Author: quyen1

Credits: IMAGO / PanoramiC

Charles Leclerc excels at a lot of things both on and off the F1 track, but his latest venture has sent the F1 world into a frenzy. Earlier this week, the Monegasque driver announced the launch of his ice cream brand ‘Lec’, and Max Verstappen could be the recipient of something very special from there.

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Verstappen’s favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla; as he revealed in a Red Bull segment not very long ago. This is something Leclerc recalls and brought it up during his brand’s launch. When asked if he would send Verstappen his favorite ice cream to calm him down, the Ferrari driver responded that his primary focus would be to defeat him on the track. However, he added that he would send the ice cream as well.

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In a video posted on X, Leclerc could be heard saying, “What I’m interested in is beating him on the track to start with, and that’s what we’re working on, so I’ll also give him the flavor he likes and then we’ll try to beat him on the track.”

A fan in the comments also pointed out that Leclerc and Verstappen have similar tastes in ice cream. Vanilla turns out to be the favorite flavor for both drivers. So, fans cannot wait for a segment involving this duo with vanilla ice cream.

Why Charles Leclerc started his own ice cream

F1 drivers starting their own initiative outside the world of racing is not unheard of. Lando Norris did it with Quadrant, and Daniel Ricciardo did it with his brand ‘Enchante’. They all have a reason behind starting what they did, and so does Leclerc. His story, however, dates back to his younger days of karting.

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“Ice cream is something that I’ve always liked as a child, when I started karting I remember during the first days that an ice cream was never far away,” he said.

Fans all over the world are excited with this launch, and as per reports, supermarkets all over Italy are prepared. Their freezers are stocked with Lec-branded ice cream tubs, because they anticipate huge demand in the coming weeks and months.

Also, to the delight of fans, the ice creams aren’t expensive. Their retail price starts at $5.36 and has only 370 kcal.

Credits: IMAGO / Motorsport Images

Being the most dominant driver on the grid, it is no surprise that Max Verstappen is the highest-paid F1 star currently. He earns a staggering $55 million a year, and because of his success, his manager Raymond Vermeulen too, earns more than some F1 drivers.

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According to renowned F1 journalist Kym Illman, Vermeulen earns anywhere between $8.5 million to $11.7 million. This is more than what 12 drivers on the grid get paid annually. The list of drivers includes the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Oscar Piastri and Lance Stroll.

Illman said in his recent video on YouTube,

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“Raymond Vermeulen and his company might be taking €8 to €11 million [$8.5-$11.7 million] a year.”

According to sources, Bottas earns $10 million annually from Sauber, whereas Ricciardo takes $7 million from V-CARB. The remaining 10 drivers are listed below Bottas and Ricciardo, with Logan Sargeant appearing at the bottom with a salary of $1 million.

Vermeulen, a fellow Dutchman, has been with Verstappen since 2015. They started at Toro Rosso, and have reached the top of the F1 world together, with Verstappen becoming a three-time world champion in 2023. Before he was Max’s manager, Vermeulen also represented his father Jos Verstappen. This makes the Vermeulen family very close to the Verstappens.

Raymond Vermeulen is also one of Verstappen’s most trusted advisors, and financially benefits from his client’s success on the track.

How does Vermeulen make money off Max Verstappen?

F1 drivers are some of the best paid athletes in the world. A huge part of their multi-million dollar salaries, however, go their managers/agents. Usually, 15%-20% is the yearly cut, depending on the contract, which is how Vermeulen makes money off Verstappen.

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Managers negotiate to bring the best possible deal for a driver, and they include their percentage within that number. Therefore, Verstappen getting paid $55 million gives Vermeulen a huge piece of the pie.

Managers are also in regular touch with the teams, to make sure their drivers are well represented. In other words, their off-track affairs that impact their stay in F1, are handled by managers like Vermeulen.

For now, Vermeulen’s estimated salary makes him the highest paid manager in the paddock. If Verstappen signs a contract that is more expensive, he could end up earning even more.

Credits: IMAGO / Buzzi and IMAGO / HochZwei |
L: Jannik Sinner R: Carlos Sainz

Having won the Australian Open as well as titles in Rotterdam and Miami, Jannik Sinner would not want to miss a single tournament this year, given the kind of winning streak he is currently on. However, Sinner is also having a new role as a “Friend of F1”, and will be promoting the sport to a wider group of young fans. His interaction with Carlos Sainz at the ATP Monte Carlos Masters 1000 may have indirectly reminded him of the same as the Ferrari driver asked Sinner whether he would be attending a Grand Prix in 2024. To this, Sinner reasoned that his clay season commitments may not allow him to attend a race so soon.

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According to The Tennis Letter on Twitter (now X), Sinner said, “We’re trying. There’s Roland Garros now”. To this, Sainz asked him to come for just one Sunday. The Italian jokingly replied, “If it [Roland Garros] goes badly, I’ll come”. On hearing the same, Sainz wished then that Sinner wouldn’t come, hoping he would carry on his winning run.

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The 22-year-old tennis sensation is currently playing the clay court tournaments of the ATP Tour, which often starts with the Monte Carlo Masters at the borders of Monaco and France. After this tournament, there will be Masters 1000 tournaments in Madrid and Rome before the big headline clay-court Grand Slam – the French Open towards the end of May.

So, Sinner has a packed schedule for the next two months, which is what he told Sainz as the reason for not being able to attend a race yet. Just like F1 drivers, tennis players also have a grueling season to play, with several Masters tournaments and four Grand Slams. Naturally, they can choose not to play in certain tournaments but also risk losing ATP ranking points.

Why has F1 got Jannik Sinner to promote their sport?

F1 stakeholders, including Liberty Media, have been actively pushing to expand the sport’s audiences to newer territories and demographics. Onboarding Jannik Sinner is also a part of the same strategy. The way Sinner and his peers like Carlos Alcaraz have made a significant impact on young sporting fans so early in their careers is quite noteworthy.

The new-age sporting fans are interested in feel-good stories of young prodigies doing well in any sport. So, be it F1 or tennis, athletes like Sinner, Alcaraz, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc will always command a great fan following.

And when these prodigies win big tournaments or championships, their fan following and reputation rise exponentially. Sinner has experienced that with his Australian Open win and Alcaraz with his Wimbledon win in 2023.

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Thus, Liberty Media wants to capitalize on this increased fandom for the Italian sensation. Besides, Sinner hailing from Italy obviously draws a strong connection with the roots of F1.

When one puts Sinner beside Ferrari drivers like Sainz or Leclerc, it certainly becomes a big deal. With the Italian heritage tying them together, the fan sentiment and media attention would be quite high.

So, how successful can this collaboration between Sinner and F1 be? Only time will tell. But one thing is sure, whenever the 22-year-old attends a Grand Prix weekend, tennis and F1 fans will go bonkers and the viewership of Formula One is likely to rise.

Credits: IMAGO / Laci Perenyi

F1 driver, music producer and composer, and now ice-cream maker. That’s right, Charles Leclerc can now add “Ice cream” to his CV as he has just launched his frozen dessert brand. This marks Leclerc’s first entrepreneurial venture and there is already quite a lot of excitement in the market. Named Lec, the ice cream is already on shelves across Italy in various supermarkets so here are the details of what the Monegasque is serving.

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The brand created plenty of buzz with Charles Leclerc’s name attached to it, being enough to garner attention. The project was kept under tight wraps similar to the news surrounding his future teammate. However, the secret is out now and the fans cannot wait to try out the ‘Lec’ ice cream.

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As seen on X, a few fans got their hands on the ice cream tubs and were pleasantly surprised by the taste. The supermarkets across Italy already started stocking the ice creams before the initial release anticipating a huge demand. For now, the stores are hoarding all five flavors namely: peanut caramel tango, swirly pistachi-oh!, chocolate crunch, vanillove, salty carammmel. Now it remains to be seen which among the five flavors becomes the best seller.

Retailing at 4.99 euros [$5.36], the ice cream is affordable. Another positive aspect of the ice cream tub is it only amounts to 370 kcal per tub. The low-calorie count for a tub of ice cream hints towards Leclerc’s desire to prioritize health, even while indulging.

This is in line with Leclerc’s statement teasing the project. As quoted by Formula Passion, the statement read, “A very special project for me: a new, great adventure undertaken outside the race circuit. As a professional athlete, it is essential for me to maintain a healthy lifestyle where my performance is strongly linked to commitment, training, and physical fitness. This, however, doesn’t stop me from indulging in some little forbidden pleasure, especially that of a food I adore. Maybe you’ve already figured out which one.”

Fans can’t keep calm as Lec by Charles Leclerc hits the shelves

It’s incredible to see the reach of the brand without the Monegasque even mentioning it on his official account. So much so, that there are some willing to drive to Italy to pick up a tub or five. Like this fan, many have made their emotions known on X about Leclerc’s ice cream venture.

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The promotional campaign has reached the masses as well as the photo of the supermarket fridge with Lec on display.

Fans also appreciated Leclerc making his ice cream affordable and easily accessible without any marketing gimmick like exclusivity.

However, it still won’t reach everyone outside Italy as fans across the globe wait in anticipation.

As most of the world waits to get a taste of Lec, we will witness the hype swarm through social media. Let’s hope Monegasque’s brand can distinguish itself and become a global brand. Or else, the fans will have another reason to travel to Italy.

Credits: IMAGO / ABACAPRESS

Stepping away from the world of racing and taking a break before the Chinese GP, Carlos Sainz made his way to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France. The Spaniard attended the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000, which is part of the ATP tour. Sainz attended the event on 10th April with the event happening from 7th April to 14th April 2024. There the Ferrari man met none other than Novak Djokovic who asked about some important but hilarious concerns.

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The 24-time Grand Slam winner’s concerns were regarding Sainz‘s famous habit of singing the song “Smooth Operator” on his radio. Nicknamed the Smooth Operator due to it, Sainz sings the song by Sade after his race wins. So during his interaction at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Djokovic shared his genuine concern about Sainz being allowed to sing the song.

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Hilariously enough, the Serbian star was fooled by a viral dubbed TikTok instructing the Ferrari man he couldn’t sing the song because of copyright issues. After clearing the air and confessing, “Yeah, I can do whatever I want. They were joking” as seen in the X post, the two had a nice exchange. Making use of the opportunity, the Spaniard also discussed his tennis skills with the World No. 1.

When Djovokic asked if he got the chance to play tennis, Sainz admitted, “My backhand is terrible. My drive is okay and my volley sucks.” Commenting on that and referencing a certain Spaniard, Djokovic added, “It’s in the Spanish blood to have a better forehand. You know, always relying on the forehand.” 

During the pleasantly sunny and buzzing atmosphere of the event, the two also got some pictures together. Before leaving, Djokovic also signed the Ferrari man’s water bottle. However, this good-spirited meeting was just another between the two as they clashed against each other on the football field.

Carlos Sainz Vs Novak Djokovic: The Monaco World Stars Football Match

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Sainz met on the playing field once again back in 2023 for the Monaco World Stars Football Match. Sainz was part of the team led by his teammate Charles Leclerc. They played against a team of stars led by the 24-time Grand Slam winner. Both teams were star-studded with F1 drivers and athletes across various disciplines. There are always almost 30 celebrities taking part in this event that draws in a lot of crowds annually.

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It’s an old and yearly tradition that doubles down as a fundraising event for a charity that caters to underprivileged children. The match often takes place in the Louis II Stadium in Monaco which is the home turf of Football club AS Monaco. The F1 stars won the 2023 edition with a nail-biting 4-3 score. Sainz got one-up on Djokovic in the football match, however, he could not make it 2-0 when it came to golf.

Despite being a golf enthusiast and one of the best on the grid, the Spaniard lost a game of golf against the Tennis star. This matchup between the two was part of the 2023 Ryder Cup. So despite Sainz’s keen interest in the sport and regular practice during his F1 off-time, he lost to Djokovic while representing team Pavin.

However, as one can tell, there is no bad blood between the two. Although the score at the moment, if anyone is keeping it, is 1-1. Now we wait to see what next sporting event they lock horns in.

Tom Cruise, David and Victoria Beckham were once inseparable but in recent years their friendship has become estranged. Now, a source has revealed why.

Speaking to The Mirror, a source spoke about the trio’s once strong friendship

confessing the film star is reportedly holding a grudge against his British pals after they “chucked him” once they’d met his high profile friends.

“Tom did everything for them when they first moved to LA. He practically gave them the keys to the city,” the source said adding,

“He threw them a party to meet everyone important, and the moment they were established they chucked him!”

Despite the Top Gun star’s alleged grudge, the source claimed the couple – particularly Victoria – have tried to mend the friendship,

with the Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer reportedly reaching out to no avail.
“He’s still angry and has no intention of being friends again. David and Victoria tested the waters a while ago, but Tom ignored them — so it makes sense they haven’t invited him to anything. Tom clearly thinks they should have tried harder.”

Elsewhere, another source spoke to Radar Online claiming the real reason for the trio’s estrangement is because Cruise – a well-known Scientologist – wanted the Beckhams to learn more about the Church.

The source claimed the couple were not interested and that’s when they decided to take a step back from their friendship with the actor.

Loos claimed their intimate relationship took place over four months in 2003 when she was assigned to look after David following his transfer from the Manchester United club to Real Madrid in 2003. The former football star called the claims “ludicrous” at the time, but Victoria has now admitted it was the “hardest” period of her marriage.

David also spoke candidly: “There were some horrible stories that were difficult to deal with. It was the first time that me and Victoria had been put under that kind of pressure in our marriage.”

While neither David or Victoria confirmed whether the rumours were true, they said they still unsure how they got through such a turbulent time in their marriage.

David added: “I don’t know how we got through it in all honesty. Victoria is everything to me. To see her hurt was incredibly difficult. But we are fighters. And at that time we needed to fight for each other, we needed to fight for our family. And what we had was worth fighting for. But ultimately it’s our private life.”

Cheered by her famous family, Victoria Beckham brought a sexy vision of fall/winter to an intimate New York runway show on Sunday and confided plans to open a second store in Asia.

David sat front row holding three-year-old daughter Harper on his lap and chatted to Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour after arriving with sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz all dressed in sharp black outfits.

Harper, dressed in a black frock with white cuffs and peter-pan collar, tried to capture the catwalk show with her own camera,

perhaps inspired by the phalanx of photographers and delighting her doting father and Wintour.

Brooklyn, 15, chewing gum and dressed in black leather trousers looked effortlessly cool as he and his brother Romeo,

who had modeled for Burberry, appeared to film the show discreetly from their cell phones.

Beckham summed up her collection backstage as sexy, liberating and full of bounce, after showcasing dresses with full skirts, textured knits with high necks, oversized coats with swinging bodies.
“It’s very important that all of these clothes can be worn. They can go straight from the catwalk onto one of my ladies,” she said.

“It feels sexy this season in those dresses with the plunging necklines that are fitted with the little drapes,” she said.

She said that 2015 would see her spend a lot of time in Asia, where she plans to open a second store after the success of her Dover Street boutique in London.

She told AFP bashfully that she “can’t say” where the shop would be, but that she was flying to Hong Kong and Beijing in a few weeks.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” she said. “I love the women there they really understand fashion and style, they’re beautiful. So why not Asia?”

She said her choice of bouncy, light-weight wearable fabric was also influenced by varied climates and her increasingly global market.

“I’m selling my clothes, not just in New York and London, I’m selling clothes all around the world so I have to take into account the weight of fabric,” she said.

A more intimate catwalk show than many at Fashion Week, Beckham treated guests to steaming glasses of Earl Grey tea, handed as they came in from minus 9 Celsius (16 Fahrenheit) temperatures outside.
Held in the imposing surrounds of Cipriani on Broadway, the 65-foot (20 meter) high ceilings of the 1921 building, soaring marble columns, inlaid floors and murals handed a neo-Renaissance elegance to proceedings.

Beckham, who was praised backstage by fashion journalists for a flattering and beautiful collection, said she was delighted with the growing success of her eponymous label.

“I’m really enjoying building the business, I’m really enjoying having the shop. It’s great. I’m very happy. I feel very lucky to do something I love,” she said, chatty and charming backstage.
“I love having them here. They’re so supportive of what I do. We all support each other,” she gushed of the family.

Here are the other highlights of New York Fashion Week, day four:
50 SHADES OF BROWN

Brown dominated at Derek Lam’s collection that paid homage to the timeless elegance and individuality of actresses Diane Keaton, Mia Farrow and Katharine Hepburn.

Lam summed up his look as warm woolens and cashmeres that are “luxurious but a bit more warm and cozy” and said he loved his muses’ “cut-to-the-chase kind of sensibility.”

“Like New York City, it’s complicated, it’s messy but these women have been able to create an identity in this kind of chaos and do it kind of with warmth and courage,” he said.

The sharpness of his tailoring and the texture of the clothes accentuated the tiny frame of the waif-thin catwalk models.

“What I like to think is that my clothes and especially the tailoring gives that silhouette to women.

“Yes, the runway is one thing, but the way the pants are tailored, the jackets are tailored you can have that kind of idealized silhouette.”

HIGH NECKS, BUTTONS AND ORANGE

Both Beckham and Lam featured high necklines and large buttoned coats and dresses in their collections, which were also spiced up by burnt orange.

David Beckham has given a talk at the prestigious Harvard University in Massachusetts about his life and his business forays.

Beckham spoke to students about his soccer career with Manchester United, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy, his ownership of Inter Miami and his business interests away from the game where he made his name.

The 48-year-old shared an array of photos on Wednesday from his visit to Cambridge, near Boston, earlier in the week and was clearly left humbled by his opportunity to speak to the students on campus.

‘Who would have thought the boy from east London talks at Harvard,’ Beckham wrote on Instagram with a crying-with-laughter emoji.

‘Huge honor today spending time with Anita Elberse at Harvard Business School, thank you to Anita and all the students.’

Elberse, who is the professor of Business Administration, thanked Beckham for his time with a post of her own on Instagram.

‘Yes, you’re seeing it right: the legendary David Beckham was a guest speaker in my Harvard Business School class today,’ she wrote.
‘So amazing to hear him share his thoughts on topics such as his soccer career, his joint venture with Authentic Brands Group, and of course Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF’ before ending the caption with a hashtag ‘#ProfessorBeckhamInTheHouse’.

Beckham has been in the limelight recently with a new career-spanning documentary about his life dropping on Netflix.

It has received positive reviews for the most part, with the four-part series chronicling his rise from a promising soccer player to global star – as well as his marriage to Victoria and the highs and lows of their relationship.

Going to watch football, David Beckham wore a handsome suit. The father of four children has a solid, masculine physique.

He attentively watched the match between England and Iran from the audience seats of Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. David Beckham’s appearance attracted the media.

At the age of U50, David Beckham still maintains stable performance. The star born in 1975 was honored by People magazine as the Sexiest Man of 2015.

In 2019, he ranked number 13 on the list above. In 2022, he also appeared in the list of 100 sexiest men of the year.

Sharing the secret to keeping his appearance in good shape, David Beckham revealed that he works hard with subjects such as weightlifting, heavy cardio, jogging…

He also pays attention to eating, always avoiding heavy meals. energy, fat. His preferred dishes include chicken, fish, cabbage, spinach, and broccoli. I almost say no to white rice.

The Idle Man newspaper praised David Beckham’s fashion sense and rated the former player as one of the stars who always maintains a poise, attractive and sophisticated style in every appearance. This newspaper calls him Men’s Fashion Icon.
The match between Iran and England is the second match of the 2022 World Cup with the presence of David Beckham in the audience. Previously, the former famous player attended the opening ceremony and watched the match between the home team Qatar and Ecuador on November 20.

David Beckham signed a contract to become the official ambassador for Qatar during the 2022 World Cup. In August, David Beckham appeared in an advertisement for Qatar tourism . In the video, the famous player explores many scenic spots in this country and does not forget to give many kind words to the West Asian country.

In addition to David Beckham, the online community also paid attention to the Prince of Qatar – Sheik Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, who appeared in the same frame as the British football star. His Royal Highness was born in 1978 and is the third child of Bishop Amir Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. His mother is Bishop Amir’s second wife.

Prince Sheik Jassim has an impressive education, having attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and then continuing to study at the International College, Sherborne School in the United Kingdom. After graduating and returning home, the prince, born in 1978, held many important positions in the country.

According to regulations, Sheikh Jassim is the legal heir to his father’s throne, but he renounced his inheritance rights in August 2003 and handed over the rights to his younger brother – Prince Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Her Highness Sheik Jassim has been married since 2006 to Sheikha Buthaina bint Hamad Al Thani, their younger sister and daughter of Hamad bin Ali Al Thani. They have 8 children together (3 sons and 5 daughters). Their marriage was praised by Qatari media as perfect.
At the age of 44, Sheik Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani possesses Middle Eastern beauty and royal charisma. Along with the heat of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the lives of princes in this country also make the online community curious.

Every parent has a different way of expressing affection for their children. Compared to hugging or comforting, the act of kissing children on the lips receives many mixed opinions.

For some people, kissing their children on the lips can be an act of expressing affection a bit too much, especially when their children enter puberty.

World star David Beckham is famous for being a “crazy” father and is often seen kissing his youngest daughter Harper Bechkam on the lips.

When Harper turned 10, David began to receive harsh criticism from the online community when he posted photos of the father and son kissing on social networks.

Some netizens commented: “The girl has grown up, now is the time to stop kissing”, “It’s terrible to kiss a girl like that”, “It’s beautiful but wait, don’t lock your lips.” like that”,

“David Beckham is really thick-skinned, he has been commented on all this without changing anything. Is he going to kiss his daughter until she has a lover?”, “It looks really offensive. “,…

However, there are also some parents who sympathize and fully support the former player from England. They said : “There’s nothing wrong with parents expressing their affection by kissing. It’s just a way to express their feelings”, “It’s great to see the father-child relationship bond like this”, “No So if you think too deeply, David is just addicted to you”…

As for David Beckham, the father of four did not hesitate to speak out against criticism of his daughter’s kiss on the lips. “I’m very affectionate with the children, that’s how Victoria and I grew up and raised our children,” he explained .
“We wanted to show love to the kids, and you know, my family is very affectionate,” he continued .

Even in the past, David Beckham frankly expressed that he kissed all his children. He shared: “I was criticized for kissing my daughter on the lips. I kiss all my children on the lips, except maybe Brooklyn. Brooklyn is 18 years old and might find that a bit strange.”

Male footballer David Beckham and former Spicy Girl member Victoria Bekham are considered the dream couple of the entertainment industry. The couple has been married for 23 years and has four children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper.

Among them, the youngest girl, Harper, is the only girl and receives a lot of pampering from her parents and brothers.

From the moment she was born, Harper was considered a princess with a golden spoon, becoming the focus of the media.

During puberty, Harper appeared as a beautiful young woman with shiny blonde hair, a tall figure, and an increasingly clear personality. However, when she is with her father, Harper is still a little princess, loved very much.

With a father who is a world-famous football player and a mother who is a singer and fashion designer, Harper Beckham has experienced many self-discovery activities, from attending the world’s top fashion shows to exercising. Sports and art studies at one of the most prestigious schools in England, known as “the art furnace reserved for the nobility”.

It can be seen that David Beakham and his wife invested heavily in their little princess, creating conditions for her to develop her talents to the maximum extent. Besides, the couple also raises their children extremely strictly.

Few people know, Victoria has strictly forbidden Harper from wearing makeup when going out, except on special important occasions. In addition, the A-list couple also sets rules for their children’s dating as well as controls the content they post on social networks.

“We are strong and strict parents. But we are just like most other parents. We love our children and only want the best for them,” the father of four children shared.