'I stand for the general public': Size 6 bathing belle Victoria Beckham says her slip of a silhouette represents the average (size 16) woman

By Georgina Littlejohn and Donna Mcconnell


She famously snacks on edamame beans, and frozen grapes and endures a diet of steamed fish and raw vegetables to keep a svelte size 6 frame.

But Victoria Beckham has insisted that she is just like the average woman, especially when it comes to her catwalk creations.

In a stunning photoshoot for the British edition of high fashion glossy Harper's Bazaar, the married mother of four said that she feels she represents the general public - when it comes to testing out her own designs.

Black and white beauty: Victoria Beckham looked sensational in her retro swimsuit as she threw her head back and posed on a luxurious rug

The revealing interview was accompanied by glamorous photos of the star in swimwear, which was very reminiscent of old Hollywood actresses and pin-ups Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe.

Victoria explained that since she became a designer she prefers to wear her own clothes to feel more at one with the customer. But last year she was left disappointed she couldn't try on her designs as she was pregnant with her much longed-for daughter Harper.

She told Harper's Bazaar: 'We always joke that we have this fabulously gorgeous 17-year-old model who is six-foot-whatever and then I say "OK, I’m going to put it on. I stand for the general public here".

'It’s how I work. I found it really difficult when I was pregnant and I couldn’t do that. It’s part of the process - I’ll stand here in my knickers and start draping fabric over myself. It was very hard when I didn’t have my body.'

But with the average British woman wearing a size 16, and certainly unable to afford a dress from the Victoria Beckham collection - adored by the A-list - and costing thousands, it's a claim that stretches the imagination somewhat.

Sun worshipper: Victoria's slimline figure was set off by this stunning 50s-style green two piece as she lounged on a stone garden bench

Victoria has established herself as a fashion designer in the last couple of years, and this year won the coveted Designer Brand of the Year at the British Fashion Awards.

The overwhelmed designer who previously enjoyed massive success with The Spice Girls said it was like an 'out of body experience' when her name was called out.

'I came offstage and said, "I cried three times, I didn’t thank the people I wanted to thank, I was really rubbish". But I think people saw the real me...and the truth is, I would have felt much more comfortable in my pyjamas with the kids and David in a hotel watching it on TV.'

Victoria's designs can be seen on many celebrities who have snapped up her creations to wear at red carpet events, inlcuding more recently The Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence and new mother and singer Beyoncé.

Going back in time: Victoria's shoot looked inspired by beachwear from the 50s, seen here on Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe

But the one actress Victoria would like to see one of her dresses on is We Need To Talk About Kevin star Tilda Swinton who she finds 'intriguing, very stylish, she clearly understands fashion'.

And she said Prada is the one designer who most astounds her as she explained: 'I’m absolutely blown away. Everything she does is genius. I’ve never met her, but everything she does – not just the hair, the make-up, the shows – everything about the brand impresses me.'

She also sang her husband David's praises for his recent underwear line for high street store H&M.

She said: 'David created it, we own it and H&M does the distribution. It makes sense business-wise and it has integrity, because David has designed it all himself.'


The full feature with Victoria appears in the May issue of Harper¿s Bazaar UK, on sale Monday 2nd April



source:dailymail