Vogue UK revealed over the weekend that Victoria Beckham will be their cover girl next month. They only released a few photos so far but they are nice, if not predictable. The cover shot is lovely and we almost see a smile! Plus, I covet the coat she’s wearing. The interview includes a letter that Victoria wrote to her teenage self titled, “What I wish I’d known.” In it, she tells of how she met her husband David Beckham, how she didn’t feel she fit in as a teen and how she feels about her fashion sense. The quotes below are from Victoria to Victoria.
On meeting David: “Learn more about football, especially the offside rule. And yes, love at first sight does exist. It will happen to you in the Manchester United players’ lounge – although you will get a little drunk, so exact details are hazy.
“While the other football players stand at the bar drinking with their mates, you will see David standing aside with his family. (He’s not even in the first team at this stage – you are the famous one.) And he has such a cute smile. You, too, are close to your family, and you will think how similar he feels to you. He’s going to ask for your number. (He still has the London-to-Manchester plane ticket on which you wrote it.)”
On overcoming insecurities: “I know you are struggling right now. You are not the prettiest, or the thinnest, or the best at dancing at the Laine Theatre Arts college. You have never properly fitted in, although you are sharing your Surrey school digs with really nice girls. You have bad acne. You think the principal has put you at the back of the end-of-year show (in a humiliatingly bright purple Lycra leotard) because you are too plump to go at the front. (This may or may not be true.)”
On her evolving fashion: “You are going to have so much fun with your clothes – PVC catsuits; chokers that say absurd things; weird spiky blonde hair. It will never occur to you that you appear ridiculous. You will turn up at awards ceremonies resembling a drag queen. But I look back at you and smile. It will add interest to your life to go from one extreme to another. I love the fact that you will feel free to express yourself.
“Fashion will take on added stature one day, but try not to be stifled by it. You will learn, as you mature, to swap heels for Stan Smith trainers, minidresses for crisp white shirts. And you will never be one of those people who just roll out of bed.”
Have any of you ever thought what you would say to your 18-year old self? I tend to be a pragmatist so I wouldn’t bother because my 18-year old self wouldn’t listen anyway. One thing I would really try to convince young me is to NOT light that first cigarette.
I like the tone of her letter, especially that she interjects her humor into it, even at it’s sappiest or saddest. My heart fluttered over her David story, but you all know how much I adore their union so that’s not a surprise. I didn’t know that his career skyrocketed during the course of their relationship. As for her insecurities, it does help to know that everyone has/had them, I guess. The cynic in me wonders if this isn’t Victoria’s attempt to seem more human but my heart thought her words sounded honest. Acne is a bear and if she had it, I could see that coloring her teenage experience. Whether it’s true or not, you just feel like everyone is staring at you. I am waiting for the magazine to come out to find out how she signed off on the letter. I hope she ended it by telling her younger self that it seems it all worked out in the end. Either that or “stick with the bob.” Were it my letter, I would have left some winning lottery numbers.
Photo credit: Vogue UK
I actually love to read “letter to your younger self” stories. But I thought the point of them was to give advice and encouragement, rather than “this is how/when/where you will meet the person you will marry” stories. My letter to my younger self would tell me not to sunbathe, take extra good care of my teeth because dental work is crazy expensive, and explain compound interest and the importance of saving.
I would tell myself that I am never as fat and ugly as I think I am. Every time I see a photo from 15, 10, 5, years ago photos where I thought at the time I was surely past my peak, I think, “wow I was so thin and pretty! I wish i rocked it then instead of thinking I was so fat!”
Whenever I feel down about myself, I try to remind myself to wiggle and dance and enjoy this body and skin because 20-years-from-now-self wishes they looked like I do now.
I often think that when I look pictures of myself when I was in elementary school. I got bullied quite badly for being fat, but now, when I look at pictures, I was barely, and I mean barely chubby. But I thought I was huge. Self-perception is such a weird thing.
So true! I read an interesting comment recently about body image. The writer pointed out that the reason a lot of women feel bad about themselves is that they have an inner voice comparing themselves unfavourably to their younger and often thinner selves. “Strangers” of course have no idea what the person used to look like, they only know what they see, and aren’t doing some sort of unfavourable comparison. Logically I knew this already of course, but it made me think.
Okay, first off, eff the offside rule.
Second, I love that last dress (even though it looks like velvet and I usually hate velvet), although I wonder what the front looks like and whether the ties at the neck are jewelry or a part of it.
Lastly, Dear Eighteen-Year-Old-Me, just because a food doesn’t make your throat close up or cause you to break out in hives doesn’t mean you’re not allergic to it. Stop deluding yourself and start paying better attention to your diet – and not the crazy way you do at one point. French fries won’t kill you every once and a while. That loaf of bread could put you in the hospital, though.
I actually really like this interview, and it’s made me like VB even more. She seems more down-to-earth than I would have thought, considering how privileged her life has been / is.
Now, if I had to talk to my 18 year old self I would tell me to have more fun in life, that I can be responsible and such later on, there’s no rush. Also, in college and Uni I should study something I love rather than a subject that I felt indifferent about but that I felt would help me get by later on…and lastly, to buy stock in Apple. LOL.
@ladyMTL,
“Now, if I had to talk to my 18 year old self I would tell me to have more fun in life, that I can be responsible and such later on,” This – so on point, I wish I had more fun, made out with more guys, did crazy things, traveled. Just tell my younger self to not take life that serious, because you have your whole life to do that.
Those are really nice photos. Her face looks great
I wish this was Vogue US, she deserves that cover more than anyone else at the moment. She is a very accomplished designer and a walking issue of Vogue. I mean, Amy Schumer has a cover, for f@*ks sakes!
I really wonder does Anna Wintour secretly hate her or what? She is a fashion icon whether people like it or not, the number of people who have gotten covers multiple times before her is such a shame.
My letter to my younger self would say, don’t shave your happy trail, don’t shave your hoo-ha, and when Andrew Garfield takes your hand, interlaces his fingers with yours, starts strolling with you towards Times Square, just keep walking and don’t start talking.
I would tell 18year old me to stop thinking dreams come true on their own and to get prepared to work really hard…!
Folklore has it that he saw her in the Say You’ll Be There madmax desert video in that Lycra catsuit outfit and he asked to meet her.
I have always loved Victoria. Her show was HILARIOUS, she’s quite charming and self
Deprecating. She’s a hard worker, a great mom…nothing but love for her. She seems like a great gal.
I really like her too. And she always seemd insecure to me, from the not smling to her posing on the red carpet, so her words seem truthfull.
Honking for her.
I. Love. Her. I love her humor, her style, her evolution, her self awareness. I loved her in the 90s and while I didn’t think it was possible then, I love her even more now.
I love her and her story about David is beyond cute!! This did make my heart ache though because she has clearly had issues with eating disorders or at the very least being underweight in the past and the frequent comments here about her weight as a teenager are a window into her psyche. I bet she wasn’t even plump. Poor darling. I wish her all the best and happiness and good mental and physical health. I love seeing her succeed.
That’s what struck me too.
Her issues with weight are out in the open on this one. Which makes her crazy relatable, since how many women have thought at one point or another they are too heavy? It also goes to show how much is in perception, since I think most ladies would love to be as ‘chubby’ as she probably was.
My heart stopped for a min because I thought it was US Vogue! I was so excited.
She is so down to earth, love her and David!
I think she is telling the truth about her insecurities she has always spoken about them.
A small portion of my senior class actually did the whole letter to our older self thing during the last day of English! We’re supposed to get them in 10 years, so a flip of what Victoria did. I’m excited to get mine and see the changes I went through, and who knows, maybe 28 year old me will relearn a few things lol.
The second photo is absolutely striking 😍
She’s f-king gorgeous in these.
I didn’t understand that the word “posh” had negative connotations until grad school (when a classmate from a Commonwealth country/ex-British colony said it). Years later, I still find it hard to take it as offensive because I just think it’s a type of Spice Girl.
I’m old enough to remember her being the famous one of this item. He was the Spice boy !
Since the Rebecca Loos fiasco (and the other “assistants/escorts/groupies”), I tend to see their union as a well curated brand rather than this perfect family they’re selling .
I just think he learned discretion.
I’m old enough to remember him being Mr. Posh too!!
I dunno, y’know, I’m as cynical as they come but I think it’s also possible for couples to overcome infidelity. I’m aware that they are a major brand that neither of them can afford to leave (side eye to the Carters) but I’m still rooting for them and choosing to buy the authenticity. I know I’m wrong!
It’s said David Beckham has had 3 daughters in Miami after Manchester United days, all older than Harper. All to the same mother. Whilst in Manchester United it’s said the Manager Sir Alex Ferguson had a carefully well orchestrated cheating on your wife “system”. Bodyguards at hotels on look out for any incoming wives, would stall the wife footballer would be alerted immediately paid lady makes a sharp exit. Women were discreetly supplied well paid, for their discretion to players without wives ever finding out. Kept wives & home lives of footballers happy, football players happy. Therefore happy productive team means happy manager. All infidelity scandals concerning Manchester United Stars only became publicly known when either the player left Manchester United or after Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down from being the football players Manager hence the Ryan Giggs scandal, sleeping with his brothers wife and mother of his brothers children for eight years. A pregnancy was involved, Ryan Giggs paid for an abortion, really wonder how long the tabloids sat on that for?…The most successful football team in global history, no tabloid would have revealed such secrets during Sir Alex Fergusons reign with UK’s most successful team. Players fair game when no longer in Fergusons care….. Also read about a woman in P.R. said David Beckham is always on the prowl, for next bit of skirt, it’s no wonder Victoria is soooo insecure.
I don’t know what I would say to my 18y old self. My 18y old self was pretty happy. My early 20s self is very unhappy. I’d probably tell me to choose a major in college I want, and not the one my family wanted. Go to therapy sooner because that anxiety won’t cure itself. Panic attacks are horrible but you’re not going to die. Get your thyroid checked sooner. Stop worrying so much that you’re going to disappoint you parents ( but then, I still don’t know how to do that).
I don’t know if I would even want to talk to my 18y old self. I guess these things make sense when you’re older and happy with your life so you just kinda say hang in there, you’ll be better. If you’re unhappy you are just reminding yourself of all the things you did wrong.
I love her. She’s always battled with her skin – you can google pictures over the years – I’m glad she shared this. <3 I think I'll share it with my daughter, who is experiencing her own self-esteem issues right now at 13.
Dear 18 year old self,
Stop being so insecure, you’re great the way you are. Maybe you’re not approached like your friends not because you’re not pretty like them but because you’re so insecure. This insecurity is going to hold you back a lot in life in more than one way. Future you dgaf and is doing a lot better though she wishes you would have taken more risks and said goodbye to more people sooner than later. You have some toxic people in your life. Get rid of them, you don’t need them, they’re not feeding your soul. You’re depressed because you’re not following your own gut. Your feelings, thoughts, and opinions on things are very valid… Listen to it more. You’ll find your way and get exactly what you want in life at this moment even if you don’t realize it. The only person whose opinion about you that matters is your own.
I think the struggles we go through in our younger years help to build character and make us nicer people. I wouldn’t change any of my trials and tribulations as a teen and young woman, but I sure as heck do not want to go through any of it again. LOL.
I’m not sure how to take her weight struggle sharing. This is the woman who currently borders on unhealthy skeletal frame. I think we all know she still has weight issues – she’s just in better control than she used to be but some MDs would reject that as healthy. She also had the means to pretty up all her ugly. I’m glad she seems happy, but relatable? Not really.