Victoria Beckham Tackles Weighty Issues in Allure

When clothing sizes are mentioned in magazines, it’s most often in the context of ignoring them. Buy based on fit, not on what the tag says, we’re told. Your worth isn’t linked to your pants size, they say. Don’t diet for the way you look, diet for your health! It’s perfectly sound advice that makes hypocrites out of the very magazines that espouse such philosophies. The real message? Love your body, but don’t expect to see anyone who remotely resembles you in a fashion glossy!

Perhaps such looming dishonesty is why Allure discarded any hint of that approach in “Through the Looking Glass,” August, wherein writer David DeNicolo practically interrogates Victoria Beckham about her measurements. Obviously, Beckham’s fame isn’t just about her tiny waist, but the magazine puts an awful lot of emphasis on it all the same.

Here’s how it starts:

Allure: What size are you?

VB: I’m the smallest size that you can get. It depends with different designers, different stores.

Which is an admirably discreet response, so he steps up the pressure.

Allure: What do you weigh?

VB: That’s a bit personal. What’s your weight? I’m not going to ask you what your weight is!

Allure: [I tell her. Twice.]

Surprise! DeNicolo’s weight is not printed in the magazine. Presumably, if Posh had answered, her weight would have been printed. In bold. With a box around it. And with an accompanying tear-out diet plan for the rest of us.

VB: I’m not going to tell you. I don’t want everybody knowing what my weight is.

Ah, Posh isn’t cooperating. Solution? Ask a totally inappropriate question in the hopes of flummoxing her with sheer chutzpah!

Allure: How do you feel about fat people? Is there an ick factor?

Well, I guess we know where Allure stands on the matter.

Putting aside my righteous outrage about indiscriminate fat-shaming, I just don’t get this question. What is the expected response? Her choice to wear heels to Disneyland aside, Posh isn’t dumb. Like she’s going to say, “Oh, I despise them. They should be deported to a deserted island and forced to resort to cannibalism until they’ve achieved a negative BMI.”?

Instead, she offers a pretty reasonable response:

VB: That’s an awful question. People have to be healthy. Some people can’t help being thin; some people can’t help being fat. People can’t help the way they look. I don’t like it when people are mean about me, so I’m not going to be mean about anybody else.

Well! That topic of questioning exhausted—or failed—the chat moves on to less cosmic topics like David Beckham’s tattoos (she likes them! imagine!) and whether the couple ever finds time to hang out with Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cruise. (Sometimes, but it’s tough to coordinate their schedules!)

But DeNicolo hasn’t given up all hope. Discussing a 2007 photo of VB at the Vanity Fair Oscar party, he offers this delightful non sequitur:

    VB: This dress was Alaia.

    Allure: Your boobs look amazing.

Hey, you know what else is amazing? That asking an interview subject to reveal her weight, commenting on her body in a vaguely prurient way, and asking whether “fat people” have an “ick factor” is acceptable. Note to magazine editors: Maybe we could all appreciate our bodies a lot more if we could stop focusing on them for just a second.

Comments

[lisa paul]

Whew! I'm glad you read that article so I didn't have to. Allure definitely now has an "ick factor" for me.

[Becca]

I used to be pretty annoyed with Posh, but I just feel bad for her after that ridiculous interview.

[Athena]

1. DeNicolo is an idiot.
2. Where do these magazine people get off making stupid comments about weight and overall physical beauty as if they are the most beautiful people in the world? Many of the ones that I have seen look very average to me.
3. I cannot read or hear a single thing about Posh without someone commenting on her weight. I think people should lay off the subject. Yes, she is thin, just like many other women in the world, and it is something that happens naturally for some (myself included). What is the big deal? If she had some healthy curves he would probably have tried to sneak in ways for her to lose some pounds. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

[The Lil Bee]

She really did handle herself quite well, didn't she? Did you ever watch the reality show she did last year when she was moving to LA? I completely fell in love with her...which I NEVER would've thought possible. She is very witty and has a great sense of humor.

[Erica]

I think that there is a sinister element to the topic of weight: it is the dichotomy of weight, itself. A star can be thin, but not too thin or she's unhealthy, or on drugs, or whatever. Victoria Beckham is very thin, if you look at past Spice Girl photos, you can see the difference. She is, however, the victim of a media onslaught of scrutiny when it comes to weight issues. Do you think that if she were even a size 8 that the media wouldn't be calling her a porker and there would be insinuations questioning her worthiness as David Beckham's wife? She is forced into a very small weight "box" with very little latitude to gain or lose any pounds. It is an insidious erosion of a woman's sense of self.

[Rachel]

You have to wonder about a journalist who makes Victoria B. look dignified. Allure used to be so good, or at least better than the pack, but this was a real low point.

[laylaness]

So, Allure focuses the interview on her weight, asks her questions about her husband and the Cruises makes the title of the article "Victoria Beckham 'I'm incredibly ordinary'" on the cover, and then puts the Celebrity Skinny headline 2 inches away from Victoria's headline?

Really, Allure? Really?

[laylaness]

For the record, I love Posh.

[Erika]

Allure, you really floored me. I always had a sneaking admiration for Posh and her tongue-in-cheek fame, but now I think I love her. DeNicolo on the other hand managed to take things to a new low, and also to cement my decision to stop buying this magazine. Sad really, I used to love it, or at least tolerate the stupid bits, but " 'ick factor' and 'fat people'" ? That's some nerve...

My reaction to those questions when I read the article was much the same as this site's. I said to myself: "The hell?"

[Jessica]

Wow. Allure has some balls just coming out and asking pointed questions about weight like that and then badgering for it. SHe's tiny but I don't care how much she wears or her size. Way to stand up for women of every size but pushing back.

[Jocelyn]

Ugh, what a horrible interviewer!

[Angie]

Thank God someone else noticed this! I thought I was going nuts. The outright rudeness of the interviewer shocked me, and I will no longer be buying this magazine b'c of this. Victoria Beckham also expressed disgust at that horrid man. I can't believe the magazine was so deluded that they didn't at least edit their printing.

[lb]

You hit the nail squarely on the head; this was true "gotcha!" journalism. Posh did well not dignifying him with the answers he wanted. And Allure thinks we care this much about Posh's numbers? Yikes.

[Katlin]

Seriously? How old is this interviewer? Could she not think of more stimulating questions... we all very well get to see what Victoria presents to the public, so why didn't she take the chance to really pick her brain to she the public what they can't see.

P.S. I love your blog and I'm linking you buddy!

[KathyR]

What? This wasn't a parody? That was actually printed?!

Jeez.

[Courtney]

I just read that article the other day, and I was relieved that Victoria didn't take the "bait" that so-called journalist threw at her. I rarely ever read Allure, but I bought it because she was on the cover. If that guy keeps writing for them, I doubt I'll buy it again.

[ian in london]

I used to date David DeNicolo for 3 years from 18-21 yrs. He was always arrogant to others and was some what cruel. The one thing he did have was that he was very, very sharp but now i see he has abused it now he thinks he is top of the list of American editors. Was head editor to of The Washington Post you know ?? Having been ways linked to Allure Magazine sincen an intern has finally gone to his head. SOMEONE STOP HIM and get him to down size to reality. - Written by Ian Macintyre London UK