Victoria Beckham Reflects on Her Painful School Years and the Lessons They Taught Her
Before becoming one of the most recognized fashion icons and pop stars in the world, Victoria Beckham endured years of painful bullying that left lasting emotional scars — but also helped her build the resilience she’s known for today.
In a revealing interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast with host Alex Cooper, Beckham, 51, opened up about the emotional and physical harassment she suffered as a young girl, sharing rare details about how those experiences shaped her personality and career.
“I remember standing in the playground, literally standing on my own and kids just picking up Coke cans from puddles and throwing them at me,” Beckham recalled. “I was physically and mentally really bullied at school, and we didn’t talk about mental health like we do nowadays. So I just internalized all of that. It just made me more and more shy.”
From Isolation to Empowerment: How Bullying Affected Victoria’s Confidence
Beckham described herself as an “awkward” teen who didn’t fit in with her peers. While other kids hung out after school, she spent her time in dance and drama lessons, nurturing the talents that would one day make her famous as “Posh Spice” of the Spice Girls.
Yet, even adults in her life made hurtful remarks that contributed to her self-consciousness. “A family friend once told my mom I was ‘morose,’” Beckham said. “When I understood what that meant, it really affected me. It made me even more self-aware and insecure.”
The Victoria Beckham Beauty founder also revealed she struggled with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as a teenager, which impacted her skin and body. “I was told I could struggle to have children,” she said. “When you’re a teenager, that’s a lot to process.”
How Early Struggles Prepared Her for Fame and Media Scrutiny
Although she had supportive parents, Beckham admitted that she never told anyone about the bullying she faced. “My entire school life was miserable,” she confessed. The harassment continued into college, where she was criticized for her appearance and told she was “too fat” for the stage.
But those experiences built the “thick skin” she needed to survive in the entertainment industry, especially during her early years as a Spice Girl, when tabloids often mocked her weight and personality.
“I think it toughened me up and prepared me for what was coming next,” Beckham said. “It made me resilient. When I later faced public bullying from the media, I already knew how to handle it.”
Opening Up About Body Image and Mental Health
Beckham’s struggles with body image and media scrutiny are explored further in her Netflix documentary, Victoria Beckham, released on October 9, 2025. In it, she discusses how being publicly weighed on television after giving birth to her son Brooklyn Beckham left her feeling humiliated.
“‘Get on those scales… Have you lost the weight?’ they’d say. I was really young, and it hurt. I started to doubt myself and lose all sense of reality. I’ve been called everything from ‘Porky Posh’ to ‘Skinny Posh.’”
Now a mother of four — Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper Seven — Beckham says she’s committed to having open conversations about health and self-esteem with her daughter Harper, 14.
“She’s seen the documentary, and we’ve talked about it,” Beckham said. “Little girls still obsess over food — it’s still a big conversation at school. I just wanted her to understand my experience so she can have a healthier relationship with herself.”
From Pain to Power: A Message of Resilience
Today, Victoria Beckham stands as a powerful advocate for self-acceptance and perseverance. Her story is a reminder that even the most confident public figures often carry private battles — and that overcoming adversity can be the foundation of lasting strength.
“What happened to me as a teenager shaped who I am today,” Beckham concluded. “It taught me to never give up, to keep going, and to protect the people I love — especially my daughter.”
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