They famously sung “friendship never ends”, but behind the scenes a gentle battle of one-upmanship is still playing out between former Spice Girl bandmates Geri Horner and Victoria Beckham.
Just a week after it was reported that Posh, 46, is set to make her TV comeback after husband David signed a £16m deal to film a fly-on-the-wall series with Netflix, Geri, 48, launched her own return to the small screen with her children’s series, Rainbow Woman, on YouTube. And pals say their new TV ventures are the latest in their bids to overshadow each other.
Last year, Ginger Spice – who married F1 supremo Christian Horner in 2014 – threw shade at designer Posh, after revealing she preferred bandmate Emma Bunton to the mum-of-four in the lead-up to their reunion tour.
Geri also cropped Posh out of a throwback snap she shared in 2018 from their Say You’ll Be There video. It isn’t the first time the pair have clashed, as the final dates of their tour in 2008 were reportedly cancelled due to a row. And in Victoria’s 2001 autobiography, Learning To Fly, she appeared to partly blame Geri for her eating disorder.
“It was basically Geri’s fault I became anorexic,” she said. “Geri would say things like don’t put sauces on food, that low-fat things were just as good and I could try just not eating quite so much. It was Geri who introduced me to SlimFast, a milkshake drink that fills you up and stops you feeling hungry.”
And insiders say that while on the surface things are all smiles, the competition continues. We take a look at their highs and lows…
TV Wars
She was a judge on TV show Popstars: The Rivals and has made various other TV and film appearances over the years, including a cameo in Sex And The City. And last week, fans applauded Geri’s comeback to the small screen with her new YouTube series, Rainbow Woman, which she’s created and directed herself.
Following the first episode last week – in which the singer appears as iconic monarch Elizabeth 1 – one Twitter admirer lauded her talent, saying, “Your acting has improved massively, well done.” While another fan commented, “Proud of you!”
Meanwhile, Posh’s dabbles in the TV world have been met less favourably. The reality series Coming To America – which documented her family’s move to the US in 2007 – was poorly received, and critics have urged her to “stop exploiting her family” amid the news of husband David’s latest Netflix venture, in which she’s set to appear alongside their four children.
Insiders say Geri’s successful debut has made Posh even more determined to prove her critics wrong and ensure their show is a huge hit. The source says, “Victoria was a bit miffed when she found out Geri was back with her own show – especially since she’s created the whole thing herself. Vic is determined to turn the tide of criticism over her TV career, and friends wouldn’t be surprised if she’s eager to bask in the glory of getting one up on Geri.”
Perfecting domestic bliss
Posh has always been a fashionista, but the wannabe homemaker is reportedly set to launch a high-end baking range.
A source says, “Vic loved baking and cooking with David and the kids during lockdown. She’s trying to carve out new ways to relaunch her career and market herself as a domestic goddess, which she’s hoping will also contribute to a wholesome family image.”
In turn, since marrying Christian and having son Monty in 2017, Geri has been showing off her culinary skills on Instagram.
The source adds, “Geri feels Vic’s latest bid to portray herself as a homemaker isn’t very authentic and wonders if she should just stick to fashion.”
Check out: 28 celebs who look SHOCKINGLY different after plastic surgery
From Katie Price to Kim Kardashian, it's the most drastic plastic surgery faces - SLIDER with a cover pic
1 of 29From Katie Price to Kim Kardashian...
Have these celebs had a little help about the face? In our opinion, hell yes! Although some of them have been coy about whether they've had surgical attention to help with their striking looks. Take a look and decide for yourself if it's all down to good genes or...not.
2 of 29Sam Faiers
Since joining TOWIE back in 2010 it's safe to say Sam Faiers' look has changed over the years however the reality star has denied having any work done.Back in 2015, she spoke out about cosmetic surgery claims and wrote on Instagram: "A couple of weekly magazines have said I have had surgery, fillers & an EYE lift.. Yes apparently at 24 I have had an eye lift. "At fashion week I tried new looks with my makeup & now according to them I have had a face lift. "It's hurtful & not true!"So we've decided to leave these photos here; on the left she was 19 and on the right she's 27...
3 of 29Meg Ryan
Back in 1989 the fresh faced Meg Ryan appeared gorgeous however 20 years later and the actress almost looks unrecognisable. The When Harry Met Sally actress has never confirmed or denied having plastic surgery but she's previously said: "I love my age. I love my life right now. "I love the person I've become, the one I've evolved into."
4 of 29Kim Kardashian
She's arguably the biggest reality TV star in the world but over the years there's been a lot of speculation about plastic surgery she may have had done. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has previously confirmed she's had botox and her baby hairs lasered off. Although she's since revealed she regrets the laser, she wrote on her website: "My forehead had all these little baby hairs, and I would always break out because of them."Every photographer would Photoshop them out anyway, and I thought I looked better without the baby hairs, but now I miss them."
5 of 29Alicia Douvall
Her career kick started as a glamour model and she's since gone on to star in Celebrity Big Brother, alongside Katie Price and Katie Hopkins. However, Alicia Douvall's mainly known for having over 300 surgeries and spending an estimated £1million on it all.In an exclusive interview with Closer magazine, the reality star opened up about her toxic bum implants and has previously admitted she's had cheek and chin fillers and nose jobs.
6 of 29Lindsay Lohan
It's safe to say Lindsay Lohan looks VERY different nowadays compared to her fresh face back in 2003. The Mean Girls star revealed on Instagram that she's tried a non-surgical facial treatment however she hasn't spoken out about having any other plastic surgery.
7 of 29Amanda Bynes
She's The Man actress Amanda Bynes has had a rollercoaster of a ride in the spotlight. Before she was hospitalised for mental health evaluation and confirmed she was diagnosed with bi-polar and manic depressive disorder, she confirmed she had a nose job on Twitter.She wrote: "...I had a nose job to remove skin that was like a webbing in between my eyes. I wasn't going to tell anyone, but I look so much prettier in my new photos that I don't want old photos used anymore!"
8 of 29Lauren Goodger
Original TOWIE member Lauren Goodger has had a complete transformation over the years. Back in 2016, the reality star infamously removed her lip fillersafter having them for five years however she's since done a U-turn and got her lip fillers back. Lauren has also admitted to having a rhinoplasty to repair her broken nose, a boob job and liposuction. She has also slammed face fillers and pleaded with girls to stop having them.
9 of 29Tulisa Contostavlos
After shocking fans with her transformation, N-Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos has admitted she's altered her face. On the Jonathan Ross show, she explained: "To clarify, I haven't had surgery. Surgery is 'going under the knife,' breaking bones, adding stuff in."I simply just had cosmetic enhancement, it's just a little bit of filler which I put a little bit in my cheeks and in my lips."
10 of 29Heidi Montag
The Hills star Heidi Montag has been very open and honest about plastic surgery and admitted she's had a nose job, lip injections, neck liposuction, a mini brow lift, chin reduction, botox, fillers, a boob job and bum injections.Wowza!
11 of 29Donatella Versace
She's a fashion designer for one of the biggest brands in the world and over the years Donatella Versace's look has changed. Back in 2013, she admitted at the Vogue Festival that she has previously had work done."I'm not like this genetically. I use tonnes of cream and take care of my hair and skin."She added she has had Botox but "only on my face".
12 of 29Sharon Osbourne
X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne is another star who has admitted to having surgery, so much so that she even joked she's on her third face.Sharon has admitted she's had face lifts, Botox and nose jobs and in her autobiography Unbreakable, she said: "There's not much I haven't had tweaked, stretched, peeled, lasered, veneered, enhanced or removed altogether. "I don't think I'm as bad as some women - like Jocelyn 'Bride of' Wildenstein. But I won't be having any more cosmetic procedures."
13 of 29Katie Price
Katie Price is one celeb who has been VERY open and honest about having surgery done; people accused her of being on drugs after she posted a bizarre video about her facelift, she then said she needs to "sort out" her plastic surgery before her agent admitted her facelift "knocked her confidence". Over the years the former glamour model has had boob jobs, a nose job, veneers, a facelift, botox, liposuction, dermal fillers and non-surgical procedures that include dermal roller micro-needling treatment and a Geneo+ facial.Wowza!
14 of 29Kylie Jenner
One of the most dramatic celeb transformations is definitely Kylie Jenner. After months of speculation the KUWTK star finally admitted that she did get lip fillers when she was 17 because it was an "insecurity" of hers. However, surgeon Mark Ho-Asjoe told Closer that Kylie's face is out of proportion. He explained: "Kylie looks as though she's had too much filler in her cheeks, lips and above her eyebrows."As a result, her cheeks are now alarmingly wife and her eyes appear sunken. Her whole face appears out of proportion. She looks way beyond her years, maybe even a decade older."
15 of 29Khloe Kardashian
Another member of the Kardashian/Jenner clan who looks VERY different from when she first found fame is Khloe Kardashian. Khloe has never admitted to having lip fillers however they do appear much fuller compared to when she first graced our TV screens. The KUWTK star has admitted she's had face fillers; on the TV show Botched she explained: "It did not work for me. "I looked crazy, and I still think the effects are in there - I went to have it all dissolved like three times."She added: "My face was so f--ked I had to go and get this whole thing dissolved."It was a bummer and now I'm afraid to do it again. And I'm almost like, I swear things are still in my face."
16 of 29Kris Jenner
Kris Jenner - aka Momager - has always been open and honest about any surgery she's had done; so much so that she's documented it on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Over the years she's had a boob job, neck lift, a facelift earlobes cut and there's been a lot of speculation that she may have had a nose job and cheek fillers.
17 of 29Chloe Ferry
Geordie Shore star Chloe Ferry has openly admitted to having veneers, a nose job, teeth whitening, botox, eyebrow tattoos, chin fillers, lip fillers, cheek filler and a boob uplift. It hasn't all been easy though and in 2017 she admitted she 'couldn't breathe' after having an extreme nose job.
18 of 29Charlotte Crosby
Back in 2016, original Geordie Shore cast member Charlotte Crosby got a nose job and at the time she described it as "perfect".She's also had lip fillers, admitted she wouldn't rule out "more botox" in the future and had a boob job.
19 of 29Holly Hagan
Following in the footsteps of her former co-star Charlotte Crosby is Holly Hagan.Not only has she changed her hair colour but Holly has dropped from a size 16 to a size 10, got lip fillers, a boob job, botox, filler in her nose, filler in her chin anda 3-D bum lift.
20 of 29Sophie Kasaei
Another Geordie star who has admitted to having surgery is Sophie Kasaei. She revealed in an interview with The Sun that she's had, "a breast lift, implants and lip fillers". She's also had dermal fillers injected into her chin to define her jawline and remove the loose skin.
21 of 29Renée Zellweger
After a five-year break from movies no one could quite believe how different Renée Zellweger looked. However, the Bridget Jones star denied having any surgery in a letter written for Huffington Post.She wrote: "Not that it's anyone's business, but I did not make a decision to alter my face and have surgery on my eyes. "This fact is of no true import to anyone at all, but that the possibility alone was discussed among respected journalists and became a public conversation is a disconcerting illustration of news/entertainment confusion and society's fixation on physicality."
22 of 29Amy Childs
TOWIE's Amy Childs had admitted to having a boob job, botox, lip fillers and veneers. However in an interview with Closer magazine she admitted: "I'm not planning on getting anything else done and don't think I ever will because surgery has left me with so many problems."My boobs have drooped so much now and they're so heavy. I need to wear as push-up bra - nobody told me this before I had my boobs done."
23 of 29Lauren Pope
TOWIE star Lauren Pope looks VERY different from when she first graced our screens in 2010. The reality tv star has admitted she's had a boob job, botox and a 'his and hers' nose job she got alongside her then boyfriend Kirk Norcross.
24 of 29Chloe Sims
As well as having two boob jobs and a Brazilian bum lift, TOWIE's Chloe Sims has admitted to having veneers, Botox and filler. She told Now Magazine: "I've had Botox in my forehead. I've also had fillers around my mouth and in my lips and I've got a set of veneers."
25 of 29Bobby Norris
Last year TOWIE fans were shocked at Bobby Norris' face and while there was lots of speculation that he had plastic surgery, the reality star quickly shut down all the rumours. Sharing a video on Twitter, he explained that he's only had a nose job: "I can assure you, categorically that I've only had one septo-rhinoplasty on my nose."I've had no other surgeries - I'm just a little bit swollen. Sorry to disappoint guys but just the one surgery and I love it."
26 of 29Courteney Cox
Friends star Courteney Cox surprised everyone in 2016 with her new err, look. The actress looked miles different and has since admitted to removing the filler in her face. She told New Beauty: "I've had all my fillers dissolved. I'm as natural as I can be. I feel better because I look like myself. I think that I now look more like the person I was."I've had to learn to embrace movement and realise that fillers are not my friend."
27 of 29Georgia Kousoulou
TOWIE's Georgia Kousoulou is another reality star whose face looks very different from when she first graced our screens. The TV star has admitted to having a nose job, lip fillers and a boob job.
28 of 29Chloe Khan
X Factor turned Celebrity Big Brother star Chloe Khan has definitely changed over the years.The reality star has had chin filler to get rid of her dimple, two boob jobs, veneers, a Brazilian bum lift, a nose job and we can't forget the time she got her lips done but the surgery went terribly wrong.Eek!Speaking about the cosmetic surgery she has had, Chloe told Closer magazine: "I understand surgery's not for everyone, but I look a million times better after this [bum lift] procedure."I really don't care what people think."
29 of 29Ferne McCann
After being bullied at school for her nose, former TOWIE star Ferne McCann got a nose job in 2016 and showed it off on TV.Despite fans thinking she had lip fillers while she was pregnant, Ferne's previously told Closer magazine she won't have Botox or face fillers."Everyone thinks surgery is a slippery slope and that you get addicted but, for me, my nose job was the only thing I wanted to get done."I don't know what else I would have done, even if I wanted it," she told the magazine.She added: "I'm 26 and I think Botox and fillers actually make you look older. I like expression on a face."
Vying for royal connections
She’s attended Princes William and Harry’s star-studded weddings, forging close friendships with their wives, in particular Meghan Markle.
And insiders say Victoria would love her and David’s nine-year-old daughter Harper – who celebrated her sixth birthday with a tea party at Buckingham Palace – to become a real-life princess.
A source says, “Vic loves the royals. It’s her dream to become part of the family one day. She always jokes that despite Prince George being a couple of years younger than Harper, she’d love for her to marry him.”
Meanwhile, Geri has carved out a friendship with Harry. She attended the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi with him in 2014 and has cheered him on at a number of his polo matches over the years.
Earlier this year, mum-of-two Geri was named Ambassador of the Commonwealth Society, which the Queen is patron of.
The source says, “Becoming an ambassador is a dream come true. She’s also hoping she can visit Harry and Meghan once the lockdown is lifted, and let Vic know she isn’t the only Spice Girl who’s friends with the world’s most famous couple!”
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Competing to be queen of the country set
As their families grew, the former city girls have both moved to the country, where they spend the majority of their time. Earlier this year, Geri said she felt more “content” than ever since leaving her wild partying days behind for rural life on her Cotswold estate and farm. “The word I’d use to describe where I am in my life is ‘content’. Before, I was always looking for perfection: an ultimate state of floaty happiness, but that’s not reality,” she said. “With age has come a gratitude for what I have and a better perspective on what’s important.”
Meanwhile, Posh is said to have been ruffling the feathers of her Cotswold neighbours over recent months, amid plans for a string of renovations to the family’s £6 million mansion, which will reportedly create months of disruption to locals. The source says, “Like Geri, Vic has been working hard to integrate into village life in an effort to become an established fellow country-woman. Seeing Geri take so easily to country life, while she’s had issues with her rural neighbours, could wind up Vic.”
Get the best celeb interviews in Closer magazine each week.