DRINKS with the girls, a chic dinner or cosy night away with a loved one.
They’re all potential ways the majority of people would choose to celebrate their birthday.
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Nicola Peltz celebrated her upcoming 31st birthday with a ballerina-themed partyCredit: TikTok/@nicolapeltzbeckham
She was seen clinging to dad Nelson as she prepared to blow the candles out on her cakeCredit: TikTok/@nicolapeltzbeckham
She dressed in a cute pink top with jeans for the occasionCredit: TikTok/@nicolapeltzbeckham
And the ballerina cake completed the party that would be one on any “five-year-old’s wish list”Credit: TikTok/@nicolapeltzbeckham
But Nicola Peltz isn’t the majority of people.
So when it came to marking her 31st birthday, which she will officially celebrate on January 9, the model decided to go all out with a ballerina-themed party.
Nicola documented the special occasion in a video on her TikTok page, as she was seen sharing a kiss with husband Brooklyn Beckham, and smiling widely as her nearest and dearest – including her dad Nelson – sang happy birthday to her.
Noticeably absent from the occasion were any of Brooklyn’s relatives, amid an ongoing feud between the 26-year-old and his family – which kicked off when the couple snubbed his dad David’s 50th birthday celebrations.
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Nicola appears to enjoy the life of a Disney princess, surrounded by a protective air bag of unconditional love
Judi James
While Nicola used the TikTok to share a closer look at her cake, which had a ballerina in a tutu perched on the top, and the party decor, the video also served as proof of the “childlike behaviour” she’s been exhibiting throughout the feud, according to body language expert Judi James.
“The parental struggle might be Brooklyn’s, but Nicola’s recent narrative as his wife suggests a love of childlike behaviours,” Judi told The Sun.
“Her ‘ballerina’ birthday party looked like one on every five-year-old’s wish list.”
Pretty in pink
Nicola dressed in a frilly pink outfit for her big day, and her body language was “equally cute”, Judi added.
“She even crouched down to enable herself to experience the party from through a small child’s eyes – her signals of excitement and pleasure were undiluted by any desire to act like a sophisticated, married grown-up,” she said.
Nicola also looked to be loving every second of being doted on by her dad at the party – “crouching next to him for the video and registering her excitement about the cake”.
“A quick camera pan of the table showed a large group of people all applauding Nicola in an act of affection and approval,” Judi mused.
“She was made to look like the indulged child of the family, adored by all and very much the centre of attention.
“Nicola also described it as the ‘best birthday yet’, suggesting that being the total attention of her husband and her father is the reward she’s been seeking.”
The Beckham Family Feud
- April 2022: Brooklyn marries Nicola Peltz.
- Wedding Dress Controversy: Rumours begin circulating that there’s tension between Nicola and Victoria Beckham after Nicola chooses not to wear a Victoria Beckham-designed wedding gown. Nicola later clarifies in August 2022 (and again in March 2023) that Victoria’s atelier couldn’t make the dress in time, but reports in May 2025 suggest Victoria actually changed her mind about making the dress.
- Post-Wedding (2022 onwards): Minimal interaction between Nicola and Victoria on social media, and noticeable absence of Nicola at key Beckham family events.
- Alleged Wedding “Hijack”: In May 2025, a source claimed Victoria “ruined” part of the wedding by allegedly hijacking a dance with Marc Anthony, which was meant for Brooklyn and Nicola. Nicola reportedly ran from the room crying.
- March 2025: A resurfaced TikTok of Romeo and Cruz mimicking a “baby voice” (which fans associate with Nicola) sparks speculation of sibling shade.
- April 2025: Brooklyn and Nicola are reportedly absent from Victoria Beckham’s 51st birthday celebrations in Miami and her Paris Fashion Week show.
- May 2025: David Beckham’s 50th Birthday Snub: Brooklyn and Nicola are notably absent from David Beckham’s 50th birthday celebrations in London, despite being invited. Reports suggest their absence was due to Brooklyn not wanting to be in the same room as Kim Turnbull, the girlfriend of Romeo who had previously been reported to have been dating Brooklyn, who David allegedly opted to have at the party over Nicola.
- Rumours emerge of a falling out between Brooklyn and his younger brother Romeo, reportedly due to Romeo’s new girlfriend, DJ Kim Turnbull, who allegedly had a past connection with Brooklyn.
- Reports surface that the Beckham parents are “hurt and disappointed” that Brooklyn is “playing no part in family life.” Sources claim that tensions between Brooklyn and Nicola and his parents are “definitely not beyond repair.”
- June 2025: Brooklyn and Nicola reportedly enlist a “crisis team” similar to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for “reputation management” due to the growing media scrutiny.
- Cruz Beckham posts cryptic lyrics on Instagram that some interpret as a swipe at Brooklyn.
- July 2025: Reports indicate David and Victoria are “desperate” to reconcile with Brooklyn. Brooklyn publicly wishes his sister Harper a happy 14th birthday on Instagram, tagging Nicola, which is seen as a potential “olive branch” and a rare public message to his family amid the rumored rift.
- Brooklyn UNFOLLOWS his brothers Romeo and Cruz just 24 hours after his birthday message to Harper. Nicola quickly follows suit and also ditches the Beckham bros from her Instagram following. Romeo and Cruz are now also no longer following Brooklyn.
Telling smooch
Even the kiss between Nicola and Brooklyn looks “worlds away” from some previous poses they’ve posted.
“As Brooklyn goes to kiss his wife, she twists her torso at an awkward angle to make her head a lot lower than his,” Judi pointed out.
“Her body language looks shy and cute here, like teens that have just found themselves under the mistletoe.”
And the birthday party isn’t the only evidence of Nicola exhibiting “immature-looking body language and behaviours”.
She and Brooklyn looked like “shy and cute teens” in a kiss in the video, body language expert Judi James saidCredit: TikTok/@nicolapeltzbeckham
Fun-filled life
She regularly shares videos on her social media pages, and appears to have a jovial, fun-filled relationship with her husband.
While one clip showed her jumping on the back of a child’s toy horse Brooklyn was jokingly riding, another saw him pushing her along a supermarket aisle as she sat in the trolley.
She and Brooklyn have a fun-filled relationship, and Nicola was seen trying to jump on the back as her husband rode a kids’ toy horse in a funny TikTokCredit: TikTok/@nicolapeltzbeckham
But they both ended up going straight over the front, injuring themselves in the processCredit: TikTok/@nicolapeltzbeckham
In another video, Nicola was seen sitting in a supermarket trolley as Brooklyn pushed her round – like parents do with their kids in the storesCredit: TikTok/@nicolapeltzbeckham
And she also likes treating herself to a lollipop behind the scenes on photoshoots – another example of her childlike behaviourCredit: TikTok/@nicolapeltzbeckham
“Childlike behaviours can be admirable in an adult as nobody should dictate how, when and if we stop playing and turn into serious, sensible adults,” Judi explained.
“For most of us it’s an occasional option, but Nicola appears to enjoy the life of a Disney princess, surrounded by a protective air bag of unconditional love. “
Indeed, the “fairy castle lifestyle” might also have nostalgic appeal for Brooklyn too, Judi said, pointing out that he appeared to enjoy things such as matching family pyjamas when he was young.
But the “cute body language and childlike behaviour” can also demonstrate a “desire to avoid criticism or conflict”.
“In the animal kingdom it’s called pseudo-infantile remotivational behaviours, where an animal will often act like a baby animal to avoid attack,” Judi explained.
“Cuteness or the sweeter forms of immature behaviour, like the ones Nicola is showcasing here, can simply suggest a desire to feel safe and protected.
“And it can also suggest a return to when someone felt safe, which is why anxiety in adults can often produce baby-like rituals like rocking or finger or pen-sucking.”
Ongoing feud
Brooklyn’s dad David was said to be “heartbroken” when his son and daughter-in-law missed his 50th birthday, reportedly to fly to New York ahead of their Met Gala appearance.
The former footballer also notably left his eldest out of his Instagram post looking back on 2025, as he said how “grateful” he was for the past year.
He shared a series of highlights from the year – including pictures of his wife Victoria’s Paris Fashion Week show and him receiving his knighthood.
David also included snaps of his children Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20 and Harper, 13, on holiday and enjoying quality time together.
But aspiring chef Brooklyn — who last month blocked his parents on social media — was not pictured in the post.
Last month, Brooklyn also skipped childhood pal Holly Ramsay’s wedding – despite all of his family being in attendance to see the influencer marry Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty on December 27 at Bath Abbey.
There has been a long-running feud between Brooklyn and his family – and he and Nicola were noticeably absent from his dad David’s Instagram post marking the yearCredit: instagram
The feud began when the couple snubbed David’s 50th birthday celebrations – reportedly leaving him “heartbroken” in the processCredit: Getty
