Former Spice Girl and renowned fashion designer Victoria Beckham has opened up about her lifelong desire to be understood and respected beyond her pop star persona in a new Netflix documentary series set to premiere this Thursday.

The three-part series, simply titled “Victoria Beckham,” explores her transformation from Posh Spice to one of Britain’s most recognized fashion figures. At 51, Beckham reflects on her journey of self-reinvention, revealing that while fame brought her global recognition, it also came with deep personal challenges.

“People thought I was that miserable cow that never smiled,” Beckham said, addressing her famously reserved public image. Performing, she explained, was her dream, but after the Spice Girls disbanded, she discovered fashion as a new “creative outlet” — one that allowed her to express herself beyond the stage.

Directed by Nadia Hallgren, the series portrays Beckham’s emotional battles in establishing her name in an industry often skeptical of celebrity designers. She recalls how critics dismissed her early fashion efforts with condescension, asking, “Who does she think she is?”

Fashion leaders admit they shared similar doubts. Anna Wintour, former editor-in-chief of Vogue, confessed she was initially skeptical of Beckham’s ambitions. “Most celebrities who enter our world aren’t true designers,” Wintour said, adding that Beckham “proved us wrong” through her dedication and vision.

Designer Tom Ford echoed the sentiment, admitting he was astonished when he first learned she planned to start a fashion label. “I thought, why would you do this? The fashion business is brutal. I assumed someone else would design it and she’d just put her name on it. But she surprised everyone.”

The documentary also revisits Beckham’s school years, where she describes herself as “that uncool kid who desperately wanted to be liked.” Despite her success, the series captures her ongoing search for validation — a theme that continues to shape her work and public image.

Her eponymous fashion brand, launched in 2008, faced early financial struggles, failing to turn a profit for years. “We were millions in the red,” she admits. Yet, by 2024, the label recorded its fourth consecutive year of sales growth, signaling a steady revival driven by persistence and reinvention.

The series also revisits the Spice Girls’ meteoric rise in the 1990s, from their chart-topping hit Wannabe to their record-breaking 85 million album sales. Though Beckham chose not to join the group’s 2019 reunion tour, she remains proud of the legacy that launched her into global stardom.

“Victoria Beckham” offers more than a look at celebrity life — it’s a portrait of resilience, creativity, and a woman who refused to be defined by her past.