About Me

CANDACE JORDAN: Award-winning media personality, Associate Publisher Chicago Star Media, model/actress (SAG/AFTRA); author CandidCandace.com; Chicago Now blogger and host of "Candid Candace TV.

"Candid" Candace Jordan has been a notable fixture on the Chicago social scene since her arrival in 1974 from a small town (Dupo) in Southern Illinois. Her long-running (10 year) Chicago Tribune column covered the nonprofit community (until Covid struck) and her award-winning blog, Candid Candace, has shined a light on Chicago and the people who make it great since 2008.

Besides the Chicago Tribune, Jordan has been a contributor to the Huffington Post, Chicago Now and her Candid Candace TV (YouTube) channel (with nearly 250,000 views), where she shares celebrity interviews with some of the world's top stars, hot happenings, "around town" news, exclusive sneak peeks and so much more. Her current collaboration as Associate Publisher for Chicago Star Media will continue to showcase her love of Chicago.

She has appeared as a contributor for many local TV and radio shows including national segments on The Steve Harvey Show where she was featured as a style, etiquette, and lifestyle expert. She has won Telly Awards as well as Chicago International Film Festival Awards for her abilities as a host, producer, director, and writer. Her Candid Candace radio show on Rivet covered film premieres, celebrity interviews, gala news and more.

Jordan began modeling at age 13 in St. Louis, Mo., and during her long career, she's appeared on over 20 national magazine covers including 9 for Playboy (3 U.S., 6 international), had a billboard in Times Square, was a Playboy centerfold, Playboy Bunny of the Year and appeared in “Risky Business” with Tom Cruise. Her international modeling career brought her to an afternoon lunch with the late surrealist painter Salvador Dali and his wife Gala, at their home on the Costa Brava in Spain.

Her lifelong association with Playboy began in 1974 when she became a Bunny at the St. Louis Playboy Club. Following her inclusion in a "Best Bunnies" pictorial in the magazine, she was invited to transfer to Chicago, the organization's hub, where she moved into the Playboy Mansion (when Hefner was in residence).

Magazine pictorials, Bunny of the Year honors, covers and a centerfold quickly followed. In 2017, she was invited to reprise her 1979 cover with 6 other prominent Playmates. In 2019, she was contacted again by the magazine to appear in a 12-page cover story feature (with 4 Playmates) in the magazine's now iconic, Winter 2020, "Equality Issue." In November, Playboy asked Jordan to appear in a NY Times magazine feature shot by the legendary artist Marilyn Minter but her schedule didn't allow.

Jordan has built an incredible career shining a spotlight on and providing a platform for many Chicago charities. She's involved with The Joffrey Ballet's Women's Board (past Vice-President and co-founder of one of its most popular fundraisers, "Couture & Cocktails"); Common Threads (Auxiliary Board co-founder); Ronald McDonald House Charities (Auxiliary Women’s Board at Lurie Children's--a founding board member); Service Club of Chicago (Board of Managers); Chicago Lighthouse President’s Advisory Council Member; Giordano Dance Chicago (board of directors), PAWS Chicago (Development Board) and board member of the Aparecio Foundation, among others.

As a longtime champion of the city's nonprofit community, she was tapped by the Chicago Sun-Times to present its "Give Chicago" feature, a wrap-around section celebrating and promoting the city's rich charity scene.

She has chaired or co-chaired hundreds of events for the city's philanthropic community including those for Macy’s (Glamorama for five consecutive years benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities); the Joffrey Ballet's Celebration Gala (a record-breaker at the time); The Service Club Gala; N'DIGO Foundation Gala; Chef Art Smith's World Festival (benefiting Common Threads for four consecutive years); twice for the Bear Tie Ball (benefiting Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation); the Primo Center's Primo Classico (where she brought tennis legend Jimmy Connors on as the honoree); the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival's Spring Gala (honoring actress Helen Mirren); Eversight Illinois' 70th anniversary celebration; the Green Tie Ball (its largest fundraiser to date, benefiting Chicago Gateway Green) and the Chicago International Film Festival Summer Gala (honoring retiring founder Michael Kutza), among many others. In 2021, she chaired PAWS Chicago's popular Beach Party and co-chaired her 5th Eversight Celebration Gala. This year, she has will be co-chairing her 6th Eversight Celebration Gala, co-emceeing her second FLAIR event for the Chicago Lighthouse, and co-hosting Chef Art Smith’s grand opening of his new restaurant Reunion at Navy Pier with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas.

With Covid shutting down many nonprofit in-person fundraisers during the past couple of years, Jordan still supported organizations virtually. She emceed the virtual event for the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center; co-hosted PAWS Chicago's virtual Beach Party, co-hosted The Chicago Lighthouse FLAIR show, hosted two TPAN Chicago's "When Dogs Heal" webinars, the Service Club of Chicago's virtual Cocktail Party and the Apparel Industry Foundation's Rev UP! event, where she returned as host again this year.

During the lockdown, she made guest appearances in video segments for Gilda's Club Chicago, Misericordia Heart of Mercy, A Silver Lining Foundation, Luminarts, Friends of Prentice and The Service Club of Chicago. This year, she hosted (virtually)The Chicago Publicity Club's Golden Trumpet Awards.

She has been honored by many nonprofits including: The Alliance for Women in Media which inducted her into its Media Maven Hall of Fame; The Stanley Paul Foundation honored her at its annual benefit where she drew the largest crowd in the event's history; Eversight Illinois named her its Woman of Vision and Creativity United presented her with the Oprah Winfrey Female Entrepreneur Award at the DuSable Museum of African History. She was presented with the Shining Star Award from Wish-Upon-A-Wedding, a nonprofit that grants weddings and vow renewals for people with life-threatening illnesses. She was the honoree for Giordano Dance Chicago's 55th anniversary Legacy Ball where she was gifted with a world premiere created in her honor by famed choreographer Ray Leeper. The Chicago Lighthouse honored her with its Hood/Swift Woman of Flair Award at its annual FLAIR benefit. Jordan was also honored by the Catering Executives Club of America with its Impact Award. BizBash inducted her into its Hall of Fame during a gala at the Museum of Science and Industry and The Happiness Club, a nonprofit that inspires kids through the arts, honored her at its annual benefit with its Legacy Award. The Apparel Industry Board honored Jordan at its annual Rev Up! event for her support of Chicago's local design community. She was also honored by SOS Villages Illinois, a nonprofit that provides foster care for those in need.

She's been spotlighted in media publications as: 100 Powerful Chicagoans, 25 Most Intriguing Chicagoans, 100 Women Making a Difference, 100 Women of Influence, Chicago Style Setter, Style Icon, Style Influencer, Dynamic Woman, Perfect Woman, Social Butterfly, Fierce 50, Leading Ladies in News, Top 25 Most Fashionable Chicagoans, among many others.

Jordan has also appeared on-stage at the Royal George Theatre and the Goodman Theatre. Her original play, "A Facebook Fairytale," was performed at Victory Gardens Theater. The late, renowned theater critic, Richard Christiansen, described it as "comedy via the internet. A fresh new source of satire. Neatly performed."

Since 1974, Candace has been a champion and advocate for Chicago, shining a light on the charities, people and events that make it great through her many media outlets.

For 33 years, she has been married to Charles (Chuck) Jordan. They share a love of rare books, all things Christmas, rescue Chihuahuas and traveling the back roads in their vintage convertible.

(Contact her at [email protected] or [email protected])