- 1974
A Posh Beginning
Jackie and Anthony Adams, who run an electrical warehouse business, welcome their first child Victoria Caroline. The couple adds daughter, Louise, and a son, Christian to the family. With the success of the business, the Adams provide a comfortable upbringing for their children and drive a Rolls Royce.
- 1980
Seeing Fame
At seven Adams watches the film Fame, a musical following a group of students through their studies at a New York performing arts school. She realizes she wants to be famous and her parents enroll her in Jason Theatre School in Enfield.
- late 1980s
Tackling Teens
As a teen, Adams struggles with acne and unpopularity, but never lets it get in the way of her dreams of superstardom. An ex-chum tells PEOPLE in 1997, "She would ram it down everyone's throat that she was going to be this great star." After graduation, 17-year-old Adams goes on to attend Laine Arts Theatre College in the Surrey town of Epsom, studying dance and modeling.
- 1994
The Spice Rack
Adams answers an ad seeking "streetwise, outgoing, ambitious" singers in the trade newspaper, The Stage. After 400 women answer the ad placed by pop music entrepreneurs Chris Herbert and his father, Bob, the Herberts choose Adams (aka Posh), Melanie "Scary" Brown, Emma "Baby" Bunton, Melanie "Sporty" Chisholm, and Geri "Ginger" Halliwell. The five rehearse while living in a house rented by the Herberts in London's Maidenhead suburb. In February 1995, the girls split with the Herberts and sign with Simon Fuller, who becomes the svengali behind Spice Girls' success and later the creator of American Idol.
- 1997
Pop Debut
Spice Girls' debut album, Spice, hits record stores worldwide, selling more than 19 million copies. The first single, "Wannabe" shoots straight to the top. They go on to release memorable hits like "Say You'll Be There" and "2 Become 1".
Posh & Becks: The Beginning
After attending a Manchester United soccer game, Posh meets English soccer player David Beckham who requests a meeting with the Spice Girl. When Beckham sees the group's "Say You'll Be There" video months earlier, he points to Posh and says, "That's the girl for me and I'm going to get her!" he tells Britain's Sun. "She's my idea of perfection. I knew that if she wanted me, we would be together forever." The two begin dating and attract a great deal of media interest.
Condiment Du Jour
The Spice Girls make PEOPLE's Most Beautiful Issue. Posh, the fashion maven of the group says to PEOPLE, "I try to go to the gym but when I'm not working, I'm shopping." Later that year, they release their follow-up album, Spiceworld, with No. 1 hits "Spice Up Your Life" and "Stop."
- 1998
Girl Power!
The Spice Girls release Spice World, a movie following the girl group and their fictional entourage. While the film is panned by critics (the group wins the Razzie for Worst Actress), it grosses more than $75 million at the box office worldwide and more than $29 million in the U.S. alone.
When Two Become One
Beckham, 23, proposes to Posh, 24, at Cheshire's Rookery Hall Hotel with a $65,000 three-plus-carat diamond ring he designs for her. After he asks for her hand, Posh gives Beckham an $80,000 three-tiered band of 96 diamonds as an engagement ring.
Ginger Snap
Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell, 25, leaves the Spice Girls with a vague statement blaming "differences between us" and concluding, "P.S., I'll be back." A few weeks later, without Halliwell, the Spice Girls embark on their U.S. tour. During this tour, Melanie "Scary" Brown and Posh discover they're both pregnant.
Photo Credits
BIOGRAPHY (top to bottom): BIG PICTURES; Columbia Pictures/Everett; DAVE HOGAN/ALL ACTION/RETNA; Columbia Pictures/Everett
- Name
- Victoria Beckham
- Date of Birth
- April 17, 1974
- Birth Place
- Hertfordshire, England
- Relationships
-
David Beckham, husband (1997 to present)
Corey Haim, ex-boyfriend (1995) - Children
-
Brooklyn Beckham, son (3/4/1999)
Romeo Beckham, son (9/1/2002)
Cruz Beckham, son (2/20/2005)
Harper Seven Beckham, daughter (7/10/2011)
