Victoria Beckham sheds Posh persona, gets candid about eating disorder in Netflix doc

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Content warning: This story includes discussions of eating disorders.

Netflix’s 2023 documentary series “Beckham” quickly became a hit, and Victoria Beckham charmed viewers with her wit and a memorable scene involving a Rolls-Royce. However, the series ultimately focused on the life and career of her husband, David Beckham.

A new three-part documentary, “Victoria Beckham,” premiered on Netflix Thursday. Directed by Nadia Hallgren (known for the Michelle Obama documentary “Becoming”), it charts the life of Victoria Beckham, from her early days as a shy performing arts student to her rise as a pop star and now, a successful fashion designer. The series focuses on her journey and is framed around the 2024 Victoria Beckham Paris Fashion Week show.

In the opening moments of the documentary, Victoria makes it clear the focus isn’t her husband, the famous footballer, but rather on her own story.

Entertainment & Arts

David Beckham joined the thousands of people who waited in line before sunrise on Friday to honor Queen Elizabeth II. Some snacks were available for those waiting.

As a fan, I’ve been watching the new documentary about Victoria Beckham, and it’s interesting to see how it portrays her. It’s made by David Beckham’s company, so of course it shows her in a positive light, really emphasizing how she overcame challenges growing up. But honestly, after seeing and hearing all the harsh criticism she faced – British commentators really tore her down over everything from her appearance to how she came across – I think she’s absolutely earned the success and respect she has today. It makes you really root for her.

Victoria admitted she was initially unsure about participating in the documentary, worried about how audiences would react to it.

The designer initially turned down the opportunity, but after careful consideration, they changed their mind. They explained that while they’re often remembered for their time in the Spice Girls – a period that lasted only four years – they’ve been working in fashion for almost twenty years, and that’s a more significant part of who they are now.

For a long time, I felt I had to overcome people’s expectations based on my past work, and I was constantly focused on growing my fashion and beauty brand,” she explained. “Only recently have I felt comfortable sharing my personal story without worrying it would hurt my businesses.

Archives

Although Victoria Beckham and her family now live in London, she still feels a strong connection to Los Angeles.

The documentary avoids discussing sensitive issues like David’s supposed affair, the possibility of a Spice Girls reunion, and reported problems between the Beckhams and their son Brooklyn Peltz Beckham – who, along with his wife Nicola Peltz Beckham, doesn’t appear in the film. However, it still offers insights into Victoria and her complicated feelings about her ‘Posh Spice’ image.

Here are seven takeaways from the Netflix docuseries.

With the Spice Girls, Victoria blossomed

Growing up in Hertfordshire, England, Victoria was a shy girl who didn’t have a large circle of friends, which made her lack confidence.

Victoria admitted she didn’t have many friends in school. She described being bullied and feeling out of place, saying she was awkward and not very social.

Embracing the persona of Posh Spice dramatically changed how Victoria felt about herself and was key to learning to accept who she was.

“I finally felt like I fit in, and surprisingly, I became popular,” Victoria explained. “Meeting those four girls completely changed my life.”

From Posh Spice to WAG

Victoria Beckham is widely known for popularizing the term ‘WAGs,’ which refers to the wives and girlfriends of famous athletes.

Soon after Victoria married David in 1999, the Spice Girls broke up. This felt like a major loss of identity for her, as she described the band’s sudden end as if a whirlwind had simply stopped.

Books

Geri Halliwell-Horner, formerly of the Spice Girls, is talking about her new book, ‘Rosie Frost: Ice on Fire,’ and hinting at what will happen at the end of the series.

Without the excitement of her pop career, Victoria Beckham focused on being a supportive wife. She was often seen at Manchester United games and while shopping for high-end fashion, frequently photographed by the paparazzi.

In a documentary, Victoria admitted that while she enjoys looking back at old photos, she often wonders why she took them. She explained that she was likely seeking attention at the time, and that it was a way to stay relevant when she wasn’t feeling satisfied with her creative work.

Looking back, she realized she was on a journey of self-discovery. She explained that she had felt lost, unhappy, and stuck in a rut.

Victoria battled an eating disorder

Just a few months after having her first child, Brooklyn, in 1999, Victoria Beckham was asked to weigh herself on live television during an appearance on Chris Evans’ show, “TFI Friday.” The request was made so viewers could see if she had lost the weight she gained during pregnancy. While she tried to brush it off, the incident was actually very upsetting for her.

She admitted she struggled to recognize herself when she looked in the mirror, unsure if she appeared overweight or underweight. ‘It’s like you lose touch with what’s real,’ she explained.

Victoria felt powerless to stop the tabloids from commenting on her body, so she focused on controlling her weight – but admits she did so in a very unhealthy manner.

Victoria kept her struggles with an eating disorder private for years, never discussing it with her parents or in public. She first revealed details about her restrictive eating and binge eating in her 2001 autobiography, “Learning to Fly.”

She admits that when she went to the gym, she was more focused on how her body looked – specifically checking her rear and chin – rather than on proper form. However, she maintains she never struggled with anorexia.

California

Long wait times and complicated regulations are making it difficult for California’s most vulnerable patients to get help for eating disorders, which have become more common since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At first, designers laughed Victoria off

After the Beckhams moved to California, Victoria decided to focus on building a career in fashion. Many designers were initially doubtful when she announced this change in direction.

After her first collection received positive reviews, she faced accusations of copying designs from her mentor, Roland Mouret.

Victoria stated in the documentary, ‘Naturally, there has to be a male figure involved. It couldn’t just be a young, unimportant pop singer.’

Victoria had loved fashion ever since she was a little girl, and while in the Spice Girls, she’d famously spent a large portion of the group’s clothing money on Gucci. She wasn’t about to quit now, and she worked hard until she gained the respect of those around her.

Anna Wintour is a Victoria Beckham fan

In 2009, Madonna featured a black, zip-up dress by Victoria Beckham – from Beckham’s very first collection – in a W Magazine photo shoot. Then, in 2011, Victoria Beckham’s brand was named Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards.

Even Anna Wintour admitted she had misjudged the pop star-turned-luxury designer.

Movies

After 19 years, Anna Wintour has finally shared her positive thoughts on the movie ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ and Meryl Streep’s performance, acknowledging the film was inspired by her own life and career at Vogue.

Anna Wintour admitted that people in the fashion industry sometimes underestimate side projects. However, she said Victoria Beckham proved those assumptions wrong and achieved significant success.

Victoria’s business almost went under

One of the most surprising revelations in the documentary is that Victoria’s business partner, David Belhassen, shared she spent $70,000 each year on office plants, and an additional $15,000 a year to have someone maintain them.

This helps explain why Victoria’s fashion brand, despite being generally liked, remained heavily in debt even after her husband had invested in it for years.

“We were tens of millions in the red,” Victoria said.

After David finally closed the bank, Victoria felt incredibly worried and immediately tried to convince Belhassen to help.

Initially, Belhassen was hesitant to work with Victoria Beckham, shocked by how much money the brand was losing and its overall poor condition. He was prepared to decline the opportunity. However, his wife wore a Victoria Beckham dress on a date, and Belhassen was so impressed with its quality that he decided to reconsider and ultimately accept the challenge.

“[Victoria] was very emotional, and she told me, ‘I won’t let you down,’” Belhassen said.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, the brand earned $150 million in revenue last year and is now expected to be consistently profitable in the future.

Posh Spice is in the past

In the documentary, Victoria shared that she’ll forever appreciate the chances she got with the Spice Girls.

I’ll always remember my roots, and I honestly owe everything to Posh Spice! She’s the reason I’m where I am today, and I’ll never forget that.

Television

“Girls5eva” is one of a growing number of shows and movies that are taking a second look at the late 90s and early 2000s. It playfully questions why we feel so nostalgic for the pop music of that time.

Since the Spice Girls reunited for their tour from 2007 to 2008, she’s made it clear that she’s moved on from her days as ‘Posh Spice’.

She discovered during the tour that performing wasn’t her passion anymore, though she had enjoyed it. Since then, she’s dedicated herself to fashion and continues to strive for success with her Victoria Beckham line.

In the closing scene of the documentary, Victoria shares with David, “I’m proud of my ambition and excited to pursue even more goals in the future.”

“I’m not stopping yet,” she said.

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2025-10-10 13:32