BROOKLYN PELTZ BECKHAM: BREAKING THE MOLD AND BRINGING THE HEAT

by Jessica Ferguson

Art Director: Matthew Ellenberger // Photographer: Jack Waterlot // Stylist: Heathermary Jackson // Stylist Assistants: Abby McDade & Michael Kamalani // Groomer: Scott McMahon // Nail Artist: Mamie Onishi // 1st Photography Assistant: Saul Barrera // 2nd Photography Assistant: Tom Miller // Videographer: Ali Imam // Set Designer: Gerard Santos

Brooklyn Peltz Beckham is on a mission to spice up our lives.

Having grown up in some of the top kitchens, elite events, and culinary destinations on the planet, Brooklyn has long experienced the world and its cultures through the lens of food — and through the kind of community good food can gather. Known to some as the eldest son of global icons David and Victoria Beckham, and to others as one half of a high-profile marriage with his muse, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Brooklyn is no stranger to the spotlight as a tastemaker, fashion world fixture, model, and budding entrepreneur.

And yet, even he couldn’t have predicted that he’d become a successful condiment connoisseur who’s equally as passionate about pepper mash and wood finishings as he is about his personal style, creative influences, and bringing his hot sauce to every single kitchen in the world.

We had the chance to sit down with Brooklyn soon after his company’s launch and were immediately delighted by the bright, inviting way he dug into each question with a refreshingly grounded earnestness — in stark contrast to the heady, haunting energy he brought to the Manhattan photoshoot just days prior.

Each of his responses are lightly peppered with the kinds of “thank you(s)” and “yes, please(s)” that carry the shape of a sly smile, and his core belief in always treating others with kindness and humility is evident before he ever acknowledges that ethos.

Brooklyn’s unconventional upbringing across Madrid, Milan, the UK, and Los Angeles introduced him at a young age to a variety of cuisines, cultures, and, crucially, the inarguable power food has in creating connections. He nurtured this passion quietly for most of his life, testing out recipes for his loved ones and competing in cook-offs with his dad.

It wasn’t until the international pause of the pandemic, however, that Brooklyn’s culinary curiosities crystalized into entrepreneurial hunger.

Enter Cloud23 — a painstakingly-developed, good-for-you luxury hot sauce line that he’s poured himself into every day for the past three years.

The company’s red hot launch and bright future mark a significant chapter of reinvention, self-actualization, and creative fulfillment in the young businessman’s life.

For the 25-year-old, this venture is more than a passion product. It is the result of years of dedication, a generational draw to the culinary arts, and an unyielding commitment to quality.

“I just wanted to create what I considered to be the perfect condiment,” he emphasizes. “Something that could stand on its own — a product that people would choose for the sum of its parts, not because my name is on it.”

In typical Brooklyn fashion, he largely credits his wife as the nucleus of the idea, after she encouraged him during lockdown to marry his lifelong love for cooking with his desire to produce something uniquely his own. He remembers the nights they spent together at home testing out the recipes fondly, laughing at the way their eyes stung from the pepper aroma as it hung thick in the air of their kitchen.

“Nicola’s my biggest inspiration,” Brooklyn acknowledges warmly. “And none of this would exist without her encouragement. She saw that this wasn’t just a hobby for me — it was something deeper worth pursuing.”

With this shared vision and a renewed entrepreneurial energy, Brooklyn thrust himself into a multi-year, labor-intensive journey through the nuances of organic ingredient sourcing, co-packing logistics, product iteration, and more.

After all, Cloud23 was never meant to be just another celebrity-branded product or passing food fad — it has from the start been a work of careful craftsmanship.

In today’s society, where we see so many people in the public eye spin up white-labeled products and release ghostwritten books, it’s become easier than ever to just slap a famous name on something without having to actually be involved closely in the development of it. But for Brooklyn, it was in each tiny detail that he found the most fulfillment along the way.

He didn’t just put his signature on the bottle; he designed every single element, from the make of the wood for the cap to the beveled edges of the glass to the feel of the label — an aspect informed by his lifelong fascination with tactile aesthetics and elegant tattoo artwork.

“The first thing you see on the shelf is the look of the bottle, and I wanted it to look as good as what’s inside of it,” he notes.

His insistence on originality, sophistication, and the best possible ingredients paid off, landing Cloud23 an impressive six-month exclusive placement with Whole Foods — while also landing it regularly on the social media feeds and food blogs of some of the globe’s most prominent chefs and influencers.

At first, though, he had to fight to actualize his vision. When he recalls the skepticism he encountered early on, he chuckles light-heartedly. “When I started, everyone told me, ‘You can’t make a bespoke bottle. It’s going to cost too much. Stick with a normal design,’” he remembers, his tone determined. “But I had a clear vision, and I was brought up to never give up on anything that I’ve ever worked on.”

The process of naming the brand was also an act of tender intentionality.

“23 is my lucky number,” he explains. “It’s always been important to my family. It’s the day I proposed to Nicola, it’s the age I got married. It’s woven into the very best parts of my life.”

Brooklyn’s foray into the culinary world hasn’t been without challenges. Navigating the complexities of food production, ingredient sourcing, and packaging has a steep learning curve that required him to adopt a beginner’s mindset and a thirst to grow.

“I had a lot to learn about how the whole condiment space works,” he laughs, with a humble self-awareness.

“But I was lucky to build an amazing team around me that shares the same vision and passion I have for it. Together, we created something both real and substantial." – organic, gluten-free, kosher, non-GMO, delicious, and a beautiful addition to any table.

Despite his early success, Brooklyn still remains grounded in lessons from his family, whom he speaks of with deep respect and admiration. Being raised in the public eye at the height of the tabloid-fueled paparazzi frenzy, he learned early on to block out the noise, put his head down, and focus on what truly matters.

“My mum and dad always reminded me that there will always be people who choose to say not-great things, and I think that really stuck with me,” he reveals. 

“I’m so used to it by now, and I think I actually kind of like it, because it makes me want to work harder and prove them all wrong.”

He emphasizes care for others, humility, and determination as personal philosophies, recalling his parents’ constant support, companionship, and wisdom about never giving up on anything he takes on in life. “I was taught that if a bump in the road arises, you just find a different way to attack it,” he shares. “I’ve learned that there’s multiple ways to get something done, and I’m still learning every day.”

In Brooklyn’s own words, Cloud23 is just the beginning.

He has plans for an entire luxury condiment line with additional products already in development — alongside a growing line of meticulously designed merchandise that blends his love for fashion with his passion for food — and is energized by his commitment to creating something he can one day share with his own children.

Before we wrap our interview, he offers some simple, understated advice to other young dreamers and creatives looking to build something of their own: “Find who and what makes you happy, treat people well, work your ass off, stay humble, and have some fun.”


This is the cover story for tmrw #50. The collectible print edition features an extended Q&A with Brooklyn, as well as additional photography from Jack Waterlot. tmrw #50 is on sale now.