Once a household name in the early 2000s, Holly Valance was a familiar face on TV and a hit voice on the radio. Fast forward to today, and the former pop star has taken an unexpected political turn, establishing herself as a significant figure within right-wing circles.
Holly Valance, now known as Holly Candy, has made a remarkable transition from her days on Neighbours and topping charts with Kiss-Kiss to engaging with GB News podcasts and attending conservative events. At these gatherings, she openly expresses her scepticism about climate change, challenges environmental activists, and takes aim at left-leaning ideologies.
Speaking at the Popular Conservatism conference, which was spearheaded by former Prime Minister Liz Truss, the ex-Strictly Come Dancing star said: “I just think the climate crisis – or lack of – is not a crisis. The air is better than when I was growing up, it used to stink walking down the street when I was growing up.”
Holly didn’t hold back during her appearance on a GB News podcast either, where she bluntly criticised climate activist Greta Thunberg. She said: “I don’t understand why you have this, like, demonic little gremlin high priestess of climate as the goddess in classrooms, Greta (Thunberg). All the kids are coming home with depression and anxiety.”
Now married to Reform’s current treasurer, the estimated billionaire Nicky Candy, the duo were once staunch Tory backers but have since declared their allegiance to Reform. Nick Candy, previously famed as a property magnate, first crossed paths with his future bride at a party in 2009.
The romance blossomed, leading to an engagement during a Maldivian getaway in 2011, and they sealed the deal a year later. Nowadays, they rub shoulders with Nigel Farage – affectionately dubbed “Uncle Nigel” by their two daughters – and mingle within high-flying circles, throwing lavish gatherings at their impressive properties.
Once bragging about residing in the UK’s priciest apartment, the family now alternates between a £75 million abode in Chelsea, a staggering £175 million One Hyde Park penthouse, a £10 million Grade II-listed manor in the Cotswolds, and a Monaco summer retreat. Their homes have welcomed a host of prominent conservative personalities, including Leave EU’s Arron Banks and ex-US envoy Woody Johnson.
The Candys even snagged an invite from Nigel Farage for a rendezvous with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022. Two decades earlier, Holly was gracing Florida for a different purpose, featuring in CSI: Miami, then CSI: New York, and landing a significant part in the acclaimed American series Prison Break.
After taking a step back from acting and presenting in 2013, Holly made headlines by hosting a lavish London fundraiser for Donald Trump last June, with tickets priced at a staggering $100,000 each. Discussing her shift towards political activism, she shared: “Everyone starts off as a leftie and then wakes up at some point after you start either making money, working, trying to run a business, trying to buy a home, and then realise what c*** ideas they all are – and then you go to the right.”
Rumours are swirling that Holly could be taking on a more significant political role. The Times reports that the Conservative Party is considering her as their candidate for London mayor in 2028, with sources saying she has influential right-leaning figures across the UK “eating out of the palm of her hand”.