Victoria Beckham is recognized for her sharp fashion sense and her signature non-smile in photographs.
However, behind her steely, serious expression lies a story of personal struggles and triumphs that she recently shared in an enlightening interview.
From her early days as a Spice Girl to becoming a respected fashion designer, Victoria has rarely been seen smiling in photos. Despite many of her bandmates often beaming and showing their teeth, Posh rarely smiled - and it had always just seemed like a character trait.
But even away from the hit girl band, Victoria would rarely smile.
Now, in an interview with The Telegraph - after being awarded the publication's inaugural Beauty Brand of the Year - Beckham has opened up about the insecurities that shaped her public persona and her journey toward self-confidence.
She revealed that this was not an attempt at looking severe but rather a reflection of her discomfort, stemming from long-standing skin issues. "I probably did look stern in a lot of pictures, but I was so uncomfortable," she confessed. Since her teenage years, Beckham has battled with problematic acne, which made her self-conscious, especially under the glaring lights of fame.
The fashion mogul also shared how her skin condition influenced her strict dietary habits. Her husband, David Beckham, has noted that Victoria has maintained a consistent diet of grilled fish and steamed vegetables for the past 25 years.
This regimen was part of a broader effort to manage her skin issues by eliminating potential dietary triggers like meat and wheat. "It was because of my skin that I became very careful about what I ate," Victoria explained.
Previously opening up to Grazia magazine about her strict diet, she said: "This is how I look. I’m going to make the best of it, work hard at it.
I’m very disciplined with the way that I eat, the way that I work out and the way I work. That’s just who I am."
This disciplined approach to her diet and lifestyle has paid dividends. In recent years, Victoria Beckham has gained enough confidence in her skin to attend high-profile events with minimal makeup—a stark contrast to her earlier days in the spotlight.
"If you’d told me a few years ago I’d step onto a red carpet to pick up an award wearing only a bit of concealer and no foundation, I’d have thought you were mad, but that’s what I did last week," she proudly told The Telegraph.
Moreover, Victoria's perspective on fame has evolved. She expressed a desire for a more private life, away from the incessant flash of paparazzi cameras — a sentiment she shared in a candid interview with Harper's Bazaar magazine.
Credit: ascal Le Segretain/Getty
Reflecting on her past, she mentioned: "I suppose it used to be fun to go out and be chased by paparazzi walking down Bond Street – and you would dress knowing you were going to get that. I don't want that anymore."
Now at 50, Victoria Beckham embraces a more laid-back approach to life, focusing on her family and her fashion line, while David dedicates himself to his football club, Inter Miami. She encapsulated her new outlook with a straightforward reflection: "I woke up at 50, and I gave a s**t less."