How spice girls Victoria and husband David rose to become a global powerhouse.”

‘Whether you’re a soccer fan or a Spice Girls enthusiast, this intriguing name is sure to catch your eye! It comes from the globally recognized surname of power couple David and Victoria Beckham. No one can deny their near-royal status as an entrepreneurial duo.’ In 1995, fewer than five babies in the U.S. were named Beckham, and only 53 parents chose the unusual name Harper. By 2015, there were 900 Beckhams born in the U.S., alongside more than 10,000 Harpers. TIME noted Harper’s sudden rise to number 10 on the most popular baby name list as ‘odd, considering almost no one named their daughters Harper before 2000.’ While Harper Lee’s resurgence as a cultural figure might explain some of its popularity, TIME suggested that David and Victoria Beckham’s four-year-old daughter Harper likely played a key role in the trend.”

This ‘near-royal’ couple hardly needs an introduction. Victoria Adams wed David Beckham in 1999, a moment captured in the glamorous pages of Hello! (who could forget the iconic purple thrones?). They’ve since welcomed four children: sons Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz, and daughter Harper. David, the family patriarch, is a footballer famous for his time with Manchester United and England, whose global fame has remained intact despite occasional controversies on and off the field. Victoria, the matriarch, started as a theatre school kid who auditioned for a pop group, evolving from Posh Spice and Queen WAG into a respected designer with a growing fashion and beauty empire.

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JUNE 03: England and Real Madrid football player David Beckham and wife Victoria pose at “The David Beckham Academy” launch party at Creative Artists Agency on June 3, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California. The reception was a celebration in the partnership between sports and entertainment AEG and Beckham, which has established the Los Angeles and London locations of the David Beckham Academy. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AEG)

The first part of David Beckham’s life was showcased in Netflix’s 2023 four-part documentary Beckham, where David explains to millions of viewers, “I knew my career as a sportsman would end at some point, and I wanted a career after football.” The documentary’s success was so immense that the streaming platform announced a follow-up series focused on the other half of the power couple: “Victoria Beckham is on a journey to build a fashion empire, and now fans will get to see the story behind it all.” But how did this boy from Leytonstone and a girl from Hertfordshire come to play such an influential role in popular culture, impacting not just pop music and sport, but also fashion trends, hairstyles, and even baby names?

For Victoria, it all started in mid-1996. As Wannabe topped the charts and Spice Mania swept the globe, this writer turned 11. By the end of that summer, five young women would forever be known as Sporty, Scary, Baby, Ginger, and Posh. Their distinct styles were, and still are, emulated by groups of girls everywhere. The ’90s “Posh” look might not have been high fashion, but it certainly felt more refined compared to leopard prints, Union Jack minidresses, and bubble-gum pink. Victoria’s public image was tied to her style and sophistication from the beginning.

Despite their global stardom and record sales, the Spice Girls’ peak was short-lived. Geri Halliwell left the group two years after their rise to fame, and the remaining members disbanded in 2001. However, by that time, Victoria had already begun paving the way for a career outside of singing. In 2000, she walked for Maria Grachvogel at London Fashion Week, leaving the audience in awe. This marked the first sign of Victoria’s interest in fashion, as noted by journalist Liz Jones. Jones remarked that London Fashion Week needed a celebrity boost at the time, and this collaboration was groundbreaking. Although it took eight more years for Victoria to launch her own label, Jones believes that night set her path in fashion, a world she grew to love and wanted to embrace her back.

Fashion designer Victoria Beckham (C) arrives in the royal box to watch the men’s singles final between Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Britain’s Andy Murray on day thirteen of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Between 2000 and 2008, as her music career waned, Victoria stayed active in fashion. She was an ambassador for D&G, the face of Rocawear, launched VB Rocks jeans with Rock & Republic, walked for Roberto Cavalli, and created her own denim label, DVB Style. And then there’s the ‘D’—David Beckham. His stunning goal from the halfway line in 1996 also made headlines and even opens the Beckham Netflix documentary. Their combined star power is undeniable.

A talented Manchester United player was destined to attract the attention of global brands due to the team’s international fame. Beckham’s fit physique, good looks, and fashion interest made him even more appealing. Nigel Reed of CBC Sports remarked on Beckham’s career and celebrity status, saying, “His brand is global, his appeal universal. He sparked debate and polarised opinion. But underneath the gloss he was, first and foremost, a very good footballer.”

Beckham’s distinctive hairstyles throughout his career—from ponytails and buzz cuts to various mohawks—were heavily covered by the media and widely imitated by fans. Dubbed the ultimate ‘metrosexual’ by the man who coined the term, Beckham has consistently embraced his LGBTQ+ fanbase and supported gay media. GQ notes that Beckham’s experimental phase in the 1990s—think silk bandanas and sarongs—opened up new avenues in menswear. Known for his frosted tips and all-leather outfits, Beckham’s style eventually evolved into timeless looks that have come to define classic British fashion for an entire generation.

The beginning of Beckham’s broader aspirations beyond football neatly coincided with his relationship with Victoria. Alex Ferguson remarked, “David was never a problem until he got married… from that moment, his life was never going to be the same.” And it wasn’t. It became spectacularly lucrative. After his transfer to Real Madrid in 2003, Beckham signed with Simon Fuller and 19 Entertainment, who already managed Victoria. Their profiles soared as their international careers flourished, making them even more commercially valuable. While we might have cringed at their coordinated outfits—double denim, all white, black leather—let’s admit it: UK fashion in the ’90s and ’00s was distinctive, if not particularly chic. Everyone was buzzing about David and Vitoria Beckham .

ASCOT, UNITED KINGDOM – JUNE 21: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Amanda Holden watches the racing as she attends day 2 of Royal Ascot 2023 at Ascot Racecourse on June 21, 2023 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Victoria Beckham launched her label in 2008, initially focusing on dresses. Today, the brand offers a range of ready-to-wear, footwear, eyewear, beauty products, and leather goods. The label describes itself as providing the foundation for the modern woman’s wardrobe: versatile, wearable, and modern with a sophisticated ease. Several factors contributed to the longevity of this fashion line, unlike many other celebrity labels: her fame and wealth, his fame and wealth, and their inherent style.

Check this out: A Harper’s Bazaar editor remarked that it was no surprise the fashion community was skeptical about Victoria Beckham launching her own line. As a former pop star, she wasn’t particularly celebrated for her style. However, many of her potential customers, who had grown up idolizing VB and moved past trends like chunky belts and denim micro minis at the same time, were already on her side. Meanwhile, David Beckham was also earning admiration for his fashion sense.

The Times praised Victoria’s debut collection as “very impressive [and] accomplished, with not a single dud.” Within three years, she had won the Designer Brand of the Year at the British Fashion Awards. Belinda White from The Daily Telegraph noted that Victoria’s transition from WAG to designer was more successful than many had expected. She gained a significant celebrity following and won over the skeptical fashion elite, who now eagerly sought tickets to her shows.

Victoria maintained her strong presence in the fashion world while expanding her label, waiting for her design talent to be recognized. She is known for popularizing Roland Mouret’s ‘moon dress’, being the face of Marc Jacobs’ Spring 2008 collection, and appearing on the cover of British Vogue in April of that year, among many other international covers. Her final performance with the Spice Girls was at the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony, watched by 900 million people worldwide. It was a perfect moment to promote Brand Beckham while delighting Spice Girls fans, new and old. “Wannabe” now has over a billion streams on Spotify.

Harper’s Bazaar noted that Beckham surprised everyone in the fashion industry, which typically resents celebrity-turned-designers, especially those previously seen as WAGs. It’s rumored that Posh Spice was often turned away from fashion shows. But being underestimated made her rise in the fashion world even more impressive.

Fashion journalist Alexander Fury noted that Victoria Beckham’s brand’s success is attributed more to the appeal of the designs rather than her celebrity status. Despite the high quality of the products, it has taken 15 years for the business to move towards profitability. As reported in December last year, revenue increased, and the group’s losses narrowed. The Guardian highlighted that the Beckhams and NEO, the private equity group that invested £30m in 2017, have continued to invest in the business as part of their turnaround plan. This includes a successful show at Paris Fashion Week and an expansion into leather goods, accessories, and beauty products.

NUREMBERG, GERMANY: Wife of England’s captain David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, takes her seat at Nuremberg’s Franken Stadium before the start of the opening round Group B World Cup football match between England and Trinidad and Tobago, 15 June 2006. England won their first match against Paraguay 1-0 in less than convincing fashion and there is keen interest in Nuremberg to see how they cope with a team that held Sweden to a 0-0 draw in their opening game. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Victoria Beckham’s top-selling items in 2023 included a midi dress, famously worn by the queen of Spain and Kendall Jenner, accounting for one in every ten online sales that year. Marie Leblanc, the CEO of Victoria Beckham Ltd, expressed satisfaction with “another very strong year of progress,” emphasizing their continued healthy growth trajectory as they aim to establish Victoria Beckham as a global luxury brand. The beauty and fragrance sectors are thriving, with VB herself heavily involved in promotions, particularly on social media. This has significantly boosted brand Beckham. The five older Beckham family members boast 144 million Instagram followers collectively, enabling them to promote widely and frequently.

David’s popularity remains strong, and he hasn’t limited himself to the luxury market. While he represents high-end brands like Hugo Boss and Tudor, he also promotes everyday products such as coffee machines, air fryers, mattresses, and crisps. Additionally, he dedicates time to philanthropic activities as a UNICEF ambassador.

Two years ago, he sold the majority stake in DB Ventures, which handles his endorsement deals, to Authentic Brands Group in a multi-million-pound deal. According to Jamie Salter, ABG’s founder, chairman, and CEO, “David is a superstar talent with incredible global reach and a highly influential presence. David and his team have built an enterprise that spans sports, entertainment, lifestyle, and luxury. We see significant opportunities to scale his brand and expand it into new verticals.”

The influence of Brand Beckham shows no signs of waning, especially as their children grow up and carve out their own styles and fanbases. This writer recalls Brooklyn Beckham’s birth, and in 2022, he was the groom in one of the year’s most glamorous celebrity weddings, marrying American heiress Nicola Peltz in a ceremony reportedly costing around $4 million. With David and Victoria’s ongoing involvement, the Beckham name is likely to remain prominent in the press—and on baby name charts—for many years to come.