You’ve seen the face. Maybe you remember her as Brandy from that wild American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile era, or perhaps you caught her guest starring in literally every big 2000s sitcom from How I Met Your Mother to Scrubs. But for a very specific subset of fitness enthusiasts, the name Candace Kroslak isn't just tied to Hollywood—it's tied to a very specific look.
The Candace Kroslak sports bra image didn't come from a movie set.
It came from the newsstand. Specifically, it came from the cover of Runner's World magazine.
Most people think of actresses as these fragile creatures who only hit the gym when a Marvel contract is on the line. Candace was different. She wasn't just "actress skinny"; she was "runner fit." When she appeared on the April 2011 cover of Runner's World—and then again in 2013—it sparked a massive wave of interest in her gear, her routine, and how she managed to look like a legit athlete while juggling a chaotic acting career.
The Story Behind the Iconic Runner's World Look
Honestly, the 2011 Runner's World cover was a moment. Candace was styled in high-performance athletic gear that looked functional, not just decorative. It resonated because she actually ran. She wasn't faking the sweat.
In the world of fitness modeling, there’s a big difference between a model holding a 5lb dumbbell and an athlete who knows the "dark place" of the final mile in a 10K. Candace was the latter.
She grew up in Chicago and eventually moved to LA, but she kept that midwestern grit. While she was filming over 100 episodes of the soap opera Ocean Ave. in a single year, she was using physical activity as her anchor. That’s why the Candace Kroslak sports bra searches spiked—people wanted to know what she was wearing because she made the lifestyle look achievable and authentic.
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Why the Gear Mattered
In the early 2010s, "athleisure" wasn't really a word yet. If you were wearing a sports bra, you were probably actually working out. Candace’s cover look featured:
- A high-impact, racerback design.
- Moisture-wicking tech that didn't look like plastic.
- A fit that suggested she could actually do a sprint workout without a wardrobe malfunction.
For a lot of women, seeing an actress emphasize support and functionality over just "looking hot" was a breath of fresh air.
Moving From the Gym to the Mind
Life is kinda funny. You spend years being the "hot girl" in movies like Take Me Home Tonight or the "Cool Blonde" in Soul Survivors, and then you realize there’s more to the story.
Candace eventually stepped away from the traditional Hollywood grind. She didn't just stop acting; she pivoted hard. She went back to school and earned a Master’s in Spiritual Psychology. Today, she goes by Candace van Dell.
She’s traded the red carpet for YouTube and coaching.
It's a wild transition. One day you're the face of a major fitness magazine, and the next you're helping people navigate emotional trauma and "inner child" work. But if you look closely, the thread is the same. It's about self-regulation. Whether it's through a long run in a sturdy sports bra or a deep meditation session, Candace has always been about the work.
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The Misconceptions
People often search for the Candace Kroslak sports bra thinking it’s a scene from a movie.
It’s not.
While she definitely had some revealing roles (looking at you, The Naked Mile), her most influential "bra moment" was purely athletic. She’s been vocal about how modeling helped her understand her body, but she’s even more vocal now about how she felt disconnected from herself during those years.
What We Can Learn From Her Fitness Era
If you’re looking for that "Candace Kroslak look," you have to understand it wasn't just about the clothes. It was about the consistency. Here’s the reality of her approach:
- Functional over Fashionable: She chose gear that worked. If you're actually running, a flimsy bra is your worst enemy.
- The Pivot is Okay: You can be the "fitness girl" for a decade and then decide you want to be the "psychology girl." You aren't stuck in one lane.
- Real Sweat: She didn't look "perfect" on those covers; she looked capable.
The 2020s have seen a massive shift toward "wellness," but Candace was doing the authentic version of it before it was a hashtag. She dealt with dyslexia as a kid and used physical activity to build the resilience she needed for the brutal world of acting.
Actionable Insights for Your Own Routine
If you’re trying to channel that peak-fitness energy, don't just buy a new sports bra. Follow the blueprint Candace actually lived by.
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Invest in High-Impact Support
If you're doing anything more intense than yoga, you need a bra designed for compression and encapsulation. Look for wide straps and a thick under-band. Brands like Brooks or Panache offer the kind of "lockdown" that Candace modeled on those covers.
Integrate the Mental Side
Candace didn't just quit acting because she was bored; she felt a calling for "Spiritual Psychology." If your workout is just about the mirror, you’ll burn out. Find a "why" that has nothing to do with your dress size.
Watch the Evolution
Check out her current work as Candace van Dell. It’s a fascinating look at how a person can completely rebrand by leaning into their true interests rather than what the industry expects of them.
The Candace Kroslak sports bra era was great, but her current era of helping people heal their minds is arguably much more impressive. It's a reminder that while the gear matters for the run, the mindset is what gets you to the finish line.
To apply this to your own life, start by evaluating your current fitness goals. Are you training for a look or for a feeling? If it's the latter, prioritize gear that supports your movement—like a high-impact racerback—and pair it with a routine that includes mental check-ins. You can track her journey from Hollywood to healing by following her "Emotional Integration" work online today.