(WS News) – Victoria Beckham has been presented with a prize at Harper’s Bazaar magazine’s Women of the Year awards by her 13-year-old daughter, Harper.
Harper, the youngest child of the Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer and her husband David, told the audience she was “so nervous” but also “excited to be here presenting the entrepreneur award, especially as tonight is a school night and hopefully this isn’t going to get me into trouble”.
She said her “amazing mummy” was someone she had always looked up to and showed her the “value of working hard, dreaming big and what it takes to succeed”.
“But above all else she’s taught me to always be kind and even though she has a million things to do, she rarely misses school.”
Accepting the award for her “innovation and dedication to the British and global fashion industry”, the 50-year-old Beckham said she was “so proud” of her daughter for “getting up on stage in front of a room full of people”.
Beckham launched her fashion brand in 2008, and has since boosted its fortunes by expanding into beauty products and luxury accessories.
The company has seen double-digit revenue growth for the past three years, and said it finally became profitable in 2022.
However, shareholders including the Beckhams had to provide a £6.9m cash injection in 2023, when operating losses stood at £200,000.
In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she said: “The company has been through so much over the last 17 years – ups, downs, restructuring… it’s been quite the journey.
“So, finally, to be able to say we’re profitable is something I’m so proud of, because it’s not an easy industry, and it’s getting harder and harder.”
The fashion magazine’s annual celebration of female achievement recognises women from across film, music and art.
Others to be recognised at the event at Claridge’s hotel on Tuesday included Killing Eve and Silo star Dame Harriet Walter, who was given the icon award for her theatre, film and TV work.
The 74-year-old said she hopes she can “represent all the other older women who are still good at their job”.
Author Dame Jilly Cooper received the writer prize for “her extraordinary half-century contribution to literature”.
Bridgerton and Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan received the television actress prize, while former Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner took home the performance award.
Women of the year gongs were given to singer Raye, whose album won six awards in one night at the Brit awards, alongside One Day actress Ambika Mod, artist Rana Begum, designer Francesca Amfitheatrof, and Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
Actors Jodie Comer, Golda Rosheuvel and Paapa Essiedu, and Love Island host Maya Jama, were among those presenting on the night.
