Candace Collins Jordan is a media personality, Crain’s Chicago Business columnist, Associate Publisher Chicago Star Media, WGN Radio contributor, founder CandidCandace.com and podcast host “Candid Candace- The Podcast“.
She began her career as a Playboy Bunny in St. Louis transferring to the Chicago Club in the early ’70’s and into the original Playboy Mansion. She was Chicago’s Playboy Bunny of the Year in 1976, a centerfold in December 1979 and has appeared on 9 covers for the magazine, both national and international. Over the next three decades she has appeared in multiple issues and remains one of the most popular Playboy Playmates ever and one of the few who worked as both a Bunny and also received the title of Playmate. She recreated her iconic Feb. 1979 cover after 38 years for the magazine.
Jordan appeared in “Risky Business” with Tom Cruise, “Smokey and the Bandit” and others. Through Wilhelmina NYC, she modeled in Europe and appeared on a billboard in Times Square.
In the late ’70’s and throughout the ’80’s, she graced the cover of twenty magazines, both national and international. Known for her arresting eyes, Playboy’s 1980 “Eyes” cover won a National Marketing Bestseller award and remains one of its best-selling issues of all time.
She appears regularly as a media personality on radio and TV shows including Windy City Live, WGN Midday News, Fox Midday News, WGN Radio, National Public Radio (NPR), The Steve Harvey Show and more. She is a regular contributor on WGN Radio’s “After Hours with Rick Kogan.” She was featured as herself in a BBC documentary with acclaimed Brit actress Miriam Margolyes (“Miriam’s Great American Adventure”).
In addition to being selected for three of Chicago’s top 100 lists — 100 Most Powerful Chicagoans (Michigan Avenue Magazine), 100 Women Making a Difference (TCW Magazine) and 100 Women of Influence (TCW Magazine)–Jordan has been recognized in other magazine features as a: Chicago Style Setter; Style Icon; Style Influencer; Top 25 Most Fashionable Chicagoans; Chicago Personal Brand; The A-List: 60 Chicagoans of Style; Leading Ladies in the News; Windy City’s Most Social Scenester; Chicago’s Unofficial Hostess; Cultural Catalyst: 30 Women Who Impact Chicago’s Art & Entertainment Scenes and more.
She was included in Parade Magazine’s “Perfect Woman” article and in New York Magazine’s “View from a Centerfold” feature. Chicago Woman Magazine included her in its list of “Fierce 50” women in the Windy City.
Accolades and honors continue to follow Jordan including receiving an inaugural “Women Driving Excellence: Trailblazer” Award. She was the honoree for the Stanley Paul Foundation where she drew the largest crowd in the organization’s history and has been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media, among others.
She was named Eversight Illinois Woman of Vision; Giordano Dance Chicago’s Legacy Ball honoree; Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind honoree; Oprah Winfrey Female Entrepreneur Award winner at DuSable Museum for Creativity United; Wish-Upon-A-Wedding’s Shining Star honoree; inducted into Biz Bash Hall of Fame; Excellence in Media Award from Dream Awards; Legacy Award honoree from The Happiness Club; SOS Villages honoree; WINGS honoree 2024; PAWS Chicago’s inaugural Community Engagement Award winner and others.
Recently, the Chicago History Museum acquired her Playboy collection, making her the first and only Playmate/Bunny to be spotlighted in a museum exhibit.
She passionately advocates for many worthy causes around town by covering Chicago’s social scene and charity circuit on her popular blog, CandidCandace.com, the first and longest running lifestyle blog in Chicago. Chicago Magazine named her the “Belle of the Blog” in a cover story feature and Chicago Social Magazine (CS) included her blog in one of its “Best of the City” issues.
Known as the “go to” emcee and host for many of Chicago’s hottest and most fashionable events, her award-winning internet show, Candid Candace TV, can be seen on YouTube. She covers and highlights the best of Chicago’s events and has won two Telly Awards and two Chicago International Film Festival Television Awards for her online programming via “Candid Candace TV.”
Jordan has chaired/co-chaired 100s of signature events and galas around town including Common Threads’ World Festival (five consecutive years); Macy’s Glamorama (five consecutive years) benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities; the Service Club Ball; the Bear Tie Ball benefiting Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, N’DIGO Gala 2015; the Joffrey Ballet’s Spring Gala in 2012 (a record breaker at the time); Primo Center’s 2016 Primo Classico and the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival’s Spring Gala honoring actress Helen Mirren; Gateway Green’s Green Tie Ball; Eversight Illinois Gala (5 years) and so many more.
She co-founded the Joffrey Ballet’s successful fundraiser “Couture & Cocktails” and was instrumental in founding and establishing the Ronald McDonald House Women’s Auxiliary Board at Lurie Children’s. She is also a founding member of the Auxiliary Board of Common Threads, Chef Art Smith and Jesus Salgueiro’s national healthy eating initiative for kids.
She’s appeared onstage at the Royal George Theatre and at the Goodman Theatre. She was tapped as a celebrity playwright for Victory Gardens Theatre’s “Chicago Stories” Gala that showcased her original play “A Facebook Fairytale.”
As wife to Chuck (36 years) and mom to Chihuahua Penny, she is a lover of antiques (including Christmas-related rarities), traveling the back roads in their vintage convertible, rescue Chihuahuas and rare books (their collection has been featured in many national magazines and TV shows, including “Collector’s Call.” ) Contact her: Candace@CandidCandace.com
(Follow her on Facebook (Candace Jordan and her fan page, Candid Candace); Twitter (Candid Candace); LinkedIn (Candace Jordan) and Instagram (Candid Candace).
In St. Louis back in the 70’s did you ever eat at Tony’s (Bommarito’s). During your PM years.
Just found a great podcast at St. Louis magazine (called Arch eats). I’m sorta thinking Janet Lupo would of been a natural in that place.
You know to eat all dolled up.
But, did you go there on a hot date.
If that guy is pondering writing a book/ movie. All those great days ago that you may have. Really should be put on paper or in your autobiography, too.
As imagine “Candance”, the movie.
A love story or a comedy.
And who would play you or the guys.
Of course, you could play you but we’d have to put the camera way back there an just use a long lense. As everybody would want to dial into what kind style you had back then. As it would be my guess you could slip into your bunny costume.
And so if you didn’t eat there. I’m sure the folks at Arch Eats or Mr. Bommarito’s would love to hear about the St. Louis Bunny Club and some of the other places around town.
Also listen to Gilbert Gottfried podcast with Ronny Schell about his days in Chicago as a stand up comedian and the Chicago mob.
I believe the family got into the automobile business as the food business margins are probably quite thin, but at least they had food on the table. Bommarito’s Auto Group radio and television advertising worked. Hence, I heard the auto ad’s but Tony’s Resturant might be right up your alley or across the river from your childhood home.
You might reach out to this guy so as to play with your hair while talking to him. Unless you wacked it all off.
Ya know, I’m really sorta surprised you never went to work for Ozark Airlines. And remember Famous Barr and Stix.
I use to drive on Lindberg and see that Bunny jet just parked there, everybody did. Somebody needs to go find a old C-9 paint it black and park it out on the ramp at Lambert. Less the Bunny logo and don’t you know that thing would be toasty hot inside.
Sadly Hefner just didn’t know what he had. He could of gutted that bird and leased it out to UPS or to some shipping company and later bought a few more. He bought the cargo version as no doubt that round bed was probably bigger than the standard door.
And could of always said the fancy one is in Long Beach being fitted for a hot tub as these playmates love bubble baths and I love to clean my tools.
But, what do you think, would it make St. Louis stand out. Sorta like that chrome bean in Chicago.
Hi there and thanks for this great comment! As a matter of fact, I was a great fan of Tony’s and Vince Bommarito was a good friend! I loved the waiters and his great family too. And I was thinking of working for Ozark Airlines when I was very young, but thankfully, the Playboy opportunity opened up. All meant to be! And, lastly, my first modeling job was for Famous- Barr when I was 13. You know the city well!