Melanie Janine Brown, also known as Mel B or Melanie B, is an English singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality who rose to global fame in the 1990s as a member of the iconic girl group Spice Girls.
Nicknamed “Scary Spice” for her bold personality, leopard-print aesthetic, and distinctive Yorkshire accent, Brown became one of the most recognizable pop stars of her generation. With over 100 million records sold worldwide.
During the group’s hiatus, Brown released her debut solo album Hot (2000), which blended R&B, pop, and Eurodance influences. The album’s lead single, “I Want You Back”, written in collaboration with trailblazing American rapper Missy Elliott, charted at number one on the UK Singles Chart and was originally recorded for the soundtrack of the 1998 film Why Do Fools Fall in Love. Selling 218,000 copies, the track became the 82nd best-selling British single of the year, solidifying Brown’s ability to thrive outside the Spice Girls.
Beyond music, Brown has established herself as a dynamic television personality. In January 2010, Brown was selected to replace Marissa Jaret Winokur as the new host of Oxygen’s weight loss show Dance Your Ass Off. Later in that year, her own reality show aired on the Style Network called Mel B: It’s a Scary World, offering fans a glimpse into her personal and professional life. She has also judged a variety of online talent competitions, including multiple seasons of The X Factor and America’s Got Talent.
In recognition of her advocacy work, Brown was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours. This prestigious honor acknowledged her dedication to charitable causes, particularly her support for domestic abuse survivors and vulnerable women. Brown has been candid about her own experiences with abuse, using her platform to raise awareness and campaign for organizations like Women’s Aid, where she has served as a patron since 2018.
In addition to highly publicized relationships with Eddie Murphy and former husband Stephen Belafonte, she was also in a four-year relationship with film producer Christine Crokos. She has been very open about the fact that she has had enjoyable sexual and romantic relationships with men and women, although she had at times described her bisexuality as a phase, sparking conversations about identity and self-labeling in the LGBT community. From an interview with Attitude magazine:
I didn’t start off my sexual journey going, “I’m this, I’m that, I’m bisexual.” I was, and always will be, very open. I happened to fall in love with a woman and was with her for five years. We still talk to this day. I don’t want to put a label on it, but I’ve always thought women are beautiful.