Why Harper Beckham’s new beauty brand could ‘risk’ teenage identity

Harper Beckham seems set to follow in her mother’s entrepreneurial footsteps as she hints at the launch of a makeup line, all on her own. 

The 14-year-old daughter of ex-footballing legend David Beckham, 50, and his former Spice Girl wife, Victoria, 51, has reportedly trademarked a beauty brand last year, separate from her mum’s own range, Victoria Beckham Beauty. 

She has called it HIKU by Harper, and was joined on set by her parents in London last week, according to The Sun. The publication suggested the range would be targeted at Gen Z and Gen Alpha and would be inspired by South Korean cosmetics. 

Not the first Beckham child to dabble in entrepreneurship, if Harper launches a product line, she’ll follow her estranged eldest brother, Brooklyn, 27, as he continues to work on promoting his hot sauce brand, Cloud23. 

But is owning a business really the right next step for the young teenager, or would it impact her sense of identity before she has even had time to nurture it in the first place? HELLO! asked a child psychologist to weigh in on Harper’s makeup move.

How will owning a business shape Harper’s future identity? 

Going through puberty and adolescence may not have been everyone’s favourite time when they reflect on the past; however, those teenage years were vital in informing us all who we wanted to be as adults, what we liked and what we didn’t like about the human experience. 

For Harper, if she becomes an adult too quickly, with mounting pressure placed on her to succeed, how will she be able to learn and make mistakes the same way the rest of us did? 

HCPC-registered Senior Education and Child Psychologist Dr Sasha Hall, who has over 15 years of experience, told HELLO!: “Experiences during adolescence can play an important role in shaping confidence, identity and future aspirations. 

“If a young person is involved in building a brand or business in a supportive environment, it can provide valuable opportunities to develop communication skills, resilience and a sense of agency. It could also function as a kind of early apprenticeship, offering exposure to creative thinking, teamwork and decision making.”

She continued: “At the same time, adolescence is usually a period when young people have space to experiment with different interests and change their minds about who they want to become. 

“When a young person’s identity becomes connected to a public brand at an early age, it is important that they still feel free to step away from that path if their interests evolve. The key factor is balance. 

“If the business becomes the dominant feature of their teenage years, there is a greater risk that it narrows the range of experiences that usually help young people discover who they are.”

‘Nepo-baby’ responsibilities

For the average teenager, the thought of launching a public-facing product would be unimaginable. The pressure and attention associated with such a thing, especially if it is received negatively, could cause a sense of self-doubt in a young person.

For someone like Harper, who has been in the public eye since her birth, she could potentially be more equipped than anyone to become the face of a brand. 

Dr Sasha added: “Children in families such as those of Victoria Beckham and David Beckham are likely to have access to significant resources and professional support networks. 

“This might include experienced advisers, media teams and adults who understand how public scrutiny works, which can help buffer some of the challenges that come with public attention.”

She continued: “At the same time, being in the public eye means that achievements, mistakes and everyday experiences can be observed and commented on by a much wider audience. 

“When that feedback comes from large audiences or through social media platforms, it can sometimes feel more intense than the kinds of social challenges most young people experience.

“Some young people who grow up in the public eye may develop resilience through exposure to these environments, particularly if they have supportive adults around them. However, the level of scrutiny can still place additional emotional pressure on a developing adolescent.” 

What are the main risks associated with Harper’s jump into entrepreneurship?

While other famous teenagers, such as Kylie Jenner, paved the way for Harper to make it in the beauty world as a teenager, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is a risk-free venture that will pay off. 

“The main risks associated with early entrepreneurship often relate to pressure, public scrutiny and the possibility that a young person’s sense of identity becomes closely tied to success or failure within the business,” the psychologist explained. 

She went on to say: “Adolescents benefit from having space to make mistakes privately and to explore different paths without feeling that they must commit to a single identity too early.

“For that reason, it is important that any young person involved in a project like this continues to have balance in their life. That includes time for education, friendships, rest and activities that are simply enjoyable rather than achievement-focused. 

“It also requires adults around them to remain reflective and attentive to how the young person is coping emotionally. If a teenager begins to show signs that the demands are becoming overwhelming, it is important that expectations can be adjusted and that the young person feels able to step back if needed.”

Dr Sasha concluded: “Handled carefully and with strong support systems, ambitious opportunities can be positive experiences. The key is ensuring that the young person’s wellbeing, autonomy and freedom to change direction remain at the centre of decisions made around them.”