Rebecca Loos
Encyclopedia
Rebecca Loos is a Spanish
-born Anglo
-Dutch
model
and media personality, who was brought to media attention following claims that she conducted an affair
with the married football player David Beckham
—while employed as his personal assistant
. These allegations made her into a media personality, and she has since appeared on several reality television
series, magazine covers and in other media.
, Spain
, but has Dutch citizenship. Her father was Leonard Loos Bartholdi, a Dutch
diplomat, and her mother, Elizabeth Loos, is originally from Surrey
, England
. Growing up, she was privately educated at Runnymede College
in Madrid. After moving back to Madrid in 2002, Loos worked for an American investment bank. She is a second cousin of Piers Morgan
.
When the former England
football captain David Beckham moved to Real Madrid
, Loos became his personal assistant during the transition period, alongside SFX agent and the former Australian international footballer Andy Bernal
, who spoke Spanish fluently.
Beckham and Loos worked closely together both professionally and socially, and Loos claimed that she became an "alternative wife." Victoria Beckham
was initially not happy in Madrid and wanted to develop her UK music career, so she spent much of her time in England. Loos claimed this resulted in Beckham becoming bored, leading them to spend almost all their time together socially, and a four-month affair was the alleged result. Victoria Beckham was recently quoted in W magazine saying the alleged affair only made their marriage stronger.
In April 2004, British
tabloid newspaper The News of the World published a story claiming that Loos and Beckham had an affair.
Shortly after the newspaper coverage of her relationship with Beckham, Loos came out
publicly as bisexual, saying "I am indeed bisexual and have been ever since I was a teenager."
In 2005, to protest against America's laws on gay marriage, Loos married American fashion model Jenny Shimizu
for the television program Power Lesbian
UK. It was broadcast in the United States as Power Lesbians on LOGO
which profiled successful lesbians in Los Angeles. The two had a relationship for a period thereafter.
On 17 July 2009 in Oslo
, Loos gave birth to a son, Magnus Leon Loos Skaiaa. The father is Norwegian doctor Sven Christjar Skaiaa.
On her homepage, Rebecca writes: "We have named our beautiful son Magnus Leon Loos Skaiaa. He was born in Oslo in the early hours of 17 July weighing 3.3 kilos. As is well we are home and enjoying every minute of this new little person in our lives."
Rebecca moved to Norway in 2009 and still lives there with her partner, son and their two dogs.
singer Gerard Joling
who represented the Netherlands in 1988.)
In October 2004, she appeared on the reality television programme The Farm
, a Channel 5 version of the RTE show Celebrity Farm
, in the course of which she masturbated a boar to collect its semen. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
accused producers of pandering to a “morbid and sordid fascination with farm animals” while PETA
and Mediawatch-uk
demanded the show be taken off the air.
In 2005, Loos appeared on the ITV
network "reality" TV show Celebrity Love Island.
In 2006, she played for the England Women's soccer football
team in a Sky TV
charity event. In April of the same year, Loos ran in the London Marathon
, and raised over £7000 in sponsorship for the British Red Cross
, and later in May appeared in The X Factor: Battle of the Stars
along with James Hewitt
– in which she famously received a negative reception from one of the judges, Sharon Osbourne
and the show's audience alike.
In 2007 Loos was a contestant in the new season of the Spanish version of Survivor
in which she came third. In November 2007 she appeared in Sky TV's Cirque de Celebrite
in which she was one of two new contestants introduced mid-way through the series.
In 2008, Loos was a guest hostess on The Podge and Rodge Show
.
In September 2008, she had a part in Dutch feature film called Mijn vader is een Detective. In October she took part in the Dutch version of 71 Graden Noord filmed in Norway.
Loos has featured on the cover of Playboy, FHM, Nuts, Zoo and other men's magazines.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
-born Anglo
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
-Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
and media personality, who was brought to media attention following claims that she conducted an affair
Affair
Affair may refer to professional, personal, or public business matters or to a particular business or private activity of a temporary duration, as in family affair, a private affair, or a romantic affair.-Political affair:...
with the married football player David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
—while employed as his personal assistant
Personal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
. These allegations made her into a media personality, and she has since appeared on several reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series, magazine covers and in other media.
Personal life
Loos was born in MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, but has Dutch citizenship. Her father was Leonard Loos Bartholdi, a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
diplomat, and her mother, Elizabeth Loos, is originally from Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Growing up, she was privately educated at Runnymede College
Runnymede College
Runnymede College is a co-educational private school located in La Moraleja, Madrid, Spain. It is the oldest British independent school in Spain....
in Madrid. After moving back to Madrid in 2002, Loos worked for an American investment bank. She is a second cousin of Piers Morgan
Piers Morgan
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan , known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children....
.
When the former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
football captain David Beckham moved to Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, Loos became his personal assistant during the transition period, alongside SFX agent and the former Australian international footballer Andy Bernal
Andy Bernal
Andrew Bernal is a former professional football defender, and later football agent and personal assistant for David Beckham.-Club career:...
, who spoke Spanish fluently.
Beckham and Loos worked closely together both professionally and socially, and Loos claimed that she became an "alternative wife." Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Caroline Beckham is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops...
was initially not happy in Madrid and wanted to develop her UK music career, so she spent much of her time in England. Loos claimed this resulted in Beckham becoming bored, leading them to spend almost all their time together socially, and a four-month affair was the alleged result. Victoria Beckham was recently quoted in W magazine saying the alleged affair only made their marriage stronger.
In April 2004, British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
tabloid newspaper The News of the World published a story claiming that Loos and Beckham had an affair.
Shortly after the newspaper coverage of her relationship with Beckham, Loos came out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
publicly as bisexual, saying "I am indeed bisexual and have been ever since I was a teenager."
In 2005, to protest against America's laws on gay marriage, Loos married American fashion model Jenny Shimizu
Jenny Shimizu
Jenny Lynn Shimizu is an American model and actress. She was born in San Jose, California.- Career :While working as a mechanic she was approached to model for the Calvin Klein CK1 fragrance ads and model Calvin Klein fashions...
for the television program Power Lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
UK. It was broadcast in the United States as Power Lesbians on LOGO
Logo (TV channel)
Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
which profiled successful lesbians in Los Angeles. The two had a relationship for a period thereafter.
On 17 July 2009 in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Loos gave birth to a son, Magnus Leon Loos Skaiaa. The father is Norwegian doctor Sven Christjar Skaiaa.
On her homepage, Rebecca writes: "We have named our beautiful son Magnus Leon Loos Skaiaa. He was born in Oslo in the early hours of 17 July weighing 3.3 kilos. As is well we are home and enjoying every minute of this new little person in our lives."
Rebecca moved to Norway in 2009 and still lives there with her partner, son and their two dogs.
Career
In 2004, Loos briefly was a hostess on the Dutch TV program Shownieuws (along with the former Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
singer Gerard Joling
Gerard Joling
Gerard Jan Joling is a Dutch singer and television presenter. Known for his high tenor voice, he rose to fame in the late 80's and released a string of singles including "Ticket to the Tropics", "Love is in your Eyes", and his biggest hit, "No more boleros", a song that reached the top 10 in...
who represented the Netherlands in 1988.)
In October 2004, she appeared on the reality television programme The Farm
The Farm (UK TV series)
The Farm is Five's version of the international TV format The Farm, produced by Strix. It had a number of celebrities appearing on it.-Series one:Series one aired in 2004 and was presented and narrated by Ed Hall...
, a Channel 5 version of the RTE show Celebrity Farm
Celebrity Farm
Celebrity Farm was a 2003 Radio Telefís Éireann reality television show, based on the international TV format The Farm, produced by Strix. Held along similar lines as I'm a Celebrity.....
, in the course of which she masturbated a boar to collect its semen. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a charity in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. In 2009 the RSPCA investigated 141,280 cruelty complaints and collected and rescued 135,293 animals...
accused producers of pandering to a “morbid and sordid fascination with farm animals” while PETA
Peta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
and Mediawatch-uk
Mediawatch-uk
Mediawatch-uk, formerly known as the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, is a pressure group in the United Kingdom, which campaigns against the publication and broadcast of media content that it views as harmful and offensive, such as violence, profanity, sex, homosexuality and...
demanded the show be taken off the air.
In 2005, Loos appeared on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network "reality" TV show Celebrity Love Island.
In 2006, she played for the England Women's soccer football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team in a Sky TV
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
charity event. In April of the same year, Loos ran in the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
, and raised over £7000 in sponsorship for the British Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
, and later in May appeared in The X Factor: Battle of the Stars
The X Factor: Battle of the Stars
The X Factor: Battle of the Stars was a UK celebrity special edition of The X Factor, which screened on ITV, started on 29 May 2006 and lasting for eight consecutive nights...
along with James Hewitt
James Hewitt
James Hewitt is a former British household cavalry officer in the British Army. He had an affair with Diana, Princess of Wales for five years, receiving extensive media coverage after revealing details of the affair.-Early life:...
– in which she famously received a negative reception from one of the judges, Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Rachel Osbourne is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne....
and the show's audience alike.
In 2007 Loos was a contestant in the new season of the Spanish version of Survivor
Survivor (TV series)
Survivor is a reality television game show format produced in many countries throughout the world. In the show, contestants are isolated in the wilderness and compete for cash and other prizes. The show uses a system of progressive elimination, allowing the contestants to vote off other tribe...
in which she came third. In November 2007 she appeared in Sky TV's Cirque de Celebrite
Cirque de Celebrité
Cirque de Celebrité was a celebrity reality TV show broadcast on Sky One. The show features celebrities training for and then performing various circus acts. The winner of the 2006 series was Grace Adams-Short....
in which she was one of two new contestants introduced mid-way through the series.
In 2008, Loos was a guest hostess on The Podge and Rodge Show
The Podge and Rodge Show
The Podge and Rodge Show is an Irish chat show, broadcast and produced by RTÉ, featuring the popular Podge and Rodge as hosts...
.
In September 2008, she had a part in Dutch feature film called Mijn vader is een Detective. In October she took part in the Dutch version of 71 Graden Noord filmed in Norway.
Loos has featured on the cover of Playboy, FHM, Nuts, Zoo and other men's magazines.
Major media appearances
- 2004 – Hostess on a Dutch television with Gerard Joling
- October 2004 – Participant on The Farm.
- 2004 – Extreme Celebrity DetoxExtreme Celebrity DetoxExtreme Celebrity Detox was a Channel 4 reality television programme in which 15 British celebrities were sent to try a range of detox programmes, which aimed to enhance inner peace....
for Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. - February-April 2005 (on screen) – Dream TeamDream Team (TV series)Dream Team is a British television series produced by Hewland International which aired on Sky1 and Sky3 from 1997 to 2007; it chronicled the on-field and off-field affairs of the fictional Harchester United Football Club....
, a Sky football-based TV series. Recurring role of Naomi Wyatt, a Sports-Psychologist. - Summer, 2005 – Participant on the ITVITVITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
reality show Celebrity Love Island - Autumn, 2005 – Hostess of the TV documentary Power Lesbian UK for the Logo (TV channel)Logo (TV channel)Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
- January 2006 – Celebrity model in the Dutch edition of PlayboyPlayboyPlayboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine. - April 2006 – Participant in the Belgian/Dutch version of the reality show Temptation Island.
- April 2006 – England team member in Sky1's Celebrity World Cup Soccer Tournament (losing 2–1 vs. Brazil in the final).
- May 2006 – Contestant in The X Factor: Battle of the StarsThe X Factor: Battle of the StarsThe X Factor: Battle of the Stars was a UK celebrity special edition of The X Factor, which screened on ITV, started on 29 May 2006 and lasting for eight consecutive nights...
celebrity show, singing along with James HewittJames HewittJames Hewitt is a former British household cavalry officer in the British Army. He had an affair with Diana, Princess of Wales for five years, receiving extensive media coverage after revealing details of the affair.-Early life:...
. - February 2007 – Appeared on New Zealand's reality TV show Treasure Island: Pirates Of The Pacific.
- May 2007 – Contestant on the Spanish version of SurvivorSurvivor (TV series)Survivor is a reality television game show format produced in many countries throughout the world. In the show, contestants are isolated in the wilderness and compete for cash and other prizes. The show uses a system of progressive elimination, allowing the contestants to vote off other tribe...
. She came third. - November 2007 – Contestant on Sky TV's Cirque de CelebriteCirque de CelebritéCirque de Celebrité was a celebrity reality TV show broadcast on Sky One. The show features celebrities training for and then performing various circus acts. The winner of the 2006 series was Grace Adams-Short....
. Voted out by the public after just a week. - 8–9 December 2008 – Guest host of television's The Podge and Rodge ShowThe Podge and Rodge ShowThe Podge and Rodge Show is an Irish chat show, broadcast and produced by RTÉ, featuring the popular Podge and Rodge as hosts...
.