The Spice Girls Members Then and Now: Catch Up With the Sassy Girl Group That Defined the ’90s
They just reunited — and they still make us "really, really, really wanna zig-a-zig-ah"
The Spice Girls are the ultimate ’90s pop icons. With their message of girl power and undeniably fun songs, the group, which originally formed in 1994, broke records on the pop charts (their 1996 debut album, Spice, made them the bestselling girl group of all time) and amassed an international fanbase of girls and young women.
With ultra-catchy hit singles like “Wannabe,” “Say You’ll Be There,” “2 Become 1,” “Who Do You Think You Are,” “Spice Up Your Life,”and “Stop,” the band was inescapable. They didn’t just dominate the airwaves and MTV, they also inspired all kinds of merchandise (if you were a ’90s kid, chances are strong that you have fond memories of Spice Girls lollipops!) and they even had their own blockbuster movie, Spice World, in 1997.
Part of what made the Spice Girls so fun was the way each member had her own distinct look, and the way they all traded off vocals. Countless girls dreamed of being part of their stylish squad, and over 25 years later, their aesthetic and their songs still take us right back. With the recent trend for ’90s nostalgia, many of their signature looks — among them crop tops and chunky platform shoes — have made a serious comeback. Clearly, the Spice Girls are forever, and we’ll never stop singing along with “Wannabe.”
The Spice Girls members
When the Spice Girls broke up in 2000, it was truly the end of an era. Since then, they’ve gotten back together a couple times, and they recently reunited at Victoria Beckham’s (a.k.a. Posh Spice) 50th birthday party, dancing to “Stop,” much to the delight of fans who grew up with them.
Read on for a look at the Spice Girls members then and now, and see which of the girls have become fashion designers, children’s book authors, DJs and much more!
Mel B — Scary Spice
Melanie Brown, known as Mel B, was the bold, animal print-wearing Scary Spice.
She released a solo single, “I Want You Back,” in 1998. The song, which featured rapper Missy Elliott, topped the pop charts in the UK. In 2000, she released her debut solo album, Hot. Her second album, L.A. State of Mind, came out in 2005, but it was a commercial and critical flop.
Mel B hasn’t released another solo album since then (though she did have a successful single, “For Once in My Life,” in 2013), and has become a TV personality. In 2007, she competed on Dancing With the Stars, and in 2010 she hosted the reality show Dance Your Ass Off as well as starring in a reality show about her life, Mel B: It’s a Scary World.
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Mel B also served as a mentor on the singing competition show The X Factor. She then became a judge on America’s Got Talent, a post she held from 2013 to 2019. In 2016 she became a presenter on Lip Sync Battle UK, and she’s appeared in various international editions of The Masked Singer. Most recently, the prolific TV host judged the shows Queen of the Universe (2023) and America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League (2024).
Mel B has also appeared onstage in musicals like Rent (2004) and Chicago (2016 — 2017), as well as TV movies like The Twelve Trees of Christmas (2013) and A New Diva’s Christmas Carol (2022).
In 2018, Mel B published a memoir, Brutally Honest. Now 48, she has three children (including one fathered by Eddie Murphy, which caused a stir in the tabloids). She’s also an activist, and in 2022, she was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for her efforts in helping women who’ve suffered from domestic violence.
She’s currently engaged to Rory McPhee, a hairstylist, and revealed that none other than her former bandmate Victoria Beckham will be designing her wedding dress.
Mel C — Sporty Spice
Melanie Chisholm, known as Mel C, was the high-kicking, tracksuit-loving Sporty Spice.
She’s had an extensive solo career, and released her debut album, Northern Star, in 1999. The hit album, which was more rock-influenced than her earlier work, spawned popular singles like “Goin’ Down” and “I Turn to You,” and it remains the bestselling release from any of the Spice Girls members.
Since then, Mel C has released seven more albums. In 2004, she started her own independent label, Red Girl Records, and released all her albums through it since. Her most recent record, Melanie C, came out in 2020.
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Mel C has also appeared in the musicals Blood Brothers (2009 — 2010) and Jesus Christ Superstar (2012 — 2013) and was a contestant on Dancing With the Stars in 2021. She’s appeared as a judge on shows like Superstar (2012), Asia’s Got Talent (2015), The Voice Kids (2021) and Queens for the Night (2022).
Mel C has also toured as a DJ in recent years, and in 2023 she appeared in an experimental modern dance program in London.
Now 50, she has a daughter with her former partner, property developer Thomas Starr. She released a memoir, The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl, in 2022.
Emma Bunton — Baby Spice
Emma Bunton was Baby Spice, since she was the youngest member of the group and favored girly-girl fashion.
Bunton released her first solo album, A Girl Like Me, in 2001. The single “What Took You So Long?” topped the UK pop charts. Since then, she’s made three more albums. Her most recent album, My Happy Place, came out in 2019. She’s also been a radio presenter since 2009.
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In 1999, she had her own music video show, Emma, and in 2005 she was the subject of a BBC TV documentary, Emma Goes to Bollywood. She competed in Strictly Come Dancing in 2006, and has judged shows like Dancing on Ice (2010 — 2011), Your Face Sounds Familiar (2013) and Boy Band (2017). Since 2018, she’s been a host of The Great American Baking Show.
Now 48, Bunton married her longtime partner, fellow musician Jade Jones, in 2021. They have two children. In 2022, she wrote a book of advice for new moms, Mama You Got This: A Little Helping Hand for New Parents. She also has her own line of earth-friendly, charitably-inclined baby products, Kit & Kin.
Geri Halliwell — Ginger Spice
Geri Halliwell was known as Ginger Spice thanks to her flaming red hair, and was instantly recognizable for her Union Jack micro-minidresses. She made waves when she left the Spice Girls in 1998, but has since rejoined for their reunions.
Her first solo album, Schizophonic, came out in 1998. The singles “Mi Chico Latino,” “Lift Me Up” and “Bag It Up” all topped the UK charts. She released two more albums, Scream If You Wanna Go Faster in 2001, and Passion in 2005.
Halliwell then was a judge for shows like The X Factor (2010 and 2012), Australia’s Got Talent (2013) and Altogether Now (2018 — 2019). She’s also been in films like Fat Slags: The Film (2004), Crank: High Voltage (2009) and Gran Turismo (2023) and had a quirky YouTube series, Rainbow Woman, in 2020.
In 1999, Halliwell published a memoir, If Only. In 2008, she wrote a series of children’s books centered a character named Ugenia Lavender. Most recently, she released a 2023 young adult novel, Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen. She also put out two new songs to promote the book.
Now 51, Halliwell has been married to race car driver Christian Horner since 2015. They have a son and she has a daughter from a previous relationship. In 2022, she received an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University in recognition of her advocacy for women’s rights.
Victoria Beckham — Posh Spice
Victoria Beckham, née Adams, was known as Posh Spice due to her penchant for wearing little black dresses and pouting.
She released her first and only solo album in 2001. It featured the singles “Not Such an Innocent Girl” and “A Mind of Its Own,” and wasn’t a big hit.
Beckham has written two books, Learning to Fly, a 2001 memoir, and That Extra Half an Inch: Hair, Heels and Everything in Between, a 2006 beauty and fashion advice guide.
Since her 1999 marriage to soccer superstar David Beckham, Posh has had the highest profile of any Spice Girls members, and the couple was the subject of multiple reality shows and specials, including Victoria’s Secrets (2000), Being Victoria Beckham (2002), The Real Beckhams (2003), Victoria: A Mile in Her Shoes (2004) and Victoria Beckham: Coming to America (2007). She has also made guest appearances on Ugly Betty (2007), Project Runway (2008) and American Idol (2010).
In 2008, Beckham launched her eponymous fashion label. The label is no celebrity publicity stunt — it’s still around today and is known for its chic, luxurious looks, and has long been a runway staple. She also has a beauty line, which launched in 2019. In 2017, Beckham was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for her work in the fashion industry.
Now 50, Beckham has four kids. Her first son, Brooklyn, has been in the public eye as a model and entrepreneur, while her second-oldest son, Romeo, has followed in his dad’s footsteps and is a soccer player.
