Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Arcari.
Hi Candice, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was fortunate to grow up in a loving and supportive family where my parents were always there for me. Some of my fondest childhood memories were spent with both sets of my grandparents, who played a significant role in shaping my values and appreciation for family, hard work, and community. My maternal grandparents owned the Poland Club Bar in Hamtramck, Michigan, and I spent many hours there, surrounded by people, stories, and a strong sense of connection.
From an early age, I was drawn to movement, creativity, and self-expression. Whether I was riding bikes, playing outdoors, dancing, or ice skating, I loved being active. Before the age of eight, I participated in ballet, dance, soccer and ice skating, eventually becoming a competitive figure skater for six years. When my skating career ended, I transitioned into cheerleading throughout junior high and high school.
As a teenager, I became involved in modeling, pageants, and acting. I participated in Miss Michigan, Miss Grand Prix, and was honored to be named First Runner-Up in Miss Michigan Teen All American. Those experiences taught me confidence, discipline, poise, and the importance of presenting myself authentically.
My years in the modeling and acting industry also sparked a lifelong love for photography and visual storytelling. I had the opportunity to work with talented photographers, makeup artists, and creative professionals, learning from some of the best in the industry. Later, I worked at a studio specializing in black-and-white hand-painted photography, where I personally hand-painted photographs that were eventually published as Hallmark cards, calendars, and children’s books. It was a unique blend of art and storytelling that allowed me to appreciate beauty from both sides of the camera.
I married my high school sweetheart, and together we built a life centered around family, commitment, and perseverance. Raising our daughters became one of the most rewarding chapters of my life. As they pursued their own athletic journeys, I had the privilege of supporting them every step of the way. Sports became more than competition; they became opportunities to teach discipline, teamwork, resilience, and confidence.
Our family’s involvement extended far beyond the field and court. I became actively involved in our schools and athletic programs, volunteering my time, serving as President of the PTO, and supporting events that brought students, families, and the community together. Those years reinforced my belief that some of life’s most meaningful contributions happen behind the scenes through service, encouragement, and simply showing up for others.
I am incredibly proud of the women my daughters have become.Today, our family continues to grow. We are blessed with a wonderful son-in-law, an amazing grandson, and eagerly await the arrival of another grandchild. Becoming a grandmother has been one of life’s greatest blessings and has given me a deeper appreciation for legacy, family, and the importance of cherishing every season of life.
Alongside my roles as a wife, mother, grandmother, and community volunteer, I have built a career that reflects both my entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to service. Today, I work in my family’s manufacturing business, helping support Michigan’s automotive and defense industries. I also work in the fragrance department at Macy’s, at Somerset Mall in Troy, where I have the opportunity to connect with people and help them discover products that bring confidence and joy.
While these roles may seem very different, both have taught me valuable lessons about dedication, adaptability, relationship-building, and the importance of serving others. Whether working within manufacturing, retail, or wellness, I have always believed that success is built through consistency, integrity, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact.
One of the most meaningful chapters of my life began with a desire to learn more about my biological roots. While I was blessed to be raised by loving parents, I felt called to better understand where I came from and the story that existed before mine began. That search eventually led me to finding my birth parents and discovering a half-sister I never knew I had.
What started as a search for answers became something much greater. It became a journey of connection, understanding, and self-discovery. Meeting members of my biological family did not replace the love and support I had always known; instead, it expanded my understanding of family and deepened my appreciation for the many people who have contributed to my life. It reminded me that our stories are never fully written and that life has a remarkable way of revealing new chapters when we least expect them.
In recent years, I embraced competitive figure training, a journey that challenged me physically, mentally, and emotionally. Preparing for competition reinforced something I have come to believe wholeheartedly: growth has no expiration date. We are never too old to pursue new goals, reinvent ourselves, or discover strengths we never knew we possessed.
Today, my passion extends beyond fitness. I am building The Wellness Standard, a lifestyle brand founded on the belief that true wellness is about more than physical health. It is about the standards we set for our minds, our bodies, our relationships, our purpose, and the way we choose to live each day.
As part of that mission, I am currently writing my first book, She Thinks. She Achieves. A 90-day guided collection of original principles, reflections, affirmations, and intentional daily practices created to encourage women to cultivate confidence, resilience, purpose, and lasting success. My hope is that readers will discover that meaningful transformation doesn’t happen all at once—it begins with one intentional choice, repeated day after day.
When I look back, the common thread throughout my life has always been growth. Every chapter—whether through skating, modeling, photography, marriage, motherhood, community involvement, discovering my biological family, entrepreneurship, or competitive fitness—has taught me that becoming our best selves is not a single defining moment, but the result of small, consistent decisions made over time.
I don’t believe wellness is something we achieve.
I believe it is something we practice.
Every day.
And if there is one message I hope to leave with every woman, it is this:
Become the woman your future is waiting for.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey has definitely not been without challenges. One of the most significant was learning that I was adopted. While I was raised in a loving family and always felt deeply loved, there was still a part of me that wondered where I came from and who I was. Those unanswered questions stayed with me for many years and eventually led me on a journey to find my birth parents and learn more about my biological roots.
That search brought both answers and emotions I never expected. It challenged me to navigate questions of identity, belonging, and family while deepening my appreciation for the incredible parents who raised me. Ultimately, it led to meaningful relationships, including discovering a half-sister I never knew I had. It reminded me that family isn’t defined by a single path—it can grow in ways we never imagined.
Another difficult chapter was losing my mother. Grief has a way of changing your perspective and reminding you how precious time truly is. While that loss was incredibly painful, it strengthened my appreciation for family, relationships, and the importance of living intentionally rather than waiting for the “right time.”
Like many women, I’ve also experienced the challenge of balancing family, career, volunteer commitments, and personal aspirations. There were seasons when it would have been easier to put my own dreams aside, but I came to realize that growth doesn’t have an expiration date. We are always capable of learning, evolving, and beginning again.
Looking back, I no longer see those experiences simply as obstacles. I see them as teachers. They strengthened my resilience, expanded my perspective, and shaped the values that guide my life today.
Those experiences are also what inspired me to create The Wellness Standard and begin writing my first book, She Thinks. She Achieves. Both are rooted in one belief: true transformation isn’t created by one extraordinary moment—it is built through small, intentional choices made consistently over time.
I believe every woman has the ability to write a new chapter, no matter where her story began.
That’s the message I hope to leave with every woman I have the privilege of encouraging:
Become the woman your future is waiting for..
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work across several very different industries, each contributing to the person I am today. I currently work in my family’s manufacturing business, supporting Michigan’s automotive and defense industries, while also working in the fragrance department at Macy’s. Although those roles may appear very different, both have reinforced the importance of integrity, adaptability, building meaningful relationships, and serving others with excellence.
Earlier in my career, I spent many years in the modeling and acting industry, where I worked alongside talented photographers, makeup artists, and creative professionals. Those experiences cultivated my appreciation for beauty, branding, visual storytelling, confidence, and the power of presenting ourselves authentically.
When I look back, I realize that every chapter of my life has been preparing me for the work I’m doing today.
I’m currently building The Wellness Standard, a lifestyle brand founded on the belief that wellness extends far beyond physical health. To me, wellness is reflected in the standards we choose for our thinking, our habits, our relationships, our confidence, our purpose, and the way we show up for ourselves and others every day.
As part of that mission, I am writing my first book, She Thinks. She Achieves. Through original principles, reflections, affirmations, and practical guidance, my hope is to encourage women to recognize that lasting transformation isn’t created by one extraordinary moment. It’s built through intentional choices made consistently over time.
What sets me apart is the diversity of experiences I’ve been blessed to have. Manufacturing taught me discipline. Modeling taught me confidence and presentation. Photography taught me to see beauty in the details. Motherhood and community service taught me compassion and leadership. Competitive figure training reminded me that growth has no expiration date.
Rather than viewing those experiences as separate careers, I see them as pieces of one larger purpose.
More than any title or accomplishment, I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built, the people I’ve encouraged, and my willingness to continue growing through every season of life.
If there’s one message I hope people remember, it’s this:
We don’t become our best selves overnight.
We become them one intentional choice at a time.
That’s the heart behind everything I create through The Wellness Standard, and the message I hope readers will carry with them through She Thinks. She Achieves.
Become the woman your future is waiting for.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are so many people who deserve There are countless people who deserve credit for the woman I am today. If my journey has taught me anything, it’s that no meaningful success is ever achieved alone.
First and foremost, I owe everything to my parents, Charles and Lorraine, who raised me with unconditional love, encouragement, and unwavering support. They instilled in me the values that continue to guide my life today—integrity, hard work, resilience, kindness, and the importance of treating people with respect. My grandparents also played a tremendous role in shaping who I am, teaching me the value of family, community, and building genuine relationships.
My husband, Bradley, deserves tremendous credit as well. We’ve shared life together since high school, and through every season he has been my greatest supporter, steady source of encouragement, and constant reminder that life’s greatest accomplishments are often built together rather than alone.
I am equally grateful for my daughters, Annabella and Lillianna, who continually inspire me through their own strength and determination. Watching them grow into remarkable women has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Becoming a grandmother has only deepened that appreciation and strengthened my desire to leave behind a legacy rooted in love, faith, resilience, and purpose.
Throughout my journey in modeling, acting, photography, manufacturing, retail, wellness, and competitive fitness, I have been blessed with mentors, colleagues, coaches, and friends who challenged me to grow. Every person shared something meaningful—whether it was knowledge, encouragement, opportunity, or simply believing in me before I fully believed in myself.
One person who deserves special recognition is my personal trainer, Ken Jackson. He recognized potential in me that I hadn’t yet recognized in myself and encouraged me to pursue competitive figure training. That decision transformed far more than my physical health. It strengthened my mindset, expanded my confidence, and reminded me that growth has no expiration date. His belief in me became a catalyst for a chapter of life that ultimately inspired much of the work I’m doing today.
I am also grateful for the relationships that entered my life through discovering my biological family. That experience taught me that family isn’t limited to one definition. Love has the remarkable ability to expand, and sometimes the people who help shape our lives arrive later than we ever expected.
Looking back, I’ve realized that every meaningful chapter of my life has been influenced by someone who encouraged me, challenged me, or believed in me.
That realization has shaped the mission behind The Wellness Standard and my upcoming book, She Thinks. She Achieves.
If I can encourage one woman to believe in herself the way so many people believed in me, then I know I’ll be honoring the gift they gave me.
Because I truly believe we rise higher when we help others rise with us.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @arcaricandice
- Facebook: @candy5772
- Youtube: @Candicearcari
