The 1990s female band “Spice Girls” produced some of the most remarkable stars in show business, and Melanie Brown, also known as Scary Spice, was one of them. Today, she is a singer, songwriter, television presenter, and actress. Born in Leeds, Melanie’s journey to stardom is an inspiring story. Learn more about her success on leedski.com.
Joining the Spice Girls
The future star was born in Leeds and studied performing arts at Intake High School in Bramley. Before becoming a singer, Melanie worked as a dancer in Blackpool.
In 1994, Melanie, alongside Melanie C, Geri Halliwell, and Victoria Beckham, auditioned at Danceworks Studios in Mayfair, competing against 400 other women. By 1995, the group toured recording companies in London and Los Angeles under the name “Touch,” which later evolved into “Spice Girls.”
The group’s debut album was a global success. The Spice Girls album reached number one in over 17 countries and achieved multi-platinum status in 27 nations, selling 30 million copies worldwide. The first single, Wannabe, topped charts in 37 countries, while subsequent singles also enjoyed phenomenal success.
In 1997, the group released their second album, Spiceworld, which also became a global bestseller, selling 20 million copies.
Solo Career
In 1998, Melanie launched her solo career with the release of I Want You Back, which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, selling 218,000 copies worldwide.
She recorded her debut solo album in 1999, collaborating with producers like Sisqó, Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis. Around the same time, Melanie ventured into television, hosting BBC2’s Pure Naughty, co-hosting the MOBO Awards, and appearing in shows like This Is My Moment.
Additionally, Melanie acted in films like Fish, Voodoo Princess, and Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde.
From 2007, Melanie became a prominent TV personality and talent show judge. She participated in Dancing with the Stars, judged The X Factor in both Australia and the UK, coached on The Voice Kids Australia, judged on America’s Got Talent, The Masked Singer Australia, and Queen of the Universe.
Musically, her debut album Hot (2000) had limited success. Later attempts, such as her album LA State of Mind (2005), released via an independent label, also struggled commercially.
Spice Girls Reunions
In 2007, the Spice Girls announced a reunion tour and released a Greatest Hits album. In 2012, Melanie reunited with the group for a performance at the London Olympics’ closing ceremony, featuring hits like Wannabe and Spice Up Your Life. That year, the group also attended the premiere of the musical Viva Forever and appeared in the documentary Spice Girls’ Story: Viva Forever!.
Another reunion occurred in 2018, leading to the Spice World – 2019 Tour across UK and Ireland stadiums.
Today, Melanie continues acting and participating in various television projects.
Personal Life
Melanie’s personal life has been as eventful as her career. She married dancer Jimmy Gulzar in 1998 and changed her surname to Melanie G. The couple had a daughter but divorced a year later.
She later had relationships with actor Max Beesley and film producer Christine Crokos. Melanie also had a relationship with Hollywood actor Eddie Murphy, who is the father of her second child. However, the couple split before the child was born.
In 2007, Melanie married film producer Stephen Belafonte in Las Vegas, followed by a formal ceremony in Egypt. The couple had a daughter but divorced in 2017, with Melanie accusing Belafonte of emotional and physical abuse. Following the split, she sought treatment for PTSD and became an advocate for domestic violence survivors through the charity Women’s Aid.
In October 2022, Melanie announced her engagement to Rory McPhee.
This is the inspiring life story of Melanie Brown, a celebrated singer, TV presenter, and actress. We hope you found this material informative and learned more about this remarkable personality.