Asked by the mag how he felt about his status as the "gayest straight man in Britain and the blackest white man," Beckham responds: "I like that. When someone said that about me, it made me laugh and I was quite proud of it."

"When people talk to me about being a gay icon I think of it as a great honor. To have that kind of effect on so many people around the world, I was honored."

Beckham also talks about his love for fashion, saying: "I've always been into clothes and fashion. It wasn't a vain thing, it's just that I love looking smart. I don't do things for people to latch on to. If I see something I like I wear it no matter what I think people are going to say about me."

Speaking about his Giorgio Armani underwear ads, Beckham denies the rumors that digital manipulation of his famous bulge took place:

"I would never have asked them to change anything, I was a bit apprehensive, and at the shoot I started getting nervous because I've never done pictures in my underwear before.

"It was a question of trying to find a good position that wasn't too much."

Last update: 11-03-2008 17:13