The Enigma of Victoria Beckham’s Steely Pout
Victoria Beckham, the 51-year-old fashion designer, has long been known for her stoic expression, rarely cracking a smile at public events. But in a recent interview, she finally opened up about the real reason behind her signature look—something that has intrigued fans and media alike for years.
Speaking on her self-titled Netflix docuseries, Victoria revealed that her lack of smiles on the red carpet is deeply tied to her husband, David. She explained that it all comes down to the way they stand together. “Here’s a fact, I’ve looked miserable for all these years because when we stand on the red carpet, this guy has always [stood] on the left,” she said.
She went on to explain that when she smiles, it’s always from the left side. “If I smile from the right, I look unwell.” This means that even though she’s smiling internally, the camera often captures her looking moody. “So I’m smiling on the inside but no one ever sees it—so that’s why I look so moody.”
Later in the documentary, Victoria also shared how a past incident affected her confidence and made her reluctant to smile. She recalled losing her way after the Spice Girls split in 2000 and attempting a solo singing career with the release of Out of Your Mind with Dane Bowers. However, the public didn’t embrace her efforts. “At that point, people were questioning, the media were questioning, what was I doing?” she said.
“I’d be lying if I said I was the best singer or dancer, but when people are mean and you’re hearing things and you’re seeing things and you’re constantly made to feel you’re not good enough, that really hurts. I became so self-conscious.”
David also noticed the change in his wife’s demeanor. He described how Victoria used to be “smiley, bubbly and confident” when they first met, but that gradually disappeared. “People thought I was a miserable cow that never smiled and they’re not wrong!” Victoria admitted, revealing how the constant public attacks weighed on her self-esteem.
As a result, she began to tense up whenever she knew she was being watched. “The minute I see a camera, I change,” she explained. “The barrier goes up, my armour goes on and that’s when the miserable cow who doesn’t smile comes out. I’m so conscious of that and I don’t like that, I’d rather not be that person. I’d love to have the confidence to walk out of a restaurant and smile but I just can’t do it.”
Victoria’s Netflix show is produced by the same team behind Beckham and Michelle Obama’s Becoming, following the success of her husband’s documentary. The series delves into her fashion brand and follows her in the lead-up to her Paris Fashion Week show last September.
England football legend David, whom Victoria married in 1999, already found huge success with his Netflix documentary Beckham last year, in which Victoria starred. David recently admitted that getting Victoria to agree to the new documentary wasn’t the easiest task, but he praised her as “unbelievably hard-working and very clever” and said the world deserves to see that side of her.
Victoria Beckham is currently streaming on Netflix. The series offers an intimate look into her life, exploring both her professional challenges and personal struggles. From her fashion empire to her family priorities, the documentary promises to reveal a more heartfelt and vulnerable side of the iconic designer.
