312.com, and will keep you ahead of the trends at the most exciting Chicago parties, festivals, movie premieres, charity events, hot spots and more.  It’s must-see viewing for the see-and-be-seen crowd with a Chicago-centric focus.

Candace is a regular contributor to many television and radio shows around town including Windy City Live and WCIU’s You & Me This Morning.