Harper Beckham Set to Challenge Kylie Jenner with New Beauty Venture
Harper Beckham, the 14-year-old daughter of David and Victoria Beckham, could emerge as the United Kingdom's answer to Kylie Jenner with the imminent release of her debut beauty range. Reports indicate that Harper is planning to launch her own line soon, having already conducted a secret photoshoot in London to promote the new products.
Inspired by Success and South Korean Trends
The beauty line is specifically aimed at Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers, drawing inspiration from South Korean cosmetics and scheduled for a late summer launch. Harper has the perfect mentor in her mother, Victoria Beckham, who has achieved significant success with her own popular beauty range. A source close to the family revealed, "This has long been a dream of Harper's—it has all been driven and led by her. She's an incredibly impressive young lady."
The insider added to The Sun, "She has seen first-hand how her mum has successfully cracked the world of beauty and, like so many girls her age, is obsessed with all things fashion and beauty. David and Victoria are obviously supportive and very proud. This isn't a Brand Beckham thing, though—it is very much a Brand Harper thing."
Preparations and Trademark Moves
Back in October, it was revealed that the Beckhams had trademarked the name HIKU BY Harper, setting the groundwork for the upcoming beauty line. The business-savvy family has long protected the rights to their children's names, with Victoria famously registering Harper's name for use in a range of branded products, including makeup, toys, and clothing, when she was just five years old.
At the time, an intellectual property expert noted that it was unprecedented to trademark a child's name, as such moves are usually reserved for established celebrities. Oliver Bray, a partner at international law firm RPC, told the Daily Mail, "It normally happens when your career is getting going and a lawyer says, 'Let's get some protection in place.' As opposed to the future-proofing which is what Victoria Beckham has done with her children."
Bray continued, "It may be a sign of the times with social media and the whole way in which celebrities are exploited. In order to give you more levers to control your image, a trademark is an obvious place to go, and it might be that society is driving the Beckhams to use these levers to protect their children in this more manipulative world in which we live. But from another point of view, you could call it savvy and looking to the future."
Harper's Growing Public Profile and Mentorship
Harper has become increasingly visible on her mother's Instagram, posting makeup tutorials and TikTok dances, and earlier this year, she even launched her own account. Victoria has previously joked that Harper will either become a beauty mogul or a stand-up comedian, describing her daughter as "hilarious." Harper has often emulated her famous mother by featuring in beauty tutorials on Victoria's Instagram platform.
Victoria will be on hand to offer tips and advice on beauty, drawing from her own successful line that helped save her ailing fashion business. The Beckham matriarch's fashion label had been in the red since launching in 2008, but in 2023, fortunes turned around thanks to her £30 eyeliner. The product flew off the shelves so quickly that her team reportedly struggled to keep up with demand.
Victoria's Satin Kajal Liner, which comes in 22 colours, has been hailed as "the perfect piece of makeup" by women in the UK, Europe, and America since its launch. Its popularity has been boosted by the former Spice Girl offering tutorials on social media platforms TikTok and Instagram, with friends of the star saying that she, too, uses it every day.
A fashion insider told The Mail on Sunday at the time, "This has been an absolute gem of a product for Victoria. It has become so popular, Team VB says that they can't get it made and out there quickly enough. While it might seem expensive compared to high-street ranges, ordinary women are buying it and then learning how to use it by watching Victoria's tutorials. There are other products being launched and the fashion is becoming more popular, but the eyeliner is the stand out. It has been a triumph."
Those close to Victoria say that she is "immensely proud" of the eyeliner, while its tens of thousands of fans praise it for being easy to use, staying in place, and offering an impressive range of colours.
Victoria's Business Expansion and Harper's Public Debut
Victoria extended her fashion brand in 2019 when she launched her beauty range, inspired by her signature "smokey eye" for which she has become known. Speaking to Vogue France in October 2023, she said, "It's such an exciting time. This year, we made a profit. This takes time, especially for an independent brand. This is just the beginning. I have lots of ambitions and I work hard to achieve my goals. I never wait for things to fall into my lap. Now that I have laid down the groundwork, the real work can begin."
Last year, Harper made her public speaking debut when she presented her mother with a prestigious award for entrepreneurship at Harper's Bazaar's annual Women of the Year event. She said, "I'm so nervous. Especially as tonight's a school night. Hopefully, this isn't going to get me in trouble. My amazing mummy has built an incredible business from the ground up and has shown me the value of working hard. But above all, she’s taught me to always be kind and, even though she has a million things to do, she rarely misses school."
As Harper Beckham steps into the beauty industry, she follows in the footsteps of Kylie Jenner, who was just 18 when she released her debut product, the Kylie Lip Kits. The success of Jenner's makeup line meant that by age 21, she was crowned the youngest self-made billionaire by Forbes. With Harper's launch, she aims to challenge that crown and carve out her own path in the competitive world of cosmetics.
