"Millionaire Matchmaker" star Candace Smith made the perfect love connection on an L.A. beach Tuesday ... between her ass and the paparazzi.

Candace -- a former beauty queen -- hit the sand for some volleyball and a pigskin toss (looks like she has game) ... with her pal ex-Miss USA Susie Castillo.

Like all finely tuned athletes ... Candace knows nothing's more important than stretching. Well, that and a very small bikini.