Victoria Beckham Writes Emotional Letter to Her 18-Year-Old Self for ‘Vogue’
Anyone who's ever struggled as an emotional teen and made it through to the other side of adulthood likely remembers the insecurities, feelings of inadequacy and unrelenting fear that come along with wading through your youth. Few would likely choose to return, but most probably agree they could've been kinder to themselves. Victoria Beckham certainly feels that way, based on a poignant letter she wrote to her 18-year-old self for the latest issue of Vogue.
In her self-addressed letter, titled What I Wish I'd Known, the October 2016 Vogue cover star goes into detail about her past self-perception, the beginnings of her relationship with husband David Beckham and her eventual career shift from music to fashion.
"I know you are struggling right now,” she writes. “You are not the prettiest, or the thinnest, or the best at dancing at the Laine Theatre Arts college. You have never properly fitted in, although you are sharing your Surrey school digs with really nice girls. You have bad acne. You think the principal has put you at the back of the end-of-year show (in a humiliatingly bright purple Lycra leotard) because you are too plump to go at the front. (This may or may not be true.)"
Victoria continues, writing admirably about her some of her riskier past fashion choices.
"You are going to have so much fun with your clothes – PVC catsuits, chokers that say absurd things, weird spiky blonde hair," she writes. "It will never occur to you that you appear ridiculous. You will turn up at awards ceremonies resembling a drag queen. But I look back at you and smile. It will add interest to your life to go from one extreme to another. I love the fact that you will feel free to express yourself.
"Fashion will take on added stature one day, but try not to be stifled by it," she warns her past self. "You will learn, as you mature, to swap heels for Stan Smith trainers, minidresses for crisp white shirts. And you will never be one of those people who just roll out of bed."
Victoria also touches on the time she met David Beckham, citing their initial encounter as a convincing case for love at first sight.
"And yes, love at first sight does exist," she continues. "It will happen to you in the Manchester United players’ lounge – although you will get a little drunk, so exact details are hazy. While the other football players stand at the bar drinking with their mates, you will see David standing aside with his family. (He’s not even in the first team at this stage – you are the famous one.) And he has such a cute smile. You, too, are close to your family, and you will think how similar he feels to you. He’s going to ask for your number. (He still has the London-to-Manchester plane ticket on which you wrote it.)"
Check out Victoria Beckham's full letter in the latest issue of Vogue when the October issue hits newsstands on September 8.
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