SHE is famous for her super-skinny frame, sulky pout and huge shopping bills.

But VICTORIA BECKHAM insists she has ditched her old ways and is carving out a happier, healthier life since moving to Los Angeles.

These days the 34-year-old mum of three eats carbs, has given up shopping and has even started to smile.

It is just over a year since Victoria moved to Hollywood with hubby DAVID and their sons BROOKLYN, nine, ROMEO, six, and three-year-old CRUZ.

During a miserable few years in Spain while David played football there, she was lonely, bored, homesick and under siege amid rumours of a crumbling marriage.

Victoria knew moving to LA could be a huge gamble.

But here, in a world exclusive interview, she reveals why the risk paid off and why she is feeling content, confident and proud of her booming fashion empire.

“There was a time when I did get battered quite badly,” she says. “It felt like I couldn’t do anything right, so I didn’t go anywhere.

“I worked hard, kept my head down, looked after the kids, looked after David and quietly got on with my fashion work.

“And now, sitting here today, I feel so proud of what I’ve achieved.

“I’ve just got back from New York Fashion Week where the dresses I’ve designed got really positive feedback.

“The response has been absolutely mindblowing, I couldn’t have asked for more. "

Proud

“And we’ve just had some great news from our fragrance business — it’s now worth £109million at retail, and we haven’t even scratched the surface in America with that yet — that’s not including my jeans or sunglasses range.

“So things are really positive for me and I feel so content. I feel proud of myself because I’ve worked for it and, let’s face it, I don’t have to.”

And she jokes: “I’m so content I’ve even been smiling a bit these days.”

Victoria and I were talking over lunch at the exclusive Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where the rich and famous rub shoulders.

Victoria says: “You know, I could just go shopping every day and sit on my bum.

“I could do what half these people do in here — sit and have lunch and go shopping — but I’d be so bored. I don’t even go shopping any more.”

Victoria’s life has changed dramatically in the past year.

Before moving to LA, she infamously never set foot in a gym and went hungry pretty much every day in a bid to stay slim.

But now the former SPICE GIRL is pounding the treadmill, running four miles every day, and has built up such a healthy appetite she even allows herself carbohydrate-loaded toast for breakfast.

“I run four miles, seven days a week,” she explains. “I feel energised and healthy — there are really nice gyms here and I just enjoy it. I need that self-discipline to get up in the morning, drop the kids off at school then go to the gym. I can think properly then go home and do some work. But I do feel so much better.

“David puts music on my iPod and Gordon Ramsay bought me trainers where you have a little chip so you can clock how far you’re running.”

And does she have a bigger appetite?

“Yes, I am eating more. I think you do eat more when you’re working out. And you want to eat healthily, so it’s good all round.”

For the record, lunch when we met was grilled fish, salad with balsamic dressing (on the side) and water, followed by peppermint tea.

There was a story recently in a downmarket mag which said the secret to Victoria’s slender frame was diet pills.

She was so furious she launched a legal action against the magazine and cannot wait for her day in court. She said: “It’s such an irresponsible thing for someone to say.

“Lots of young girls do look up to me, and I just think it’s ludicrous that they can completely make something like that up. You have to take these things really seriously.

“There are young girls out there who will think it’s cool to take slimming tablets. Things like that are dangerous and we were furious with it.”

Victoria caused shockwaves at NY Fashion Week when she turned up with her trendy new spikey haircut — nicknamed the Pop — yet she insists it wasn’t her idea. She just let the hairdresser loose.

She adds: “I do love it, and it’s easy to manage and David likes it so that’s all that matters. I wasn’t trying to copy anyone like AUDREY HEPBURN or MIA FARROW.

“I just told the hairdresser to use his imagination.”

The Beckhams moved to LA with a five-year plan for David to try to make America fall in love with football. And while his team, LA Galaxy, may be languishing at the lower end of the league, ticket sales have soared and he is a huge star.

But it is not all about David these days. Mrs Beckham — who cheered him on at a game on Saturday with her family and pal EVA LONGORIA — is fabulously wealthy in her own right, thanks to her range of perfumes, jeans and sunglasses.

And she is the astute businesswoman behind the Brand Beckham empire. She says she’d never “do a Sting” and not notice if £6million vanished from their accounts.

She explains: “I was on the dole once and I remember what it’s like to watch how you spend your money.

“I know everything that goes in and out of our accounts. I’d like to think I’m a good businesswoman, I’m learning a lot along the way. David definitely spends much more money than I do.

“I don’t really go shopping any more — apart from the flea market I go to every Sunday. You can get some amazing vintage stuff there.

“That’s often where I get inspiration for my designs.”

Victoria and David are just about to launch their new his-and-hers Signature fragrances in America together — the first time they have done such a promotion together — and, judging by their success with the business globally so far, they are bound to be a huge hit.

Cops in New York are to close the street where the launch is being held at Macy’s store on Friday in anticipation of hordes of fans turning up.

Victoria says: “I can genuinely say I’m content and happy at the moment.

“I don’t really give a sh*t what people think about me. I’m more grown up now and I’ve learned not to care so much what people say.

“It feels fantastic that everything I’ve worked so hard for over the past five years is coming together.

“I’ve been on the covers of Vogue, I’m respected in the fashion industry, and ANNA WINTOUR (the legendary Vogue editor) takes my calls.”

No wonder Victoria has finally found something to smile about.

Victoria and David’s Signature fragrance is available at Harvey Nichols and other major stockists.

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