HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VICTORIA!
V turns 34 today, and enjoyed an early celebration last night with David, Kate Beckinsale and Len Wisemen, and Eva Longoria. The five of them went to Eva's LA restaurant, Beso, then went for coffee and dessert at The Cheesecake Factory. Tonight Victoria and David will be attending British magazine's annual LA Bash- an elite party that celebrates the booming of British talent that is taking over Hollywood.
Check this out: VB also went out to dinner with David and the kids to celebrate her birthday and the paparazzi were everywhere. Here is a link to a video just to show you how difficult it is for the family to make it from the restaurant to their car. Even with the security guards and police, it's still mayhem!
http://x17video.com/celebrity_video/david_beckham/beckham_family_at_pink_taco.php

So much for a birthday present... V got slammed by the chic Kitson boutique that sells her denim line. Fraser Ross, the owner spoke about the line not performing up to expectation- "She’s not supporting the line. It’s not good for her brand and not good for her endorsements. In a tough economy, you need to be in partnership with the people that are selling your line to your fans. That’s the bottom line. And it’s not like she’s not nearby. Victoria lives fifteen minutes from the store. That’s just bad business. It is just unprofessional. We haven’t dumped it yet. Hopefully there will be some kind of resolution." Ouch! V is very passionate about her fashion line and her publicist says that the star has already contacted Kitson and plans to visit the store this weekend to do promotion and have a meeting of the minds. Even with that minor setback, I'm sure Victoria will enjoy her birthday, and will of course celebrate in a very posh way.

Becks- Blogging from LA and Loving the Lakers

David recently updated his own personal blog with news about his soccer career, charity, and his new friendship with Kobe Bryant.

Hi everyone,It was great to get a win in our first home game of the season against San Jose Earthquakes. I thought the whole team performed really well and I was really happy to score my first goal in the MLS and set a goal up for Landon Donovan. Hopefully, with three more home games in a row, we’ll get the results we want, starting with Toronto FC on Sunday.

Earlier in the week, I went to watch the LA Lakers basketball team play and met Kobe Bryant. It was great to see one of basketball’s great players in the flesh. He’s an outstanding athlete and one of the top players in the world and I was delighted that he returned the favour and came to watch the Galaxy on Thursday.

On Friday I went along to my LA Academy and took part in a session with the children that were visiting. I always enjoy going along to the Academies in London and LA, it’s great to see the kids enjoying themselves playing soccer and I can never resist having a kick-around with them.

I also recorded a message for Idol Gives Back for this week’s American Idol television show. Idol Gives Back is a charity set up to improve the lives of kids in the U.S and across the world. Simon Fuller and the Idol team have done a great job with this worthwhile cause and I am honoured to be involved.

Take care,
David

Becks: He's Just Like Us.. He Gets Tickets

Earlier today, David got pulled over by the L.A. Sheriff's Department in Los Angeles. He was reportedly pulled over for a traffic violation after making an illegal left turn on Fairfax and Sunset while trying to escape the paparazzi who were following him. Becks got a $160 fine and 1 point on his driver's license. An eyewitness said: "David was really cooperative. I think he knew that he was in the wrong."

We have talked a lot about the concept of celebrity image in class this semester. Becks seems to have a "good boy" image and is always presented this way by the press. He even appears to be laughing with the cop who pulled him over. It's good for business that he tries to maintain a professional and friendly demeanor in these situations.

She Really
Can Smile!
Showing teeth is nothing special for most people, however, for VB it's extremely rare . In almost every picture, Victoria has a fierce looking pout... part of her Posh image? However, when asked at a recent signing for her book, That Extra Half an Inch: Hair, Heels and Everything in Between, why she always looks so unhappy, Victoria spoke about her smiling struggles: "The press are everywhere. I guess I just don't always think to start grinning when I'm leaving the Ivy or shopping for knickers and socks. I really am a pleasant person, especially when I'm with David and the children. My favorite picture in the book is one of me covering my face while I'm laughing. That shot really captured who I am. Although I don't smile do I? I'm supposed to be a miserable bitch right?" After vowing to smile more for her fans, she added "I have to laugh it off. There are tons of pictures taken but paparazzi want to show you in a certain light. You can't take any of it seriously."

Naked for
Skin Cancer
Let's hope we can attribute V's permanent golden color to spray on tanning. The star recently joined with fashion designer Marc Jacobs in an effort to warn people about the dangers of excessive sun exposure. She says: "Since moving to California I have realized how important it is to practice safe sun for myself and to keep my three boys' skin protected as well. Skin cancer is a huge problem and I really wanted to help raise awareness by taking part in Marc's initiative." That initiative includes charity t-shirts that feature a nude Victoria "covered" by the message "PROTECT THE SKIN YOU'RE IN." She joins a list of other celebs and models who are in the buff for the cause- Heidi Klum, Eva Mendes, Travis Barker, Dita von Teese, and Gabriel Aubry. The t-shirts are now on sale for $35 at Marc Jacobs boutiques. All proceeds from the sales go to NYU Medical Center's Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group. Posing nude for something is a bold move on Victoria's part, and certainly she knows this will attract attention to both the cause and to herself. I know that she and Marc Jacobs are good friends, and I'm sure that has something to do with her participation. At the same time, Marc is a very high-profile, popular designer. Do you think Victoria would have also agreed to do this for a lesser-known name?

Becks on the Tonight Show
David appeared on Jay Leno the other night to chat about his family, career and life in America. He blushed when talking to the host (who just so happens to be his neighbor) about his recent Armani underwear campaign. Becks was also asked about meeting his wife after having a longtime crush on her, and talked about their first few dates together. David apologized to Jay for all of the paparazzi that constantly loiter around in their
neighborhood. The soccer star also added that he prefers American paparazzi to photographers in England, saying that the photographers in LA "have been kind to us." You can watch part of his appearance on the show here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm8Cnd-WX2M

The love/hate relationship between celebrities and paparazzi is an interesting one. Some celebs absolutely despise the photogs, while others appreciate the publicity boost. While paparazzi certainly cross the privacy line and can be way too invasive, there is no denying that constant press and pictures can propel a star's career. High profile celebs like the Beckhams know that having their picture in US Weekly on a regular basis is a mark of their status. Without the paparazzi celebrities would have a harder time staying on people's radar and maintaining their position in the public eye. According to Gamson, the paparazzi are part of the subindustrial roles and play an integral part in the mechanics of celebrity. After all, he says that publicity is 60% of the celebrity formula.

Birthday Party and dVb Promotion
Victoria threw a swanky party for her mother's 60th birthday at London's Claridge Hotel on Sunday. Wearing a custom-made embroidered Giambattista Valli dress and fake fur wrap, she hosted the intimate soiree in a private room and treated her guests to Laurent Perrier pink champagne.

On Monday, Posh made an appearance at London's famed department store, Harrod's to do PR for her dVb fashion line. She recently told Harper's Bazaar Magazine that her true passion is designing and that she is anxious to expand her clothing line. "Our fame and fortune has enabled me to do what I want in fashion. Do I wish I could be anonymous? Of course." I think having the Beckham name is in her favor. She has been pretty successful in her fashion endeavors already, and I think much of that is
due to her existing notoriety and clout in Hollywood.