‘Being a David Beckham lookalike nearly destroyed me’

People started telling me | looked like the Manchester United and England midfielder when | was 18 years old and cleaning cars at a car wash in Eastbourne.

- The Independent

A hairdresser friend, who loved him, told me excitedly that David Beckham had dyed his hair blonde and she dyed mine. When | looked in the mirror, | could see | looked like him. | had the same smile, even his mannerisms. But it was more than just looking like him; | even had his traits. | had played football in the same position as Beckham for Eastbourne United.

So | sent my photos to a well-known lookalike agency — and started getting bookings to parties and events, even kids’ parties. | became a full-time David Beckham lookalike in 1988 and it was all-consuming for 20 years. Early on, | met a girl called Camila who'd come to a local fashion show that | was modelling in, and she came up to me and said: “Quite a few people say | look like Victoria.” I didn't see it straight away because her hair was long, but when we met again a few days later, and started dating, I noticed her resemblance was striking.