Victoria Beckham discusses body image, fashion and family in the new issue of Vogue Australia
Speaking to Vogue Australia, Victoria Beckham has opened up about fame, fashion, and the scrutiny she has faced – including being called ‘Porky Posh’.
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Victoria Beckham has opened up about her struggle with body image – and the “cruel”, “terrifying” criticism she and her famous family has faced in the public eye.
“I’ve had ‘Porky Posh’ on a headline, I’ve had ‘Skeletal Posh’,” Beckham, 48, who appears on the cover of Vogue Australia’s July issue, told the magazine.
“After I had (my son) Brooklyn, there was a picture on the front of a newspaper pointing to every single part of my body as to where I had to focus on losing the weight from.
“Imagine doing that now,” she said.
The designer also known as “Posh” addressed scrutiny levelled at her 10-year-old daughter, Harper.
“Harper isn’t on social media, so we don’t have to worry about that just yet,” Beckham told Vogue Australia.
“But seeing how cruel people can be, yes it really does [concern me].
“She’s at that age where her body is going to start changing, but it’s about making sure that we communicate a lot as a family and she surrounds herself with nice friends. But it is quite terrifying, I can’t lie.”
Beckham also addressed the recent scandal her husband David Beckham sparked when he revealed she only eats grilled fish and steamed vegetables for dinner.
“I mean, talk about making me sound boring,” Beckham said, while rolling her eyes.
“What he (David) meant is that he’s never met anyone who’s more disciplined with the way that they eat,” she clarified.
“I eat lots of healthy fat: fish, avocado, nuts, that sort of thing. I do drink alcohol, unless I have a reason not to.
“I’ll detox from anything for three to six months where I won’t drink. I’m quite extreme in anything I do, whether it’s eating or working out or drinking or not drinking.”
In a candid moment discussing her four children, Beckham said daughter Harper Seven – her youngest – was “not one of these kids who are going out with a full face of make-up and a crop top”.
“She actually said to me recently, ‘Mummy, I’ve seen some pictures of you when you were in the Spice Girls and your skirts were just unacceptable. They were just too short.’
“Then David piped up and said, ‘Absolutely, Harper! They really, really were.’ And she was actually quite disgusted at how short my skirts were. I said, ‘Are you never
going to wear skirts like that?’ She said, ‘Absolutely not.’ We’ll see.”
Beckham also addressed reports her fashion brand, Victoria Beckham, was facing financial struggles, with Vogue noting “her 2020 business filings saw losses halved – and during a pandemic year”.
Vogue reported her cosmetics line, Victoria Beckham Beauty, became profitable 15 months after its launch in 2019 (Beckham’s latest venture is a line of shapewear, dubbed VB Body).
“I was very aware of people’s preconceptions when I first started,” Beckham said of her post-Spice Girls move into fashion.
“I was quite polarising because of my past and being married to a footballer and things that had been said about me in the press”.
Though Beckham said she did not regret her fame.
“A lot of opportunities has come my way because of my past. It’s a double-edged sword, but
I will never complain about it. Can it be frustrating sometimes? Absolutely.
“But it can also go in my favour. Are other brands under the scrutiny that mine is under every time we file? Absolutely not.
“But how many other brands have the luxury of getting the attention when they want it?”
Vogue Australia’s July issue is out now.
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