Why Doesn’t Victoria Beckham Smile With Her Teeth?
Picture Victoria Beckham — or Posh Spice, if you prefer — in your head. What kind of expression is she making? Most likely, it isn’t a smile. Unlike other celebrities, Victoria Beckham often keeps a more neutral expression when she’s being photographed, whether on the red carpet or in a photo shoot. It can make her look rather dour, which is surprising giving the glamorous life she leads. On top of that, she’s remarkably stable, having been married to David Beckham for over two decades, and multiple business ventures. One might expect her to smile more, but she prefers a less expressive face in public.
So why does Victoria Beckham choose to maintain this neutral look? And has this changed in neutral years?
Posh Spice
In 1994, at 20 years old, Victoria Beckham, then Adams, joined the Spice Girls as Posh Spice. The Spice Girls were massively successful in the late 1990s, with hits like ‘Wannabe,’ ‘2 Become 1,’ and ‘Spice Up Your Life,’ and were massively influential in pop music of the time. However, by 2000, the group had broken up, and members went on to pursue solo careers and other ventures. Victoria pursued her own solo career, but this was far less successful than the Spice Girls.
While Victoria was in the Spice Girls, she met football player David Beckham, who at the time was playing for Manchester United. They married in 1999, a few months after having their first child, Brooklyn. Since then, the couple has had three more children, and purchased a massive property jokingly dubbed “Beckingham Palace.” Today, they’re still seen as a major power couple, and their enduring relationship is inspirational for many, both famous and non-famous.
Beckham’s fashion career
After leaving the Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham started modeling. In 2004, she released her first fashion line, VB Rocks, which consisted mostly of high-end jeans. She expanded this line, though by 2008 she had moved on. Still, it was a success, and gave Beckham a taste for the fashion industry. Since then, she’s launched more fashion lines, and multiple cosmetics lines.
In 2008, she launched her own label, which has offered both high-end luxury items and more accessible items. She’s also invested in animal rights, and avoids using fur and skins in all of her products. However, despite the popularity of her brand, it hasn’t been profitable. Still, this hasn’t affected Beckham, who continues to promote her brand and make further ventures in the fashion industry.
Why Beckham won’t smile
Victoria Beckham’s signature expression is a pout. One of her most popular lip kits is even called “Your Perfect Pout,” and jokes about being known for “never smiling.” However, her reasoning for this may not be what you think.
In an interview with Glamour Magazine, Beckham brought up the signature pout, and how in recent years she’s smiling more. She still uses her pout for photo shoots, but, Victoria told the interviewer:
In the past, I’ve probably hidden behind my armour — the not smiling publicly, for instance. There’s less of that now. There’s something really liberating about embracing who I am at 45 years old and owning it, feeling confident, feeling content. Doing beauty has really helped with that — it’s been very liberating. I want to spread the word that everybody should feel like the best version of themselves. To look after what you have. I want to tell people to own who you are. Yes, we — and I — have wrinkles, and that’s OK!
Of course, women shouldn’t be expected to smile for the sake of their fame or career. But Victoria making the choice to be more expressive is also important — she’s embracing imperfections that might come with being open and expressive, and shying away from the false images given by Photoshop and anti-aging.
