Naked Beauty Podcast

Episode: Candice Brathwaite on Self-Discipline As Personal Power

Host: Brooke DeVard
Guest: Candice Brathwaite
Date: December 22, 2025

Overview

This episode dives deep into the journey of Candice Brathwaite—a celebrated author and creator—focusing on the themes of self-discipline, reinvention, beauty, personal branding, and self-acceptance. With her trademark candor and humor, Candice reflects on her evolution from childhood struggles with beauty ideals to her current self-assuredness as a woman, storyteller, and brand. The conversation spans vulnerability, motherhood, wellness, fitness, the creator economy, and the power of defining your own narrative—offering practical and emotional wisdom for listeners at every life stage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Beauty, Identity, and Growing Up

Childhood Experiences with Beauty:
- Candice did not feel beautiful growing up outside her home, despite feeling loved and seen at home (01:24).
- "In my home, I felt beautiful. But the outside world was already very much telling me that you had to be white and or light skinned..." – Candice (01:24)
- She discusses her mother's lighter complexion and early feelings of colorism and comparison.
- Felt like "the ugly duckling" among her white and light-skinned friends.
Words Matter: 'Pretty' vs. 'Beautiful':
- Candice challenges how “beautiful” is often used as a consolation prize:
  - “Beautiful is like, you know, you’re so unique… It’s like, no, can I just be pretty?” (02:25)
- Didn’t start feeling beautiful until her late 20s, and “pretty” in her 30s.
Parenting and Body Acceptance:
- She fosters body positivity and individuality in her children, allowing them to express themselves with hair and style choices (03:11, 03:54).
- Emphasis on a “naked house”—seeing real, unfiltered bodies at home combats unrealistic social media ideals (05:15–07:12).
"Being raised in a naked house... does so much to fight against social media algorithms."
– Candice (05:53)

2. Navigating Marginality and Early Success

Experiences as an Outlier:
- Candice recalls being the only Black girl in junior ballroom dancing, and the tedious preparations contrasted with white peers’ ease (08:12).
- Brooke shares a parallel story about “lotion” and feeling different as a young Black girl (09:22).
- This led Candice to intentionally “overdo” cultural affirmation at home, knowing her children would face different norms at predominantly white schools (09:58–10:27).
Early Definitions of Success:
- Childhood aspirations equated material milestones (“when I get a kitchen island”), but also included clarity about her voice and being an author (10:39–11:31).
- “I knew I was going to be an author maybe from age eight.” – Candice (11:31)

3. Messiness and Growth in the 20s

The Pressure to Have It Figured Out:
- Candice stresses that 20s should be messy and experimental, rightfully spent “mucking it up.” Warns only of damaging credit (12:31–13:21).
“The 20s are absolutely the time for messiness...” – Candice (12:31)
Unfiltered Reflections:
- Discusses outgrowing trauma-bonded friendships rooted in shared pain and bad decisions (14:25–15:42).
- Celebrates that she, as a Black woman, had space to be messy and make mistakes:
  - “I love that as a Black girl, I got to be so messy.” (15:42)
- Both reflect on how social media now erases privacy and the right to youthful mistakes (16:00–16:24).
Mistakes with Men:
- Candice candidly discusses relying on men for rescue, gravitating toward older men, and recognizing unhealthy patterns, including being fetishized by a white ex-partner (16:40–18:52).
- “You're never bigger than the program, as the girlies say. You are not bigger than the program.” (17:45)
The Importance of ‘The Nice Guy’:
- Eventually realized the value of men who are supportive and consistent—“marry the nice guy” (20:48–21:23).

4. Reinvention, Personal Branding & Building the Right Team

Shifting from ‘Doing’ to ‘Branding’:
- Candice only began thinking of herself as a “brand” after overhauling her team and bringing in better support (21:37–22:34).
- “When you don’t have the right team, you’re not thinking about that stuff.” – Candice (21:45)
Team Evolution:
- Fired her old management (all white women), describing a shift from being “pet to threat” and uncovering sabotage within her team (23:40–25:15).
- Shockingly, discovered one team member was anonymously trolling her online for eight months (25:06–26:06).
  
  "It turns out one of my agents was my online troll..."
  – Candice (24:57)
- The motivation seemed to be undermining her confidence so she wouldn’t leave (25:50–26:25).
Working with Her Husband:
- After the agency split, her husband became her manager—initially challenging, but ultimately a dynamic, productive partnership (27:47–30:05).
“He is a master at what he does... I’m the raw talent... But he leaves no stone unturned.”
– Candice (29:10)
Defining Her Personal Brand:
- Described as “authentic,” “auntie-ish,” “motherly,” “warm,” but also “correcting”—urges self-discipline and growth.
- She’s intentional about Black luxury visibility, pushing past shame in showing her success (30:25–33:13).
  
  “If you want trauma porn and a Black woman crying into her coffee, ... that’s just not going to be the root of what we do here.”
  – Candice (32:13)

5. Self-Discipline as Power: Fitness and Consistency

The Fitness Transformation:
- Candice’s treadmill journey is emblematic of her newfound self-discipline (34:14–34:31).
- Realized discipline is central to achieving her goals:
  - “Until I committed to my fitness journey, everything… I said I wanted, I actually wasn’t willing to work for.” (34:41)
- Running marathons post-kids restored a powerful sense of agency and integrity:
  - “If you’ve run 15 miles by 6am—yeah, I can have this shitty meeting at 9.” (36:31)
Making Fitness Work for You:
- She prefers solo workouts (home treadmill, private gym) to avoid comparison and judgment (39:24–40:53).
- Empathizes with postpartum mothers: urges no rush to “bounce back,” advocating for patience and compassion (37:39–39:18).

6. Candice’s Beauty & Wellness Favorites

Skincare Rituals (42:09–46:41):
- Body: Lush Body Wash (Sticky Dates, Rose Jam), L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil (“I buy that stuff by the truckload.”)
- Face:
  - Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (“I love it.”);
  - Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Serum (hyperpigmentation);
  - Charlotte Tilbury Night Cream (“smells like an older lady, a lovely lady, but it’s almost like a face mask at night”);
  - MZ Skin Red Light Mask (3x a week)
- Sunscreen: La Roche Posay Anthelios, and K-beauty Wonder (new favorite)
- Eye Patches: Dieux (reusable, highlight sustainability)
Makeup Must-Haves (46:43–49:48):
- Foundation: Lancome Teint Idole, Dior Backstage
- Charlotte Tilbury: credits a Black artist for showing her its potential
- MAC Nightmoth liner: signature, plus MAC lip gloss for a youthful, dewy look over aging matte reds
- Prada red lipstick: loves both color and packaging
- Eyebrows: Benefit and Maybelline
- Lashes: Now skips false lashes after a bad infection; swears by Charlotte Tilbury mascara
- Day-to-day glow: Merit’s Great Skin serum
“There’s also eyelash blindness... You look back on those pictures, I’m like, you look like you’re about to take off!”
– Candice (49:00)

7. Legacy, Reinvention & Wisdom for the Next Generation

Owning Her Womanhood (50:07–50:55):
- Embraces her power as a woman; no longer waits for outside validation, quick to move on from unaligned relationships.
- “I am now a woman who’s comfortable being a woman... now I’m finally like, no, I’m the adult.” (50:07)
- “I’m also getting really comfortable firing people. I will not be in hell for seven years ever again.” (50:34)
What She Hopes Audiences Take Away:
- “You’re always right. That clear narrative you had on your life when you were like, five, six, seven, eight. That’s it. And then life got in the way.” (51:01)
Candice’s Future Visions (51:40–54:34):
- Desires unexpected reinvention: wants to own funeral homes to honor Black loss with dignity (51:49–53:09).
- Might run an art gallery, and aspires to a more holistic, grounded future self.
- Reflects on a meditation in which her older self is serene, healthy, drinking tea instead of coffee.
Closing Reflections on Health & Beauty:
- Health is paramount: “Everyone has 100 problems till their health is bad. Then you have one.” (54:42)
- On feeling beautiful: Unapologetically loves being “dolled up”—full glam, heels, and all (55:30).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On colorism and childhood:
- “I always thought, well, I’m never going to be as beautiful as my mum because I’ve got a darker skin tone.” (01:24)
On the right to mess up:
- “I love that as a Black girl, I got to be so messy.” (15:42)
On team betrayal:
- “It turns out one of my agents was my online troll. Dun, dun, dun.” (24:57)
- “Good luck finding anyone to sign you.” (26:25)
On team with her husband:
- “He is a master at what he does... Sure, I’m the raw talent. But he leaves no stone unturned.” (29:10)
On brand and luxury:
- “If you want trauma porn and a Black woman crying into her coffee ... that’s just not going to be the root of what we do here.” (32:13)
On self-discipline as liberation:
- “Until I committed to my fitness journey, everything... I actually wasn’t willing to work for.” (34:41)
- “If you’ve run 15 miles by 6am—yeah, I can have this shitty meeting at 9.” (36:31)
On health:
- “Everyone has 100 problems till their health is bad. Then you have one.” (54:42)

Important Timestamps

Beauty & childhood: 01:24–04:54
Parenting & body acceptance: 03:11–07:12
Majority-minority and microaggressions: 08:12–10:27
Success & purpose: 10:39–12:00
20s: Messiness, mistakes, self-forgiveness: 12:20–17:01
Team/betrayal/personal branding: 21:37–26:36
Fitness as self-discipline: 34:14–37:26
Motherhood & postpartum wisdom: 37:39–39:18
Beauty products & skincare: 42:09–46:41
Makeup favorites: 46:43–49:48
Personal transformation & legacy: 50:07–54:34
Sense of beauty: 55:30–end

Tone and Style

The conversation is intimate, witty, raw, and affirming—punctuated by Candice’s sharp humor, honesty, and a “big sister” directness. Both host and guest remain upbeat, down-to-earth, and inclusive, generously sharing vulnerable wisdom and practical takeaways.

Perfect for listeners craving real talk on beauty, success, transformation, and the discipline to rise—on their own terms.

Naked Beauty Podcast

Episode: Candice Brathwaite on Self-Discipline As Personal Power

Host: Brooke DeVard
Guest: Candice Brathwaite
Date: December 22, 2025

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Beauty, Identity, and Growing Up

Childhood Experiences with Beauty:
- Candice did not feel beautiful growing up outside her home, despite feeling loved and seen at home (01:24).
- "In my home, I felt beautiful. But the outside world was already very much telling me that you had to be white and or light skinned..." – Candice (01:24)
- She discusses her mother's lighter complexion and early feelings of colorism and comparison.
- Felt like "the ugly duckling" among her white and light-skinned friends.
Words Matter: 'Pretty' vs. 'Beautiful':
- Candice challenges how “beautiful” is often used as a consolation prize:
  - “Beautiful is like, you know, you’re so unique… It’s like, no, can I just be pretty?” (02:25)
- Didn’t start feeling beautiful until her late 20s, and “pretty” in her 30s.
Parenting and Body Acceptance:
- She fosters body positivity and individuality in her children, allowing them to express themselves with hair and style choices (03:11, 03:54).
- Emphasis on a “naked house”—seeing real, unfiltered bodies at home combats unrealistic social media ideals (05:15–07:12).
"Being raised in a naked house... does so much to fight against social media algorithms."
– Candice (05:53)

2. Navigating Marginality and Early Success

Experiences as an Outlier:
- Candice recalls being the only Black girl in junior ballroom dancing, and the tedious preparations contrasted with white peers’ ease (08:12).
- Brooke shares a parallel story about “lotion” and feeling different as a young Black girl (09:22).
- This led Candice to intentionally “overdo” cultural affirmation at home, knowing her children would face different norms at predominantly white schools (09:58–10:27).
Early Definitions of Success:
- Childhood aspirations equated material milestones (“when I get a kitchen island”), but also included clarity about her voice and being an author (10:39–11:31).
- “I knew I was going to be an author maybe from age eight.” – Candice (11:31)

3. Messiness and Growth in the 20s

The Pressure to Have It Figured Out:
- Candice stresses that 20s should be messy and experimental, rightfully spent “mucking it up.” Warns only of damaging credit (12:31–13:21).
“The 20s are absolutely the time for messiness...” – Candice (12:31)
Unfiltered Reflections:
- Discusses outgrowing trauma-bonded friendships rooted in shared pain and bad decisions (14:25–15:42).
- Celebrates that she, as a Black woman, had space to be messy and make mistakes:
  - “I love that as a Black girl, I got to be so messy.” (15:42)
- Both reflect on how social media now erases privacy and the right to youthful mistakes (16:00–16:24).
Mistakes with Men:
- Candice candidly discusses relying on men for rescue, gravitating toward older men, and recognizing unhealthy patterns, including being fetishized by a white ex-partner (16:40–18:52).
- “You're never bigger than the program, as the girlies say. You are not bigger than the program.” (17:45)
The Importance of ‘The Nice Guy’:
- Eventually realized the value of men who are supportive and consistent—“marry the nice guy” (20:48–21:23).

4. Reinvention, Personal Branding & Building the Right Team

Shifting from ‘Doing’ to ‘Branding’:
- Candice only began thinking of herself as a “brand” after overhauling her team and bringing in better support (21:37–22:34).
- “When you don’t have the right team, you’re not thinking about that stuff.” – Candice (21:45)
Team Evolution:
- Fired her old management (all white women), describing a shift from being “pet to threat” and uncovering sabotage within her team (23:40–25:15).
- Shockingly, discovered one team member was anonymously trolling her online for eight months (25:06–26:06).
  
  "It turns out one of my agents was my online troll..."
  – Candice (24:57)
- The motivation seemed to be undermining her confidence so she wouldn’t leave (25:50–26:25).
Working with Her Husband:
- After the agency split, her husband became her manager—initially challenging, but ultimately a dynamic, productive partnership (27:47–30:05).
“He is a master at what he does... I’m the raw talent... But he leaves no stone unturned.”
– Candice (29:10)
Defining Her Personal Brand:
- Described as “authentic,” “auntie-ish,” “motherly,” “warm,” but also “correcting”—urges self-discipline and growth.
- She’s intentional about Black luxury visibility, pushing past shame in showing her success (30:25–33:13).
  
  “If you want trauma porn and a Black woman crying into her coffee, ... that’s just not going to be the root of what we do here.”
  – Candice (32:13)

5. Self-Discipline as Power: Fitness and Consistency

The Fitness Transformation:
- Candice’s treadmill journey is emblematic of her newfound self-discipline (34:14–34:31).
- Realized discipline is central to achieving her goals:
  - “Until I committed to my fitness journey, everything… I said I wanted, I actually wasn’t willing to work for.” (34:41)
- Running marathons post-kids restored a powerful sense of agency and integrity:
  - “If you’ve run 15 miles by 6am—yeah, I can have this shitty meeting at 9.” (36:31)
Making Fitness Work for You:
- She prefers solo workouts (home treadmill, private gym) to avoid comparison and judgment (39:24–40:53).
- Empathizes with postpartum mothers: urges no rush to “bounce back,” advocating for patience and compassion (37:39–39:18).

6. Candice’s Beauty & Wellness Favorites

Skincare Rituals (42:09–46:41):
- Body: Lush Body Wash (Sticky Dates, Rose Jam), L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil (“I buy that stuff by the truckload.”)
- Face:
  - Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (“I love it.”);
  - Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Serum (hyperpigmentation);
  - Charlotte Tilbury Night Cream (“smells like an older lady, a lovely lady, but it’s almost like a face mask at night”);
  - MZ Skin Red Light Mask (3x a week)
- Sunscreen: La Roche Posay Anthelios, and K-beauty Wonder (new favorite)
- Eye Patches: Dieux (reusable, highlight sustainability)
Makeup Must-Haves (46:43–49:48):
- Foundation: Lancome Teint Idole, Dior Backstage
- Charlotte Tilbury: credits a Black artist for showing her its potential
- MAC Nightmoth liner: signature, plus MAC lip gloss for a youthful, dewy look over aging matte reds
- Prada red lipstick: loves both color and packaging
- Eyebrows: Benefit and Maybelline
- Lashes: Now skips false lashes after a bad infection; swears by Charlotte Tilbury mascara
- Day-to-day glow: Merit’s Great Skin serum
“There’s also eyelash blindness... You look back on those pictures, I’m like, you look like you’re about to take off!”
– Candice (49:00)

7. Legacy, Reinvention & Wisdom for the Next Generation

Owning Her Womanhood (50:07–50:55):
- Embraces her power as a woman; no longer waits for outside validation, quick to move on from unaligned relationships.
- “I am now a woman who’s comfortable being a woman... now I’m finally like, no, I’m the adult.” (50:07)
- “I’m also getting really comfortable firing people. I will not be in hell for seven years ever again.” (50:34)
What She Hopes Audiences Take Away:
- “You’re always right. That clear narrative you had on your life when you were like, five, six, seven, eight. That’s it. And then life got in the way.” (51:01)
Candice’s Future Visions (51:40–54:34):
- Desires unexpected reinvention: wants to own funeral homes to honor Black loss with dignity (51:49–53:09).
- Might run an art gallery, and aspires to a more holistic, grounded future self.
- Reflects on a meditation in which her older self is serene, healthy, drinking tea instead of coffee.
Closing Reflections on Health & Beauty:
- Health is paramount: “Everyone has 100 problems till their health is bad. Then you have one.” (54:42)
- On feeling beautiful: Unapologetically loves being “dolled up”—full glam, heels, and all (55:30).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On colorism and childhood:
- “I always thought, well, I’m never going to be as beautiful as my mum because I’ve got a darker skin tone.” (01:24)
On the right to mess up:
- “I love that as a Black girl, I got to be so messy.” (15:42)
On team betrayal:
- “It turns out one of my agents was my online troll. Dun, dun, dun.” (24:57)
- “Good luck finding anyone to sign you.” (26:25)
On team with her husband:
- “He is a master at what he does... Sure, I’m the raw talent. But he leaves no stone unturned.” (29:10)
On brand and luxury:
- “If you want trauma porn and a Black woman crying into her coffee ... that’s just not going to be the root of what we do here.” (32:13)
On self-discipline as liberation:
- “Until I committed to my fitness journey, everything... I actually wasn’t willing to work for.” (34:41)
- “If you’ve run 15 miles by 6am—yeah, I can have this shitty meeting at 9.” (36:31)
On health:
- “Everyone has 100 problems till their health is bad. Then you have one.” (54:42)

Important Timestamps

Beauty & childhood: 01:24–04:54
Parenting & body acceptance: 03:11–07:12
Majority-minority and microaggressions: 08:12–10:27
Success & purpose: 10:39–12:00
20s: Messiness, mistakes, self-forgiveness: 12:20–17:01
Team/betrayal/personal branding: 21:37–26:36
Fitness as self-discipline: 34:14–37:26
Motherhood & postpartum wisdom: 37:39–39:18
Beauty products & skincare: 42:09–46:41
Makeup favorites: 46:43–49:48
Personal transformation & legacy: 50:07–54:34
Sense of beauty: 55:30–end

Tone and Style

Perfect for listeners craving real talk on beauty, success, transformation, and the discipline to rise—on their own terms.

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Candice Brathwaite on Self-Discipline As Personal Power

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Summary

Naked Beauty Podcast

Episode: Candice Brathwaite on Self-Discipline As Personal Power

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Beauty, Identity, and Growing Up

2. Navigating Marginality and Early Success

3. Messiness and Growth in the 20s

4. Reinvention, Personal Branding & Building the Right Team

5. Self-Discipline as Power: Fitness and Consistency

6. Candice’s Beauty & Wellness Favorites

7. Legacy, Reinvention & Wisdom for the Next Generation

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Timestamps

Tone and Style

Summary

Naked Beauty Podcast

Episode: Candice Brathwaite on Self-Discipline As Personal Power

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Beauty, Identity, and Growing Up

2. Navigating Marginality and Early Success

3. Messiness and Growth in the 20s

4. Reinvention, Personal Branding & Building the Right Team

5. Self-Discipline as Power: Fitness and Consistency

6. Candice’s Beauty & Wellness Favorites

7. Legacy, Reinvention & Wisdom for the Next Generation

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Timestamps

Tone and Style