She’s always loved a career pivot (anyone else remember the faux lip ring and bandana from her garage singing phase?) So, it’s no surprise that Victoria Beckham is branching out yet again; and this time, she’s hoping to achieve US domination with her beauty brand. Last week, she headed to New York and went on one heck of a media blitz to promote her Victoria Beckham Beauty brand’s new range of “Cheeky Posh” blusher. And by all accounts, Vic put in a fine performance, showing off a vibrant wardrobe (including a bodycon dress a la Posh 2007) as she appeared on Good Morning America, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and LIVE with Kelly and Michael.
According to insiders, Vic was determined to make a good impression; with the recent decline of her fashion label, we’re told the 47 year old is keener than ever to cement her beauty brand as a worldwide success.
But Posh's dream looked on the verge of turning into a nightmare, thanks to her noticeably fuller lips, which had fans taking to social media to question whether she’d had surgery. Which is probably the last debate you’d like to spark when you’re marketing yourself as a beauty icon.
MORE juicy celeb goss:
“Victoria Beckham got the extra good lip filler, I see,” wrote one fan last week, while another weighed in, “The Botox / filler game can work for pics, but, wow, it’s not good for life things.” A third added, “What’s happened to her face? Please no more lip fillers.”
Still, we’re told, Vic put on a brave (not frozen) face and focused on the job at hand – marketing her oh so Cheeky blush…she was selling blush, not lipstick, after all.
“She’s obsessed with her beauty empire taking off over there,” says an insider close to the fashion designer, who launched Victoria Beckham Beauty two years ago.
“David’s in Miami much of the time [where his football team Inter Miami is based] and her two elder boys [Brooklyn, 22, and Romeo, 19] are also in the US, plus it’s a huge business opportunity. She’s confessed to friends that her heart is no longer in clothes – it’s a hard time for fashion retail and there will be some tough years ahead. She no longer brings the same energy and enthusiasm to the fashion business, but beauty is really exciting for her so she’s throwing herself into it.”
14 shocking facts you NEVER knew about the Spice Girls:
14 shocking Spice Girls facts (SLIDER)
1 of 14Victoria's the only member WITHOUT a solo number 1
Out of Your Mind - her collaboration with True Steppers and Dane Bowers - was pipped to the post by Spiller's Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) back in August 2000. Oh, how we miss those big chart battles.
2 of 14They were originally called Touch
When the girls first got together, they were called Touch. It wasn't until Geri thought to change their name to Spice that the band eventually agreed on Spice Girls.
3 of 14They didn't come up with their own nicknames
That was the idea of former Top of the Pops Magazine editor Peter Lorraine back in 1996. It just stuck.
4 of 14The Wannabe video was BANNED in some parts of Asia
This was due to Mel B's erect nipples.
5 of 14Geri MISSED the original audition
After getting sunburnt on a ski trip to Spain, she thought better than to turn up to the auditions with a red face. Thankfully then-manager Robert 'Bob' Herbert gave her a second chance when she called after the original search.
6 of 14Emma wasn't in the original line-up
Baby Spice was last to join the group after original member Michelle Stephenson quit the band in 1994. Victoria went on to claim Michelle 'just couldn't be arsed' to put in the same work as the rest of the girls.
7 of 14They're Simon Cowell's 'biggest regret'
Speaking to Jay Leno in 2013, Simon said: "Spice Girls is probably my biggest mistake," before explaining "I offered them a deal, but they didn't want to sign to me, so that kind of hurt at the time."Victoria doesn't agree with Simon's account, though. Claiming he passed up on their offer on Idol in 2009, she said: "He is the only man in the music industry who turned down the Spice Girls – and said we would never work. I like that fact."
8 of 14Geri's Union Jack dress made a FORTUNE
The infamous dress Ginger wore to perform Wannabe/Who Do You Think You Are? at the 1997 BRIT Awards was sold at auction in 1998 for $68,000 (£41,320) at a Hard Rock Cafe auction. It's since been spotted on display at a casino in the US.
9 of 14Speaking of the Union Jack dress...
It was actually made of a 'boring' black Gucci dress - the outfit Geri was originally supposed to wear - and a Union Jack tea towel.Explaining how the look came about, Ginger's former stylist Emma Poole told The Telegraph: "Two nights before, Geri said, 'You know what, Emma? I'm not really comfortable with the dress I'm wearing, I've got a much better idea. I'm going around to my sister's, she's got these great Union Jack tea-towels. I'm going to make a dress.'"
10 of 14Wannabe almost wasn't their debut single
The girls have explained they had to fight for the pop classic to be their first single, while the record label reportedly wanted Love Thing. IMAGINE.
11 of 14Geri WROTE Goodbye
Sort of. Although the girls' third Christmas number 1 is thought to be written about Geri's departure, she was actually involved in the early stages of the track when it was intended to be included on the Spiceworld album. Mel C explains in the girls' autobiography Forever Spice: "Goodbye was originally about a relationship ending, but now it's about Geri and it's really sad."Ginger isn't credited as a writer for the released version of the track.
12 of 14They were Nelson Mandela's 'heroes'
His words!
13 of 14The Viva Forever video is DEEP
As the girls were too busy touring to film a video for Viva Forever - their last single featuring Geri - they turned to Aardman Animations for the treatment.In an interview with Crack magazine, director Steve Box explained that the video's about loss of youth. He said: "It's like the sadness of the song is leaving your childhood behind. "Pop music is all about sex and love, so becoming interested in that, you suddenly put the toys away, you start to grow up in a different way."
14 of 14And the Spice Up Your Life video's pretty dark
An unreleased alternative ending to the video shows an erotic dancer in front of a 'SEXXXY SPICE GIRLS' sign, somebody seemingly choking and what appears to be a stack of dead bodies. YouTube it. It's SO WEIRD.
Despite being well-respected in fashion circles, Vic, who’s also mum to Cruz, 16, and 10-year-old Harper, has sadly faced stress and disappointment with her clothing line, which recently reported yearly losses of £16.5m. As heat has told you, Vic’s enjoyed spending prolonged periods in the US over the past year where, friends say, she feels much more relaxed. We’re told her venture across the pond is all about starting a new chapter…and heralding the era of a new Cheeky posh.
“She’s always known when her time is up,” we’re told.
“It was the same way with the Spice Girls. She adores fashion, but it’s been almost 15 years since she started and she’s ready for something else. She wants to take all the knowledge she’s learned and turn it into something new.”
Read more in the latest issue of heat magazine - OUT NOW.