Victoria Beckham has opened up about her long-standing struggle to smile for photographs. The ex-Spice Girl, known for her serious and stern expressions in photos, has revealed a poignant reason behind her reluctance to smile.

Victoria, 50, admitted that she felt too self-conscious about her skin to flash a grin. The fashion mogul has frequently spoken about her “problematic” skin and her battle with acne since her teenage years, which persisted during the height of her girlband fame.

In a recent interview with The Telegraph, she confessed how she felt “so uncomfortable” posing for pictures due to her lack of self-confidence. Victoria, who was awarded the publication’s inaugural Beauty Brand of the Year award, explained how skincare experts assisted her in addressing her skin issues.

She remarked, “probably I did look stern in a lot of pictures, but I was so uncomfortable.”

To help improve her skin condition, Victoria also adopted a strict diet, as revealed by husband David Beckham, who shared that she’s been eating the same meal of grilled fish and steamed vegetables daily for 25 years, reports the Mirror.

Victoria Beckham has opened up about her dietary changes, saying: “It was because of my skin that I became very careful about what I ate,” after eliminating meat and wheat from her diet. The fashion icon has gained such confidence in her complexion that she now attends high-profile events without full makeup.

She revealed: “If you’d told me a few years ago I’d step on to a red carpet to pick up an award wearing only a bit of concealer and no foundation, I’d have thought you were mad, but that’s what I did last week.”

The former Spice Girl also reflected on how her attitude towards fame has shifted, admitting in a candid interview that she and husband David Beckham prefer to keep things low-key nowadays. With Victoria focusing on her fashion empire and David on his football club Inter Miami, the couple has less interest in the limelight.

“I suppose it used to be fun to go out and be chased by paparazzi walking down Bond Street – and you would dress knowing you were going to get that. I don’t want that any more,” she told Harper’s Bazaar.

Discussing her relaxed approach to life, Victoria added: “I’ve been doing this too long. I suppose I did when I was growing up but, nowadays, there’s just too much going on; too busy; too many kids to worry about. I woke up at 50, and I gave a s**t less.”