What You Don't Know About Brand Beckham

27:12Like you not being in the center of all the decision making? I didn't know any difference. I mean sometimes I was having an obscene amount of lining fabrics for outerwear I know I watched that on the documentary because I was like you know there was something about like a$70 ,000 plant bill which I absolutely like loved in a kind of posh way I didn't even know you could spend that much on What kind of plants do you have a rainforest in there? But I get it it's like you know you can have some beautiful plants and some beautiful flowers and you can get carried away with the fact that that's there and they're being watered.

27:50And so what now are you looking at to make sure that those things don't happen? Plastic plants. No, I'm actually joking because I hate plastic plants. You can't have plastic plants. There's no way you have any plastic anything at all. Well, I'm definitely not having those expensive plants anymore. You know, I just, I know to ask more questions. Yeah. And I have people around me now that recognize you should not be spending$70 ,000 on watering plants. I mean, I'm embarrassed to even say that, but I just didn't know any differently. You know, I've never run a business before. I've learned a lot along the way, but I'm more on the creative side of things and just did not know any better.

28:31I know that I've been in positions where I'm like, all of this is a business fundamental. But when you find something like that, of course, you're like, okay, that's easy to cut. What else did you have to look at? Teams. I had too many people working, so I had to bring my numbers down. Yeah. That's really difficult. It is because I'm a very loyal person and I appreciate anyone that does anything for me, but I had no choice. And what do you think those financial pressures have led you to doing differently today? I really trust the people that have really proven to me that I can trust them and that they know what they're doing.

29:12You know, I have two incredible female CEOs, both under the age of 45. You have two CEOs? Oh, in beauty and fashion. One in beauty, both under the age of 45, both women, and they are brilliant. and I work very, very closely with the two of them and I trust them.

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30:46Victoria, talk to me about your move into beauty because given all the learnings around fashion, I wonder, A, what made you just go, I'm going to start another entity. Yeah. If there was like trepidation around that and what just gave you the feeling that this was going to be different because it has been a really different story for you in beauty, right? Oh yeah, I mean, beauty was profitable day one. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Which was great. Good for you. Thank you. Because beauty is a tough space too. I mean, there can't be a more competitive space than beauty. Yeah. Well, what happened was Estée Lauder asked me to do a collaboration with them.

31:22I remember. A few years ago. And that was so exciting for me because I have collected makeup ever since I was little. And when I had my first meeting with them, I had little samples that I'd collected, colors that makeup artists had mixed up for me, products that had been discontinued. And I really knew if one day I had the opportunity to create a beauty line at the time, what did I want? What did I desire? What couldn't I find? And I'd learned so much, you know, from my time in the Spice Girls, seeing myself on stage with glittery eyeshadow on. Okay, if I ever get the chance to create an eyeshadow, note to self, make sure the particles aren't too big, fall on your face and you're like, you've had a slap, right?

32:05Fair, you're like, note to self. Yes, I've learned so much from my own personal experiences. So I really knew what I wanted to do. And I think they were probably quite surprised at that when I first started working with Estée Lauder. And it was so incredibly successful that I knew at that point that there was an appetite for Victoria Beckham Beauty. But I knew that to do it in a really meaningful, honest, authentic way, I had to do that myself. I really wanted to focus on clean beauty, on being inclusive. And those two things we talk a lot about now, but people weren't really talking about that.

32:43I remember walking around, it was when Barneys was still around in New York. I remember walking around in the beauty department and going up to the counters and asking people that worked for the brands, what ingredients were in their formulas? You know, I've struggled a lot over my life with bad skin, bad acne, and I wanted to know what was in the formulas. And I realized it was a very gray area. No one really knew what the hell was in anything. And so I knew that that would be taking on a big challenge because that was really important to me, how to create something that is as clean as it can be and still effective.

33:18And I knew that to do that, I had to do it myself. And fashion wasn't in a great place at that time. So it was quite the risky, probably the most riskiest thing I've ever done because fashion is struggling. And I decide I want to start up something else. Here goes the builder in me. Now let's build a beauty brand. So there was nothing in you that was like, you know what? I've got this thing cooking over here. It's having a hard time. Let me just like do a partnership. Let me go to Lauda. Let me go to P &G. Let me go anywhere and just get this funded. Because at the end of the day, you're still Victoria.

33:50Like you didn't need to start it yourself. Yeah. No, I just knew that to do it in the way that I wanted to do it, I had to do it myself. We started out direct to consumer. Did you go out and raise money first? The money was raised by my partners in fashion. So it was seemingly like one entity, but two separate brands. Two separate funds run independently of each other. And then just very few of us straddling both is how I like to put it. It's a little polite straddle there. Absolutely. And we cross pollinate. And so it was quite a risky thing to do. But for me, it was all about finding the perfect product.

34:31And when I look at my beauty brand now, you know, the first product I created was an eyeliner. It's the best eyeliner. I'm not just saying it because you're sitting here. It is the best eyeliner. You know what's really interesting about that eyeliner is we have so much choice. There are thousands and thousands and thousands of eyeliners, brown eyeliners. So why is my eyeliner, and this is just one product out of a huge selection of makeup that we have and skincare and fragrance, why does my eyeliner sell more than any other eyeliner out there? Because the attention to detail, Emma, it was making sure it wasn't just a brown eyeliner.

35:12It was the perfect shade of brown. It was the perfect formula. It did what I needed it to do. I have the right amount of what I call playtime to create the look. Then once it's there, it's there to stay. And people love those eyeliners. And for me, that's been the case with everything that I do. You know, we just launched foundation. That has been a phenomenal launch. I mean, I've got 25 ,000 people just on wait list for the foundation. That's crazy. Do you feel vindicated? Like even as you sit there and say that, having everything that you've happened in fashion, like do you sit there and go, I knew it?

35:56Not like that. I knew it. I feel like I know what my customer wants because I am her. And I think that she has so much choice in fashion and beauty. And it's not about putting anything out there until I truly believe it's best in class. Even if you was to buy a white T-shirt for me. Is it the perfect white t-shirt? It's the perfect white t-shirt. With the right neckline and the perfect sleeve and the perfect jersey. So it's paying attention to all those details. You know, I am such a champion of women in business. And when you launch Beauty, like, I always feel like the best businesses are when there's zero explanation.

36:31To me, you in Beauty, you sitting there showing us how to do a smoky eye in your beautiful robe that's monogrammed, in your towel. It's like, that is exciting. I could just sit and watch those videos. I'm just like, you know, just like this. And I feel like it makes so much sense. But I feel like there has to be a part of you because, I mean, I'm reading some crazy stuff about this beauty brand. And I'm not asking you to say it, but I read like a$700 million valuation out there. Like you're clearly having an incredible trajectory with this brand. And I feel like there must just be a little part of you that goes, that's really lovely.

37:08I just genuinely love what I do. And I'm just scratching the surface. you know it was only up until quite recently that anybody even realized that those tutorials that I do and me on my own I've only just invested in a tripod because up until recently I was just holding the camera up the phone up myself like give her a light on a tripod and so many people would comment what's wrong with the other side of your face and I'm for the love of god I'm doing it I'm talking I'm showing and I'm holding you know I'm also not actually an influencer, but I can get a tripod. But people thought I had a whole production team behind me.

37:45It's just me in my bathroom. The reason I've got a towel on my head is so I don't have to even blow dry my hair. And it's just me saying, look, I'm not clearly not a model. I'm not a makeup artist. This is the why. And if I can do it, anyone can do it. Yeah. Right. Do you have an awareness of how humble you come across? Because I feel like, you know, maybe I've been in the US for too long. Maybe it just says more about me. But I would feel so braggadocious if I was you. I would feel so pleased with myself. And I'd be like, yes, I've done this like insane business and built this insane brand. You're so like, you're just like so like, I just love what I do.

38:27And I get that. But is that a little bit of like the protectionist in you? Because you know that the minute you go like, like the press is coming to get you. I don't know about that. I just think I've been through so much. And yeah, I think it's just that, to be honest with you. And there's no guarantee. I'm really excited now because I do see the potential. Yes. And now, you know, now we're looking at retail for both fashion and beauty. You know, we have one flagship store, Dover Street in London, which is just doing so phenomenally well. We know that that is the next chapter for the brand. Yes, it's a beautiful concept.

39:08Thank you. Retail, you know, global retail expansion. We know that is the next phase and I'm excited for that. So I'm not sitting here feeling all, you know, cocksure of myself, but I'm sitting here feeling really excited because I've worked really hard and I'm not afraid of hard work. And I know it's going to be a lot more hard work. I also just can't stand listening to arseholes. Fair enough. You hear so many people. I mean, I listen to so many podcasts and you just think, oh my gosh, it's like, I don't, I don't, I would never want to come across that way because I'd like to think I'm not that person.

39:42Fair enough. No, I think that's really fair. What does the future look like for you when you, because of course you're, there has to be an awareness of all the opportunity that's in front of you. You do have this beautiful retail concept. And to me, it's very easy to see, you know, flagship stores on the best streets in the world. You have this unbelievable beauty brand and beauty, but there's such a feverishness around beauty. So when you look into the future, What does brand Victoria Beckham look like? I am a founder and creative director of Victoria Beckham, the fashion brand, but I own my beauty brand.

40:16I own my fragrance company. That is not a license. Again, nothing wrong with that business model. but that's where I see the potential and the excitement that you know being a living founder that still owns the beauty and the fragrance really does open up incredible opportunities I mean so many opportunities do you ever see a day I just watched the most beautiful collection I thought Heider Ackerman who come in for Tom Ford do you ever see a day where you won't be the creative director of Victoria Beckham? I don't know. I mean, I look at Tom Ford and, you know, people say to me, who do you look up to?

40:55Who do you find inspiring? I mean, no one has done it like Tom Ford. I mean, when you look at what he's achieved with both fashion and beauty and then ultimately selling his companies and I mean... Billions and billions and billions of dollars. So I don't know. Let's see. No, I feel like Tom Ford is a really great, like personal sort of like North Star and reference point for you because, you know, there are so many, like when you look at those kind of two businesses and the trajectory that you went on, which is why I mentioned Haida because I mean, I looked at that collection and I was like, I need to buy every single piece.

41:33But it's a different time. I think that Tom has very famously said that after a certain age, you can't be a creative director of a women's wear brand. And I wonder if there's anything in you that goes, there will be a time to pass the bat on. Well, I think that I'm not there just yet. I think that Tom was in the industry for much longer than I was. I mean, I first became aware of Tom Ford, you know, in the late 90s, early 2000s, when I was taking up all the Spice Girls budget and I was buying Gucci when he was the creative director over at Gucci. So I think he's been in the industry so much longer than I have, but I'm not there.

42:12I'm not there just yet because as I do get older, of course, there's going to be certain garments that maybe I don't want to wear as I'm getting older, but that doesn't mean that I don't know who the Victoria Beckham woman is. Yeah, a hundred percent. Do you envisage a time when you would actually want to sell your brand and like go into a big group? Because again, when you're at this kind of sweet spot. And I feel like this is one of the things that I've seen kind of over and over again. You can get too big to sell. You can get to the point where you limit the opportunities for acquisition because you're just so bloody big.

42:48And so I wonder if there's that piece of it in your mind. Like, is there like some grand plan to eventually like exit and move to the country and help David with the chickens or something? My goodness. Look, I think that you don't know what's around the corner. The idea of a huge cash injection and ultimately what I could then do with the company. I'm always saying, you know, I can get quite impatient and I'm always saying, I want to put my foot on the gas. I want to do more. I want to get bigger. I'm ambitious. I want to do this. I want to do that. I mean, like I said, I really am just scratching the surface.

43:21So the thought of being able to do that is not something that sometimes does not feel like attractive. However, I'm proud of the fact that currently being independent gives me the freedom to do what I want to do. But I'm always just sit back and see what comes my way. See what happens. I mean, listen, when you have success, you have a lot of options. So it's just like, just keep doing what you're doing, right? That's going to give you the ability to pick and choose from all of the things that you can do with this beautiful brand. I want to ask you as somebody who works with their husband and understanding like this beautiful dynamic that you have with your husband, what's been so interesting is that seemingly, and as you say, you guys work together, but you haven't disappeared into one another's identity.

44:10It's like you will turn up in Miami and support him. He is there supporting you all the time. How have you balanced that as two people with like big goals, big ambitions, big profiles? How do you like go home and just have a cup of tea. And, you know, I just, I wonder what that looks like. You know, we just, we've grown together and that is what I'm so proud of with our, with our marriage. We have grown together. We have educated ourselves and each other along the way. You know, neither of us were particularly academic. You know, we've just surrounded ourselves with really smart people along the way and we've had to learn on the job.

44:51So we have that in common and I want to make David the best version that he can be of himself. And he wants to do that with me. We fully support each other's dreams and ambitions. You know, we don't get involved with each other's businesses on a day to day. I mean, look, I'll show up and watch a football game, but I'm not going to get in the dressing room and tell him what to do. You know, I'll be there to support him every now and then, you know, just before a show, he'll come into my pre-production space and he'll give his opinion, Emma, of the collection. And you know how that goes. I mean, he's a fashionista.

45:27But you know how that goes. You're like, dude, not right now. That's great, David. Move on. He doesn't tell me what to put in the collection. I don't tell him, you know, anything about the football side of things. So I think we really support each other, but we don't get overly involved. Yeah, I understand that. I mean, it's interesting because people always say to me that, how do you work with your husband? And I'm like, well, we do work together, but we do very different things. I can go days in the office without ever even seeing Jens because we are just not across. Like he does what he does and I do what I do.

46:03And it's actually very, very separate. We very rarely are actually collaborating on something together. But I do think that when you have an understanding and an appreciation of somebody professionally, it's so amazing for a relationship. Because when you are someone who pours your everything into your profession and your work, it's like you need someone who's going to get it. You need someone who understands you don't have a regular nine to five. And also, I think it's just very healthy for a relationship when you just have, you know, you're not like in each other's pockets constantly. Totally.

46:36I mean, I think the two things that people really don't realize about David Beckham, number one, he's incredibly smart. He has built incredible businesses. and so I do turn to him and ask advice because I respect what he has built. And the other thing is he's incredibly funny. Those two things people don't realise. I love that. They know he's handsome. They know he's a good dad. We know, we know. He's really funny. He is not as funny as me. I mean, clearly, obviously not. I have to say, like, that's the word on the street is that you're the funny one. No one goes like, David Beckham's so funny.

47:09They go, Victoria Beckham's really funny. Thanks, Emma. Just saying. That's just what I've heard. I'm just telling you what I'm at. Well, that's why we're getting along so well, because I've heard that about you too. I actually don't know if I believe that. I don't know if anyone thinks I'm funny. They think I'm just a bit, you know. A lot. Just a lot.

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49:59I wonder how you guys deal with things differently because it's obviously clear that whatever the both of you are doing you're getting a lot of opinion from the outside world how do you guys deal with the scrutiny differently do you have different ways of actually handling all the pressure that comes your way my days of being overly bothered about what people say, that just doesn't serve me. You know, I also don't want to be an idiot and not aware, but it doesn't serve me to look at, you know, anything negative or find myself on Instagram looking at anything negative. I know how that would affect me.

50:37So I just choose to not look at it. So what do you do? Like you don't pick up a newspaper or look at social, like you just I have people around me that deal with that. And look, I don't want to be an idiot and not aware. But if someone's written something horrible or said something horrible, I have zero interest in looking at it. Look, I'm not saying that's always been the case, but that's where I am right now. You know, I want to do the best that I can do when I'm at work. I want to be focused. I don't want it to kill my energy. And at home, I want to be the best mum that I can be as well. Yeah, there has to be an element of self-preservation at some point, because otherwise you're just looking for problems.

51:17Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, damn right. How do you even decide what remains personal and what is going to kind of become part of the broader brand Beckham? Do you know, when myself and David first met, it was never the intention to start a brand. You know, people talk about brand Beckham and that has happened so organically. You know, when I first met David, I mean, he was a brook cream boy. He was playing for Manchester United. I actually remember that deal. I 100 % remember that endorsement I mean first of all the whole country was obsessed with David's hair so it was a genius deal but that is what I remember Adidas and Bril Cream every boy in that every school had Bril Cream as a result by the way it's a great investment for them absolutely absolutely and so you know David was you know Adidas and Bril Cream and Pepsi you know I was in the Spice Girls and that's where I learnt so much about how to build a brand you know and marketing.

52:19So whilst he was doing Brill Cream and Adidas, the Spice Girls were doing Walker's Crisps, Pepsi, Chubba Chubbs Lollies, deodorant. I mean, we were raking it in over there. You know, true story. My mother still has a Spice Girls pizza in her freezer. No, she does not. First of all, that's her mum right there. No, she's, how proud do you, how proud can you possibly be? Proud and slightly, slightly disgusted. I mean, that piece has been in the fridge for 30 odd years. It's not good for my dad if she decides to cook that for him. Let's hope she never pulls it out for him. Yeah. Yeah. But so, you know, when people talk about brand Beckham, you know, that was never something that we together ever even discussed.

53:08David did what he did. I did what I do. And, you know, like I said, We're a couple of builders. That's what we do. It's what we enjoy. When I look at Cruz, my little son, Cruz, who's a musician, he's actually on tour at the moment. I said to Cruz, the most important thing is to learn your craft. Take your time, learn your craft. And he has spent years learning to play five or six different instruments, writing his own songs, putting a band together. He's gone on tour, touring small venues, doing it in a very, very humble way. And he's incredibly talented, but he's learned his craft, he's building his brand.

53:49You know, that's just, that's just what we do. I mean, it's pretty amazing to think about the idea that you weren't like really trying to conceive of a brand Beckham. Because when I think about the best, and I do think about it like this, like talent led brands, because that's very much industry I'm in, Brian Beckham is like one of the best, if not the best. It's just like you have such a, you know, if I was coming in and working with you, like you have such clarity of what you stand for, who you guys are, what you would choose, what you're intent, like you're so intentional about everything. So it's amazing to think that you weren't like thinking about crafting that a lot more.

54:29You know, we don't have any deals together. David does what David does. I do what I do. We don't have any deals. Really? No, nothing. And that's the way it's always been. Oh, I never thought about that. Not that, I mean, I've come to you with many, many things trying to put you guys in a deal together back in my old like brand broker days. Of course, you turn absolutely everything down. That's so interesting. I'd never really thought of it in that way. Well, we have very different interests, you know, very different, very different things that, you know, that we do. So I think it was the outside world that really talked a lot about Bram Beckham.

55:04That's never really how we saw it. We're just doing what we do. So let's talk about, because you do have this like unbelievably beautiful family. And I always think about raising kids and I'm doing it in a very different, you guys have such a spotlight on you and so much attention. But when you raise children who have a very different upbringing to you. I wonder how you guys have thought about that because even as you say, like encouraging Cruz to like, you know, double down and get really good at his craft. Like what have you taught your children considering that, you know, you've got these unbelievable careers and now you've got these four kids who seemingly, you know, it's like they're yours and you're like, you know, in this world and they've got all the kind of choice and opportunity.

55:51What does that even look like in your family? Do you know, I think that our children have had a very different upbringing to myself and David. No doubt. And I think the world is also a very different place now as to what it was when they were younger, you know, and we've always tried to protect the children as much as we can. We've always been very close. Communication is really key. You know, six o 'clock at night, every night at our house, so long as neither of us are traveling, We always eat dinner together. We're quite a traditional family, more than people would recognize without even saying it.

56:25We're not on our phones and we're all just talking about what's happened during the day. So being very close is really, really important to us. And just ultimately, we want the kids to be hardworking, kind. I think that I've always wanted to be the best mom that I could be and look after the kids. but I also feel that it's been part of my job to really help them fulfill their full potential and for them to recognize what their sense of purpose is. You know, and with Cruz, for example, it was his music and anything that I could do to support him, to encourage and to help him. That's my job as his mom.

57:08It's never about being pushy or forcing. It's being there to support. And so for Cruise, you know, he could have released a record years and years and years ago. But he knew it was really important to learn his craft. Start from the ground up. I wonder how the scrutiny that you constantly face has shaped the type of mother that you are. I think that it's very different parenting adult children to parenting smaller children. and, you know, I'm just trying to do the best, the best that I can, you know, and they grow up so quickly. And I just want them, like I said, you just want to, it's my job to make sure that my kids are the best versions of themselves and that they feel fulfilled.

57:56You know, I always encourage them to dream big and then dream even bigger. My kids manifest. My kids have crystals beside their beds and they know that they do have a responsibility as well because of the profiles that they have and how they can use that to do good in the world. That's really important as well. And to be really good people. You know, the greatest compliment, as you know, is when someone will say, I met your kids and they were great kids. Do you think that responsibility to live up to everything that you just said is a lot of pressure for your children? I suppose it must be, to be honest.

58:35I mean, look, Cruz is in the music industry, but he's a very different artist than what I was. You know, his music is, he's in a band. You know, it's alternative music. And what does success look like at an early stage is very different to what success looked like for me with the Spice Girls. And seemingly kind of impossible to live up to, right? Yeah, and you know what? We don't put any pressure on our kids. We just want them to do what they love and to work hard and to be happy. Victoria, everyone has their own opinion of you and your family, but what has it actually been like raising a family in this level of public scrutiny and attention?

59:15It's very different now to what it used to be like. Media is very different to what it is now. In what way? It was much more intense. And I think that as much as social media, you know, there's a negative side to that. There's also a really positive side of that. I mean, let's be honest. Everyone thought I was a miserable bitch for many, many years. We did kind of think that maybe in England, a little. Okay, but Emma, why was that? Well, because of the one photo that we got served up of you. We never saw you sitting there having a laugh like that. I totally get it. The image that was portrayed was, in fact, an image that was portrayed.

59:49It was not something that you were in control of. Your narrative was managed for you. Exactly. You know, the story was taught. The narrative was being led by the media. And the pictures were taken by paparazzi. And I think that's the great thing about social media. There's lots of negatives, as I said, but the great thing is I can take back that ownership. And that's another reason why I decided to do the documentary is it was the right time for me to tell the story from my side, for me to own that narrative. If you could change anything, would you change something? Whereas it pertains to like how much attention there has been on you?

1:00:28I don't think I change anything because it's been a hell of a journey. But me and David are stronger because of that. I never thought anything would be easy. I've never expected anything to be easy. I was bullied a lot when I was at school. I was never used to people being particularly nice. So I was used to it and it's made me who I am now. No, 100%. I thought about you a lot when I was coming here because my kids are so little. And when I leave, you know, I have a 12, a nine, a four and a four. And it goes, as you say, like so, so quickly. And, you know, I look at my 12 year old now and he's having an entirely different life.

1:01:10You know, the girls come round. It feels to me like they're like 15, these 12 year old girls. It's like unbelievable. And my little babies are just so precious. And as soon as they get to that age of four, my brain is like, oh, my goodness. Like, maybe do I need another baby? Like, this is so, so insane. But I know. Oh, wow. and don't worry I'm not going to ask you that question um I was really thinking just about the changing dynamics as your kids get older like how does that feel for you right now because of course you're in a different stage in your career your family's in a different stage and I just wonder like what are the big shifts for you guys as a family do you know I think I'm really enjoying the stages that they're at right now you know I mean Harper is going to be 15 pretty soon and And I cannot believe, I mean.

1:01:5615. Yeah. It's like a woman at this, like this. She is. And I'm so proud of all of the children. But, you know, Harper, she's very ambitious. She's got big dreams and she's very appropriate. She's very appropriate. But I don't know what I expected, to be honest. I mean, she's been sitting on my lap, taking part in beauty development meetings ever since she was little. Isn't that incredible? I mean, what an apprenticeship for her. How do you protect your kids? You know, like the private side of your family when stories are circulating, like how are you even able to protect them? I think that we're just very close and we talk.

1:02:33Yeah. And we talk. And, you know, I think that's the most, that's the most important thing. That's all that you can do. And that's the way that we've always been and protect them as much, as much as you can. I talk all the time about trade-offs and the things that I'm not there for or the things that I'm unable to do in both the business and in family. And I just wonder what that looks like for you, because so many people will be listening to this and being like, bloody hell, how does she do it? So like, how do you do it? You know, well, I mean, look, the same as you, there are trade-offs. And, you know, I can't be at everything.

1:03:11Harper had a school play the other day and I was outside working, watching the school production through the window because I had deadlines. There were things that I had to do and I tried to do the best that I can. Between myself and David, we tag team. But I think that the key is to not feel guilty. Just do the best that you can. I remember Diane von Fostenberg saying to me years ago, I said to her, Diane, you are so incredibly successful. I mean, she's such an icon. Legend. A legend. One of my favorite people. You know, and you've had two incredible children. You know, how did you do everything?

1:03:55Did you feel guilty? And she said, guilt is such a negative emotion. It is pointless. And then she said, and darling, it's very aging. Yeah, and you were like, not guilty suddenly. I loved her for that. Yeah. Because as women, we do feel guilty. We do feel guilty if we can't be at drop-off or pick-up or at a school play, or if we have to travel for work. But that's what we do. And our children, ultimately, I believe, will be inspired by that. You know, Harper showed me a project that she did at school last week. They'd been asked to write a piece on who inspires them. And that could be anyone.

1:04:34and she chose me. Oh, that's just so darling. It was the sweetest thing. When you see her like actually like write your name and say you, do you just die? I felt so proud because like you just said, I have not been at everything because that's just, like you said, there are trade-offs. But the fact that she looks at me and finds it inspiring and recognizes that we have a great relationship. I've been the best mom but then I've also followed my dreams and and and and passions and that is now what she wants to do you know Harper is her own little you know she's a little entrepreneur herself and I love the fact she looks up to what I do and you know she's finding her own sense of purpose and what she wants to do I mean it's amazing I was going to ask you about Harper because she is watching you and she has a front row seat watching you build this fashion and beauty empire.

1:05:36And I wonder, specifically as a daughter, what do you hope Harper takes away from seeing you do all of this? Well, you know, she came to me two or three years ago and she was really struggling with her skin. She used to have beautiful skin, but then like all young girls, she was enticed by certain beauty brands and she was putting a lot of product on her face that was not suitable for her skin and consequently ended up going to see a dermatologist because her skin was really, really bad. And I went through that journey myself. I suffered with child acne, teenage acne, adult acne. I mean, every acne under the sun, I've been there.

1:06:15So I could really relate to her. And she said, I really want to create a brand because I know what I want, what I can't find and I don't want other people to have to go through what I have been through. And she came to me with a little PowerPoint presentation. I mean, she had two PowerPoint presentations, one about this brand that she wanted to create because she was struggling with her skin. And the other one was a reason as to why I should let her have a perm. Please tell me you only greenlit one of those presentations. We put the perm conversation to one side. And it was very sweet because she genuinely had a point of view.

1:07:04She really did. She didn't want other people to struggle because she saw what she had done with her skin. And ever since she was tiny, she sat on my lap. She loves products. She loves formulas. She's even helped me select colors sometimes when I've been working on color palettes. Girl. And you have to tell me, like the presentation, what did the presentation look like? It was products that she had collected, things that she liked. She's seen you. She just like, she knows how this goes. She does, but she really, she could not find what she wanted that would be kind for her skin that was acne prone.

1:07:45And that just did not exist. And she said, so I, I want to create that. Look, at the same time, she's still at school, she's studying her GCSEs, but that is her passion. That is what she wants to do. What was the feeling? I was so interested to hear her reason why. Why does she want to do this? And she'd been through such a journey herself with her skin. And I could really relate to that, you know. That's amazing. Is she going to launch a brand? And I think she probably will. And obviously, this is what I do. This is what I love. I mean, product development is, that's my... Yeah, that's your sweet spot.

1:08:25I mean, I bet you'd love to kind of get in and solve all of those like past acne problems for you and for everybody else out there. Yeah, exactly. I mean, I think it's so interesting because like it or not, I feel that, I mean, I was obsessed with cosmetic products when I was a kid. You know, I would go to Boots and you'd try all the things And, you know, we had two, you know, it was like clear seal or I don't know, like some other thing that would like just strip your skin. And as a black girl, you know, you'd cut, you'd wash your face and you'd be gray and it would just like strip all the oils out of your skin.

1:08:58It would be literally the worst. And I remember like dreaming of coming up with an idea. Sadly, I didn't have the type of mother that would give that two seconds of thought, nor could she. But I think it's kind of amazing that she would pitch that type of thing to you. And the idea that you could bring this brand to life is amazing. If I can support her dreams and her passions like I can the other kids, I want to do that. I think there's a difference between supporting as opposed to pushing. I said brand Beckham, not you, because I know you don't think about it in that way. But this feels like an extension to your world and to your brand, And like to have your kids involved in what is like your family empire.

1:09:43I mean, we joke about it and I say, David, how strong are my genes? There's no footballers. We're singing, we're dancing, we're doing beauty. We're all creative. We're all singing and dancing. So is there like, are there imminent plans for this brand to come out or do I just have to like hold my breath and wait? We'll just have to wait and see.

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1:12:11Before we come to a finish, I want to talk to you just a little bit about legacy because you have built such an incredible business and an incredible family. And I think that so many people look up to you. So when you think about legacy, what does that even, does it have any meaning to you? Do you give it a second thought? Well, for me, I want to build a brand that will outlive me. You know, it started with girl power and empowering young girls and boys in music. And now it's about empowering people through fashion and beauty. And I would definitely like that to outlive me. I want to make women feel like the best, most empowered version of themselves.

1:12:59And you're doing that. Thank you. Is there a part of you that goes, it's working. Like I'm doing exactly what I set out to do. Yes, I do feel that way. I feel so proud. I really do. I think you really should. It hasn't been easy. If anybody can look at my journey as someone who has genuinely been the underdog and think, well, maybe I can do that. I would encourage anyone to dream big and then dream even bigger. And if I can do it, if you're not afraid to put in the hard work, then anyone can do it. Yeah, I feel like your whole life and career is testament to that. Following the documentary, do you feel like there was a perception shift that people think and look at you a little bit differently?

1:13:46There was something quite liberating about both documentaries because I say I went into the process a control freak and came out a reformed control freak. Because I did not have, I didn't have sign off, I didn't have control. And so that was quite daunting for me at the beginning. But I knew that was the way that it had to be so that it was honest. You know, it was not a vanity project. So I had to put myself in the hands of the people that I trusted. And it was actually the night of the premiere. someone said to me, are you nervous? Because I hadn't seen the show. And I said, you know what, I'm not because if I'm, then I deserve to come across as one.

1:14:23Let's be honest, is what it is at this point. I mean, you said it. I don't think that's what happened, but it's interesting to have that kind of like, you know, I've done it, I've put it out into the world and that's it. Yeah. I understand that. When you think about women sitting at home, listening to this conversation with their own dreams and aspirations, some at the beginning of their career, some that are potentially thinking about reinvention what do you want to say to people about the ability to like live an ideal life about success about living the life of their dreams what have you learned over all these years I have followed my dreams and I'm so glad that I did and that I wasn't scared to do it you know I had my children and I was in a fortunate position to be able to go back to work.

1:15:11I appreciate that that is not always the case. But if you have the opportunity, don't feel guilty. There's nothing wrong with, you know, with doing what you want to do and what feels right for you and following your dreams. And I'm so glad that I did that because I think if I hadn't have done, I'd be waking up at my age, really regretting that, really regretting that. I wonder what you're dreaming about now that might surprise people. Oh, a glass of wine. You and me both, Faye. Or tequila. I mean, I don't. Tequila, wine, what's your tipple of choice? Well, I will either have a tequila or a red wine.

1:15:52How about you? I am a tequila or a red wine too. Oh, nice. I'm going to move into rapid fire before I get killed. It's like, I'm really shit at rapid fire, by the way, because I'm so long-winded. Me too. So just feel like, you know, do whatever you want. Okay, so rapid fire. What is one part of your business that you've had to get better at, whether you like it or not? I mean, I had to get better at so many things. Do you know what I had to get better at? What? Like not losing my shit. Like that was my thing. And I say it quite openly. I had to learn to not be a hot head. Do you know that's very true?

1:16:24Because that was some advice that someone gave me actually, is that we have to be really mindful of how we deliver sometimes news that someone doesn't want to hear. because it really affects people because they care what we think. It's really true. And it stays with people. It does. There you go. We've learned. So this is funny. What is your most used phrase in a fitting or a product review? Oh my gosh. I don't know. These are really difficult. No, I'm so sorry. Oh my gosh. I can't think of that. What do you say all the time? Or just what do you say all the time in any situation? Oh my God. I don't know.

1:17:00Can I just tell you what one? But like, do you feel like the word vibes is really overused? I'm like, that's a vibe. Good, great vibe. Yeah, I'm feeling that vibe. I'm like, can you just never say that again? I'd like to erase that from my vocabulary. Okay, okay. Now, what do I say most? I probably can't actually say it. Fair enough. I'll take that as the answer. I'll take that as the answer. How does the control freaking you let loose and lose control? Oh, gosh. I mean, all of us Beckhams, we, you know, we really do. we love music. So music is on in the house first thing in the morning. And yeah, I mean, I really enjoy, me and David really enjoy going out, having a drink or sometimes on a Friday night, if the weather permits, sitting, you know, in his vegetable patch, listening to music with a glass of wine.

1:17:52That's our favorite thing to do. Heaven. I mean, we saw it. We saw it firsthand. We were all upset. You're like, look at them two. have a little moment, have a little dance, and just like heaven. Next to the carrot. Romantical. All right. What's one rule that you live by when it comes to money? I'm still very mindful of what things cost. I mean, don't ask me how much a pint of milk costs because I won't know the answer to that. But I am, I'm mindful. You know, I will still walk out of a room and turn the lights off because that's how I was brought up, you know. So I am still mindful of what everything costs and I'm not particularly wasteful.

1:18:27I really do know what the milk costs because I'm so cheap. But I love that you say that because that waste just really frustrates me. Is there a book that has changed your life? Oh my gosh. Do you know, I didn't read for so many years because I am self-diagnosed dyslexic and dyscalculic. I did not know that you were dyslexic. I'm dyslexic too. Oh really? I mean, so many founders are, but that's interesting that you're dyslexic. And I didn't know really up until, you know, obviously seeing what my children have been through. through their academic journeys. And so for so long, I didn't read because I was scared of books.

1:19:03You know, I had a teacher at school who told me that I was, I was sick because I couldn't read because, you know, when I was at school, dyslexia wasn't something that was, that was recognized. So I was so scared of books for so many years. And, you know, only the last few years have I really learned to enjoy books. And I read The Secret. Oh, I did. It's a good one. that's a very like manifesting creative visualization energy vibes yes I love that and it's true do you know little funny little story not so funny at the time I'm scared of lifts I got stuck in a lift I manifested it Emma what are you gonna do actual factual facts you did you did as I manifested you so it works both ways I mean literally could be good could be bad um I'm so happy that you say that you started reading books because I feel like it's such a beautiful, like joyful thing of life.

1:19:56And I, this is not in my rapid fire questions, but just because I'm obsessed with dyslexia and actually how many successful people have dyslexia, do you have an awareness of the superpowers that you've developed as a result of your dyslexia? Meaning that because you can't do certain things or you struggle with certain things that you've found ways around it and they're actually like amazing. Probably not aware of them. I think that we just find the tools within ourselves to overcome the problems that we have, right? I think that you probably have so many things that you're so amazingly good at because you struggled and you just didn't know.

1:20:31I was undiagnosed at school as well. And I just, I think it's fascinating that so many successful people are. All right, last question. My last question. What are you aspiring to in your life right now? Oh gosh, I aspire to be the best mom, continue to be the best mom that I can be, the best wife, and to really now truly build the fashion and beauty house that I dreamt of, you know, a legacy brand, a brand that will outlive me, that will make other people feel like the most empowered, powerful, beautiful version of themselves. I think you're doing that. Thank you very much. Congratulations on all your success.

1:21:13Thank you. You too. Thank you. Thank you so much.

1:21:20If you're loving this podcast, be sure to click follow on your favorite listening platform. While you're there, give us a review and a five-star rating and share an episode you loved with a friend. We'll be so grateful. Aspire with Emma Greed is presented by Odyssey. I'm your host, Emma Greed. Executive producer, Ashley McShann, Derek Brown, and me. Our executive producers from Audacy, Leah Reese Dennis, Asha Saluja, Lauren Lagrasso. Producer, KK Sublime. Stephen Key is our senior producer. Sound design and engineering by Bill Schultz. Angela Peluso is our booker. Original music by Charles Black.

1:21:56Video production by Evan Cox, Kurt Courtney, Andrew Steele, and Carlos Delgado. Social media by Olivia Homan, Catherine Bale. Special thanks to Brittany Smith, Sydney Ford, my teams at The Lead Company and WME. Maura Curran, Josephina Francis, Hilary Schuff, Eric Donnelly, Kate Hutchinson-Rose, Tim Meekle, Sean Cherry, and Lauren Vieira. If you have questions for me, you can DM me at Aspire with Emma Greed. Greed is spelled G-R-E-D-E. That's Aspire, A-S-P-I-R-E, with Emma Greed. Or you can submit a question to me on my website, emmagreed.me. you