What It Means to Be a Kandaké
For me, the greatest thing I will ever be is a mother. My three sons are the most precious gifts I have ever received. I know that not all women are mothers, and not all desire to be. But the nurturing, loving feminine lives within us all. It is the essence that carries humanity forward, the quiet, powerful force that connects us through the bonds of womanhood and motherhood.
When my desire to heal my body deepened into a journey of understanding true wellness, I made an incredible discovery about my own name. Candice is derived from Kandaké, the title given to the queen mothers of ancient kingdoms. These women ruled with wisdom, protected their people and carried sacred knowledge across generations. Somehow, that legacy found its way to me through the name my mother chose.
Her mother, my grandmother, shaped me just as profoundly through her holistic practices. I can still remember sitting in her lap and later at her knee when I grew too big, as she brushed my hair and shared the stories and healing recipes passed down through the women before her.
My life has been shaped by the knowledge, love and care of the women in my family. Over the years, I’ve returned to their wisdom again and again, rediscovering the ancient truth that beauty and health begin within. The radiance we see in our skin, our hair and our energy is never just surface level. It is the reflection of harmony inside our cells.
That feminine wisdom became the heart of Home of Kandaké.
To me, being a royal mother means leading with gentleness and protection. Mothers care for everyone, it’s the foundation of who we are. But I learned, through experience, that if you don’t care for yourself first, there is little left to give to those you love most. True care must be woven into everything you touch, including your own beautiful self.
Kandaké is more than a brand. It is a philosophy and it is rooted in philanthropy. It’s a belief that vibrant health is your birthright, the foundation of true beauty. It’s a reminder that when we show love to ourselves, we become stronger leaders, caregivers and creators of change. When we nurture ourselves, we nurture the world.
For me, being a royal mother meant taking responsibility for my own healing so that I could care fully for those I love. I had to reframe my mindset and understand that self care is not selfish, it is sacred. For the first three decades of my life, I survived on coffee, soda and processed foods. But I came to realize that the commitment to our health is not just a personal choice, it is an act of leadership and love.
My mother has been my business partner from the very beginning. Each day, she reviews the orders that come in from across the country. As she hand packs each one, she sends an intention of love, that every bag of Monarch Matcha brings peace, beauty and true health to the person receiving it. My sons, now grown, remain the light of my life. Watching them become kind, wise men will forever be my greatest achievement.
Yet, as a mother, it breaks my heart to know that not every child receives the love and stability we strive to create in our homes.
When I learned about the mission of The RennerVation Foundation, I knew I had to be involved, that together, we could be mothers to the motherless. I vowed to donate 10% of every purchase from Home of Kandaké to support their work. The RennerVation Foundation is dedicated to helping foster youth and at-risk children. When I first shared their mission on Instagram, our community came together, and together we raised over $30,000. It moved me deeply and reaffirmed what I have always known: when women come together in love, we are extraordinarily powerful.
