There comes a time in a model’s life when she goes from model to supermodel—and is referred to by first name only. When Isabeli broke through the fashion game with her first major appearances in 1999, the same year this very publication was born, a then 15-year-old budding beauty from Brazil didn’t know that she would soon become one of the early aughts’ top supers, as the industry learned the power the name Isabeli holds when it enters the chat. Now with more than 25 years of modeling (and motherhood!) under her belt, Isabeli is living proof that a career with longevity is worth more than gold these days.

V MAGAZINE: What are your golden rules of life?

CANDICE SWANEPOEL: For me, energy is everything. [Be mindful of] the energy that you bring around other people, and the way you feel other people’s energy. Over the years, I’ve really honed in on those gut feelings of how you feel about people, or how you make them feel so and we work with a lot of people closely, new people from all over the world. So I think that’s my main rule.

ISABELI FONTANA: Mine are very similar, because I try to live my life with love and happiness, being happy for others, and living by my truth. I think another main thing is just to be balanced because something will happen to get you out of balance, and it’s very important to just be centered. A lot of situations can happen, especially when we shoot, and when we live our lives and I think it’s something very important to just keep yourself [aligned], and think ‘Nobody is going to ruin my life. I am balanced. I live by truth, and I can be a lovable person.’

CS: I always noticed that about you too. You’re always very calm and chill. And I’ve always been like that too. I try to observe a lot, but not take in the energy if it’s crazy. I guess it’s some form of protection and meditation.

IF: It’s so hard. Sometimes you just want to shout and say something bad, but you’re like, (*exhales*) ‘Breathe in. Breathe out.’ I think yoga has been helping me a lot. (*laughs*) to tell you the truth. 

CS: I should do more yoga. I remember when it became a big thing, and I tried it, and hated it. Then I got to a place in my life where I really needed to quiet my mind, but I can’t just sit and meditate. I started going to this place in New York called Yoga to the People where you walk in and it’s all donation based. It’s very chill. It’s not like a whole scene, and you don’t have to commit, but I started going to that, and that’s how I got into yoga, and it helped me a lot as well. I haven’t been doing it as much in recent years with my kids and everything.

IF: Yeah, small children are a lot of work! Been there.

V: What does a day in your lives look like as busy moms and models?

CS: For me, I guess if I’m at home in Miami, it’s definitely not fixing myself. I’ve probably had one of my kids in and out of my bed at night, trying to cuddle. I wake up at seven, and take my kids to school. At 8: 15, I come home, usually have meetings, and will try and get a workout in, have more meetings, and pick up my kids. Very boring actually…

IF & CS: (*laughs*)

CS: Speaking for myself, over the last 20 years it’s been very hard to find a routine, because life is evolving and changing all the time, and we move around countries and cities and then they tell you you have a job tomorrow, so you have to figure it out and go. So when I’m at home in Miami, I really try to be as present [with my kids] as I can be. So it really revolves around them, and then trying to fit in as many work meetings and preparation that I can within that time. It’ll probably involve some wine at the end of the day.

IF: It’s well deserved! I don’t have a routine as well. With having bigger kids, my kids live on their own right now at this moment, but I make sure everything is organized for them, and I still pick them up and take them to the school and all that. But I do love sleeping. I’m a super sleepy girl. I love to sleep.

CS: Me too!

IF: I sleep as much as I can. I try to have at least eight hours of sleep, because the most important thing for me is to sleep. When I have a job, I always want to get there one day before the actual job. This shoot for V was so hard because of my flight delays, and I was exhausted. All I wanted was to sleep, but I got to New York at five in the morning, and then I had three hours to sleep before the shoot. I hate to do that, because I like to be more calm so my brain can work properly. For a normal routine when I don’t have to hurry to work, I like to take some time to meditate every morning. I like to do meditation even before I get up from bed. I’m very into Ayurvedic things to cleanse. I like listening to these doctors that talk all about cleansing, and I’m obsessed with Anthony Williams. So I listen to a lot of podcasts and all that. I do all the juicing, and detoxing—

CS: That’s why you look exactly the same as when I met you 20 years ago. It’s insane.

IF: She was always [asking me] at Victoria’s Secret [events] like ‘Tell me what do you do to be fresh and young!’ I’m obsessed with these doctors that do non-traditional medicines. I do the hyperbaric chamber. I like to test a lot of stuff, and I am very obsessed with it.

V: Looking back on your many years of modeling—Isabeli going on almost 30 years and Candice hitting your 20th anniversary. Are you both amazed at what you’ve accomplished? 

CS: I’m very proud of a lot of things that I’ve done, but I live with passion for what I want to do next. I never really take the time to enjoy it all and really be proud of things that are in the moment. It’s weird when you say 20 years, it sounds crazy to me. I’m always like, ‘Okay, what’s the next inspiring project?’ I should take the time to look back.

IF: Totally. Something very special for me is that because I had my kids when I was 19, it’s so weird to see them growing up. That’s when I feel old, because I look at my kids and I go ‘Oh, my God. How did this happen?’ You know, they’re 22 and 18, and I’m looking at myself like ‘Yeah I’m getting old. Every day I have to accept my new self, especially when you live in this business.

CS: I feel like we have to constantly evolve. Not only us who are in this industry, but I think it’s really important as human beings to constantly be learning and evolving. It’s not really looking back at 20 years, but it’s more so on how I can be better, and how to better myself and be a better daughter and friend and professional. 

V: What’s keeping you both motivated for the future? 

IF: My kids motivate me every day to get out of my bed and go see the world.

CS: For me, my kids have reset my passions. I had a phase where I was burned out, and then had my kids and it reactivated my passion for creating imagery and fashion. What inspires me is choosing the projects that I really want to be a part of. Speaking with my agent and having really great ideas and new things to look forward to, I think that’s inspiring. Dreaming up or manifesting things for your career with people that are around you and with people you trust, I love that whole world now.

This cover story appears in the pages of V154: now available for purchase!

Photography Lufré

Fashion Nicola Formichetti

Hair Peter Gray (Home) using Oway USA

Hair color for Taras Romanov Gary Levin at Arco Salon using Oway Hair Color 

Makeup Maki Ryoke (Walter Schupfer) using Bobbi Brown

Manicure Mo Qin (The Wall Group) using Aprés Nail 

Set Designer Robert Taylor 

Production Ernesto Qualizza (Locals Worldwide) 

Retouching Teu Freitas / Telhas Retouch ( M.Lages)

Contributing casting director Roman Young (The Youngbloods) 

1st photo assistant Fernando Freire 

2nd photo assistant Daniel dos Santos 

Stylist assistants Arut Arustamyan, Vera Pun, Joan Reidy, Dylan Gue

Hair assistants Josie Tippman, D’Xenia, Rebecca Velez 

Makeup assistants Brenda Garcia Jaramillo, Talitha Daeng Situju, Tarina Meaders 

Manicure assistant Qin Huang

Set design assistants Cory Nelson, Buddy Kennedy 

Production assistant Amanda Winn 

Studio Satellite Space