Victoria Beckham reveals the real reason why she never smiled in pictures: ‘I was so uncomfortable’

Victoria Beckham has admitted that the reason she always used to look so stern in pictures is because she was self-conscious about her skin.

Over the years, the fashion designer, 50, became synonymous for her steely pout, often failing to crack a smile at many a public event.

Victoria has long been open about her insecurity with her ‘problematic’ skin, having suffered with acne since her teens, and struggled soaring to fame in her twenties while having skin issues.

And in a new interview with The Telegraph, Victoria reflected on feeling ‘so uncomfortable’ when taking photos as she didn’t feel happy within herself to break out into a smile.

During the chat, Victoria – who has received the publication’s inaugural Beauty Brand of the Year award – told how she sought advice from skincare experts, with the fashion designer now following a strict routine to ensure her skin stays clear.

As she reflected on being acutely self-conscious about her looks, Victoria remarked: ‘probably I did look stern in a lot of pictures, but I was so uncomfortable’.

Victoria Beckham has admitted that the reason she always used to look so stern in pictures is because she was self-conscious about her skin
+9

Victoria Beckham has admitted that the reason she always used to look so stern in pictures is because she was self-conscious about her skin

Over the years, the fashion designer, 50, became synonymous for her steely pout, often failing to crack a smile at many a public event [pictured in 2002]
+9

Over the years, the fashion designer, 50, became synonymous for her steely pout, often failing to crack a smile at many a public event [pictured in 2002]

And it wasn’t just her lack of public smiles that were a consequence of her skin problems, but her strict diet too.

Victoria has a famously limited diet, with husband David Beckham previously revealing that she’s eaten the same meal everyday for 25 years – grilled fish and steamed vegetables.

Explaining her decision to eat a very specific diet, Victoria added: ‘It was because of my skin that I became very careful about what I ate’, with the star cutting out meat and wheat among others.

These days, Victoria is much more comfortable in her skin and even offers up a warm smile on many an occasion.

In fact she’s so relaxed about her looks that she revealed how she now even feels comfortable enough to head to glam events with very little make-up on.

She remarked: ‘If you’d told me a few years ago I’d step on to a red carpet to pick up an award wearing only a bit of concealer and no foundation, I’d have thought you were mad, but that’s what I did last week.’

The mother-of-five told how she’s found getting older genuinely liberating, admitting that there was once a time when she used to ‘scroll through comments’ about herself, but these days, she simply doesn’t ‘have the time’.

As she reflected on being acutely self-conscious about her looks, Victoria remarked: 'probably I did look stern in a lot of pictures, but I was so uncomfortable' [pictured in 2000]
+9

As she reflected on being acutely self-conscious about her looks, Victoria remarked: ‘probably I did look stern in a lot of pictures, but I was so uncomfortable’ [pictured in 2000]

Explaining her decision to eat a very specific diet, Victoria added: 'It was because of my skin that I became very careful about what I ate', with the star cutting out meat and wheat among others
+9

Explaining her decision to eat a very specific diet, Victoria added: ‘It was because of my skin that I became very careful about what I ate’, with the star cutting out meat and wheat among others

These days, Victoria is much more comfortable in her skin and even offers up a warm smile on many an occasion
+9

These days, Victoria is much more comfortable in her skin and even offers up a warm smile on many an occasion

'If you’d told me a few years ago I’d step on to a red carpet to pick up an award wearing only a bit of concealer and no foundation, I’d have thought you were mad'
+9

‘If you’d told me a few years ago I’d step on to a red carpet to pick up an award wearing only a bit of concealer and no foundation, I’d have thought you were mad’

Victoria’s words comes after she looked ageless in a chic backless white dress as she attended a dinner with Mytheresa to celebrate the launch of her new collection on Thursday.

The has joined forces with Mytheresa on an exclusive capsule collection for partywear this season.

Celebrating her new range, Victoria posed for some glamorous pictures before taking her seat in the swanky restaurant in Manhattan, New York.

And Victoria looked nothing short of sensational as she flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in the elegant number.

She displayed her toned figure in the ethereal midi dress and accessorised her outfit with burgundy heels and a clutch bag.

Victoria’s supportive husband David, 49, and son Romeo, 22, also arrived to the star-studded dinner.

Her outing comes just days after she admitted she ‘cares less’ about the idea of being famous now.

Victoria's words comes after she looked ageless in a chic backless white dress as she attended a dinner with Mytheresa to celebrate the launch of her new collection on Thursday
+9

Victoria’s words comes after she looked ageless in a chic backless white dress as she attended a dinner with Mytheresa to celebrate the launch of her new collection on Thursday

The fashion designer has joined forces with Mytheresa on an exclusive capsule collection for party wear this season
+9

The fashion designer has joined forces with Mytheresa on an exclusive capsule collection for party wear this season

Victoria Beckham showcases new partywear collection at event

Victoria shot to fame alongside Geri Halliwell, Mel B, Emma Bunton and Melanie C as part of the Spice Girls in the late 1990s.

They became the best-selling girl group of all time, and Victoria later had a brief solo career before going on into the world of fashion.

But the star – who is also known for her marriage to footballer David – recently admitted that the idea of fame doesn’t really appeal now.

She told Harper’s Bazaar magazine: ‘I suppose it used to be fun to go out and be chased by paparazzi walking down Bond Street – and you would dress knowing you were going to get that. I don’t want that anymore.

‘I’ve been doing this too long. I suppose I did when I was growing up but, nowadays, there’s just too much going on; too busy; too many kids to worry about. I woke up at 50, and I gave a s*** less.’

Related Posts

The moment Princess Diana fans have been waiting for: a world-beating collection of her dresses, toys, letters – and even a piece of wedding cake – is set for its own museum, writes CAROLINE GRAHAM

From the green Burberry coat she wore dating Prince Charles to an iconic Versace gown on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar, not to mention jewelry, LPs and a childhood teddy bear,…

Was she really Diana’s ‘wicked’ stepmother? Born 95 years ago today to novelist Barbara Cartland, how Raine Spencer defied cruel depiction to become a confidante to the troubled Princess

Coached by her mother to focus on her appearance rather than academics, Princess Diana‘s stepmother started adult life as debutante of the year at just 18.On September 9,…

The truth behind Prince William using Diana’s engagement ring to propose to Kate – as Prince Harry says rumours he gave it to his brother are ‘absolutely rubbish’

After Princess Diana‘s tragic death in 1997, it was only natural for her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, to choose a personal item of hers as a reminder of…

As the King turns 76 today, BRIAN HOEY looks at some of his previous birthdays when celebrations were definitely NOT in order

As the King celebrates his birthday on November 14, alongside his wife, Queen Camilla, will he also perhaps reflect on what might have been. It could just as…

The day Diana’s birthday present to Charles backfired: As the king turns 76 we recall the princess’s famous dance with Wayne Sleep in 1985 (as documented in The Crown) that left her husband unimpressed…

Throughout Princess Diana‘s 15-year marriage to Prince Charles there were dozens of instances where their clashing personalities were displayed for all to see.But perhaps the most high-profile example was when…

Cruz Beckham, 19, and girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 29, enjoy another public display of affection as they share a passionate kiss – after getting the ‘seal of approval’ from Victoria

Cruz Beckham and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel looked every inch of the loved-up couple as they shared a very passionate smooch in a sweet snap.The son of…