From Posh Spice to Fashion Powerhouse: Netflix's Docuseries on Victoria Beckham

Getting a glimpse behind the glitz and glamour often associated with celebrities can at times be quite revealing. Netflix's latest docuseries, “Victoria Beckham,” crafted by “Becoming” filmmaker Nadia Hallgren, does just that. The series provides an intimate perspective into the life of the ex-pop star turned fashion mogul. Today, Beckham has transcended being one of the world's most photographed women and fashioned an identity independent of her famous soccer-playing spouse, David Beckham.

“Victoria Beckham” premieres in late summer 2024. It captures the trials and triumphs of Beckham's tumultuous journey over the nearly-two-decade period of running her own fashion brand. This raw portrait, featuring conversations with renowned figures like Anna Wintour, Tom Ford, Donatella Versace, and Beckham’s mentor, Roland Mouret, demonstrates how Beckham transitioned from being seen merely as a celebrity wife and fashion enthusiast to establishing herself in a notoriously cut-throat industry. Despite initial significant financial mismanagement due to her lack of business expertise, Beckham is ready to reboot, having improved her brand's financial footing with effective restructuring, sufficient funding, and the launch of a successful beauty line.

The series explores Beckham's early life and time as a Spice Girl, alongside her preparation for the most ambitious runway show she and her team have yet produced. Although it briefly touches upon her tenure as Posh Spice and her relationships with the band members, the main focus is Beckham's attempt to reestablish her identity after stepping back from her career to support her husband's ambitions and raise their children.

Beckham’s honesty and self-reflection in her fifties highlights the struggle of balancing personal ambition with societal expectations for beautiful, wealthy families. The series reveals the resilience of the Beckhams, who despite challenges, are still deeply committed to make their relationship work even after 27 years of life in the public eye.

Netflix’s 2023 docuseries “Beckham” offered insights into her husband's life. Though the new series also gives an unprecedented look into Victoria Beckham's experience, including her dealing with an eating disorder and her brand’s near-collapse, it maintains a safe distance from the more sensitive aspects of her life, reminiscent of her desire to control her narrative.

Critically, “Victoria Beckham” strikingly uncovers the relentless misogynistic scrutiny that Beckham, along with her contemporaries, suffered in the media, particularly during the early 2000s when tabloid culture was at its peak. This constant public judgment did significant mental damage, the effects of which Beckham continues to grapple with.

“Victoria Beckham,” although diverging quite a bit from traditional celebrity docuseries, provides an unexpectedly thoughtful narrative. It permits Beckham to narrate her life story on her own terms, an impressive feat regardless of her accolades and privileges. As of now, “Victoria Beckham” is available for streaming on Netflix.