How Vogue cover star Romeo Beckham is a chip off old Victoria and David’s block
MOVE over Brooklyn, Romeo’s got the Becks factor.
While his older brother has been hogging the headlines, Posh and Becks’ second son has been quietly laying the foundations to follow his parents to fame and fortune.
On Monday, the 18-year-old unveiled his first magazine cover with men’s Italian fashion bible, L’Uomo Vogue.
Posing like a pro, it is easy to see Romeo’s resemblance to his good-looking parents.
In fact, he has the perfect mix of their best bits, with David’s smouldering eyes, height and lean body, Victoria’s cheekbones and pout and their love of fashion.
KATE JACKSON looks at the ways Romeo is mimicking mum and dad.
Looks
THERE is no mistaking those famous features staring out from the cover of L’Uomo Vogue, which translates as Vogue Man.
The smouldering eyes are undeniably dad David’s, seen in countless photoshoots for the likes of Armani, H&M and his own fragrance campaigns.
A photo taken last year of Becks and Romeo comparing their height, shows there is very little difference between the 5ft 11in former Manchester United ace and his son.
In fact, as the Beckham family celebrated Romeo’s 18th birthday in September, David posted a loving tribute admitting the teen had just eclipsed him.
Alongside a video montage, David, 45, wrote: “This shows from day one in my arms until our latest moment where, yes, I had to finally admit my son is taller than me.”
However, Romeo’s razor-sharp cheekbones clearly come from Victoria, 46.
And who else could have gifted him the perfect sultry pout but Posh Spice?
In these new pictures, taken by celebrated fashion and celebrity photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott on the Munden Estate, Herts, in December, Romeo sports dyed blond hair.
It could be a nod to the platinum pixie crop his mum made popular in the Noughties.
Below those leather shorts and animal-print tights, Romeo has an eagle tattoo on his calf, just like the one David had inked near to his left armpit.
And of course, there’s the neck bling, taken straight out of his dad’s lookbook.
Romeo’s parents both posted pictures from the magazine shoot on their social media accounts, and told fans how “proud” they were of their son.
David added: “What an incredible first cover.”
Showbiz lifestyle
UNLIKE his older brother Brooklyn, who frequents red carpet events and lists supermodel Cara Delevingne and actress Selena Gomez among his friends, Romeo prefers to stay out of the limelight.
Just like his mum, he is rarely seen at showbiz events.
While Brooklyn celebrated his 21st birthday last March with a lavish £100,000 party and a performance by rapper Stormzy, Romeo chose to spend his 18th birthday in September — when the country was out of lockdown — with his family at the Beckhams’ Cotswolds bolthole.
But growing up with parents who are worth around £769million, Romeo is no stranger to luxuries — and he shares his dad’s passion for pricey cars.
On Christmas Eve he was spotted driving a £45,000 Jeep and with his model girlfriend, Mia Regan. Mia, 18, who is signed with Storm Models, has featured in a Victoria Beckham campaign.
The teens aren’t afraid to post lovey-dovey messages on social media, just like Posh and Becks have done for years.
And while Romeo may not want a career as an entertainer like his mum, he has picked up some of her talent.
In Burberry’s Christmas film he showed he had rhythm with some impressive street-dance moves.
And in November 2019 he posted a TikTok video of himself copying his mum’s routine to Spice Girl track Spice Up Your Life.
Those hips don’t lie.
Modelling
WITH a dad as good-looking as Becks and a fashion designer mum with all the right contacts, it is no wonder that one of the four Beckham children ended up with a modelling contract.
And Romeo was given his first at just ten years old.
With his gappy teeth and cute-as-a-button features, he was chosen to front an ad for luxury British brand Burberry.
Romeo appeared in its Spring/Summer 2013 campaign, followed by the Christmas 2014 shoot.
He was handpicked for the role by his parents’ pal and then chief creative and CEO Christopher Bailey, who called working with Romeo “an utter joy”.
And for one day’s work he was rumoured to have been paid £45,000. No matter the paycheck, the brand reaped the rewards with ten million YouTube hits and a 14 per cent sales boost.
Unsurprisingly, Romeo was asked to return the following year, when he appeared alongside Sir Elton John, Julie Walters, George Ezra and Naomi Campbell in a Billy Elliot-inspired advert.
As Romeo entered his teens and lost his baby face, some believed his modelling days could be over, but this latest magazine shoot has proved otherwise.
Two years ago, PR guru Andrew Bloch said: “Out of all of the Beckham offspring, Romeo is the one who shows potential to be the highest earner.”
L’Uomo editor in chief, Emanuele Farneti said: “When we decided this issue would be dedicated to the relationships between different generations in fashion we thought he’d make the ideal cover star to represent all the young men who are coming of age in 2021.”
He added: “We didn’t ask Romeo because he has famous parents. He’s a high-profile young man with no airs and graces and a genuine youthful enthusiasm for playing with his look.”
Style
ROMEO has long been hailed for his style. In fact, in 2011 he was named 26th best-dressed male in Britain by GQ magazine.
High praise indeed, especially for an eight-year-old schoolboy.
At the time, David Walker-Smith, mens- wear director at Selfridges, told the fashion bible: “He is experimental, quirky and fun, and his style has nothing mini-me about it. It’s me-me!”
By 2016 GQ had bumped Romeo into the top ten best dressed, above hunky model David Gandy, 40, and just four places below Becks.
Nowadays Romeo is mostly seen in hoodies and joggers, but he has enjoyed suiting-up for special occasions. At his big brother’s What I See photography exhibition in 2017, Romeo stole the show in sharp blue tailoring.
And in his latest photoshoot, he shows he is not afraid of trying the androgynous look.
The blue crop top is part of designer Supriya Lele’s Spring/Summer 2021 range, advertised on a woman.
While it is unlikely Romeo will sport a sarong like his dad did in 1998 — largely considered one of the biggest fashion fails — he does like to copy David’s hairstyles, including the man bun and braids.
Football
ALL three boys — Brooklyn, 21, Romeo and Cruz, 15 — signed for the Arsenal training academy in 2014.
Brooklyn went on to play for youth teams at two of his dad’s old clubs, LA Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as the Gunners, but was released in 2015.
Romeo, an Arsenal fan, exited a few months later.
David said at the time: “Romeo said he didn’t want to play football any more. He’s got other passions and I like that.”
Instead Romeo was tipped to be a tennis star, even getting advice from Wimbledon champ Andy Murray. But at the Beckhams’ Cotswolds pad, where the family spent the first lockdown, Romeo’s £30,000 tennis court now appears to have been replaced by a five-a-side footie pitch.
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On Instagram in August, a fan asked: “Do u aim on becoming a football player?” Romeo replied: “Yeah :)”
Last February, he played for Millfield School Under 18s against Clevedon Town AFC at the non-league Somerset club.
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Romeo has trained with the England team attacking coach, Allan Russell, and once said he’d be “Sporty Spice, because I am sporty”.
- The new issue of L’Uomo Vogue hits newsstands on Friday and marks the international debut of Romeo Beckham, who is featuring on a cover for the first time
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