Who’s Your Favorite Spice Girl?
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Vote up the Spice Girls who make you really, really, really wanna zig-a-zig ah.
If you're old enough to remember 1990s music, it’s likely you knew someone who was Spice Girls obsessed. The British girl group - comprising Melanie C (Sporty Spice), Emma Bunton (Baby Spice), Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice), Mel B (Scary Spice), and Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) - burst onto the pop scene in 1996 and screamed “Girl Power!” to the rooftops.
Their debut single, “Wannabe,” topped the charts in 37 countries, including the UK and US, while their first album, Spice, reportedly sold 23 million copies worldwide. As the albums and hits continued, so did the Spice Girls brand. The group endorsed various household name brands, including Pepsi and Polaroid, and even starred in their own big-screen film in 1997, Spice World.
A major reason the Spice Girls became a pop culture phenomenon was how the members marketed themselves. Each girl had a different image and persona, which helped their audience resonate with them on a personal level. Outside of the group, the women have embarked on solo careers and ventured into other markets. But have they stayed true to their Spice personas all these years later? And who remains your favorite?
- 168 VOTES
Her Persona: Fiery red hair and the personality to match.
Her Fashion Sense: Corsets, figure-hugging dresses, platform boots, thigh-high boots, matching two-pieces. At the 1997 BRIT Awards, her Union Jack dress became an iconic garment.
Her Vocals: Halliwell sang a fair amount of vocals in the Spice Girls, but was never the lead on any songs. While serving as a guest judge on The X Factor in 2012, she admitted to Take That star Gary Barlow that she couldn't sing during the beginning of her career - but that isn't the case anymore.
Her Solo Career: She left the Spice Girls in 1998 following the release of their second album and achieved immediate success. Her debut album, 1999's Schizophonic, remains the highest charting album on the US Billboard 200, peaking at No. 42. Its lead single, “Look At Me,” debuted and peaked at No. 2 in the UK, while its follow-up singles - “Mi Chico Latino,” “Lift Me Up,” and “Bag It Up” - hit the top spot.
When her 2001 single “It's Raining Men” reached No. 1, Halliwell became the first solo British female artist to have four No. 1 records in the UK. She held this honor until 2014. To date, she has released three solo albums and achieved four No. 1 singles and eight top 10 hits in the UK - the most by any solo Spice member.
Her Post-Spice Life: Outside of music, Halliwell morphed into a successful author. She released two autobiographical books, If Only and Just For The Record, before kicking off her series of Ugenia Lavender children's novels. In 2002, she was a judge on Popstars: The Rivals as well as Australia's Got Talent in 2013. She has also dipped her toes into acting, starring in 2023's Gran Turismo as Lesley Mardenborough. Halliwell has two children: daughter Bluebell (from a previous relationship) and son Monty (whom she shares with husband Christian Horner).
How Well She Lives Up To Her Spice Name: While Halliwell hasn't always had red hair, she does return to the look from time to time. For the 2019 Spice Girls Spice World stadium tour, she became a ginger once again.
Fun Fact: After meeting King Charles III (Prince Charles at the time) with the Spice Girls in the late 1990s, a rumor emerged - and persisted - that Halliwell had pinched his bottom before he walked off. However, according to the singer herself, she only “patted” it. As she told The Times in 2016:
I didn’t pinch Prince Charles' bum, as was reported. I patted it. Patting him on the bottom was against royal protocol but we're all human.
Her Best Quote From Spice World:
[yelling up a pregnant woman's skirt to her unborn baby] Stay up there! We're not ready for you yet!
- 263 VOTES
Her Persona: Sweet, girl-next-door personality. Approachable and inoffensive. She was also the youngest of the group.
Her Fashion Sense: Mini dresses, typically baby pink. Blond hair in ponytails or bunches. Thigh-high socks and white sneakers or platform boots.
Her Vocals: Soft and sweet, which perfectly matched her public persona. She could hit the high notes when needed.
Her Solo Career: To date, Bunton has released four solo albums, from which she achieved seven top 10 hits in the UK. Her 2001 debut, A Girl Like Me, entered the top 5 in the UK and featured her only solo No. 1 hit, “What Took You So Long?” Her 2019 album, My Happy Place, included collaborations with Will Young, Josh Kumra, Robbie Williams, and her husband, Jade Jones.
Her Post-Spice Life: Outside of music, Bunton has enjoyed an in-demand TV career. Between 2003 and 2012, she had a recurring role in the popular comedy series Absolutely Fabulous. In 2006, she competed on Strictly Come Dancing and served as a judge on various talent shows including Dancing on Ice, Your Face Sounds Familiar, and Boy Band. Between 2013 and 2018, she was a co-presenter on Heart Breakfast. A mother to sons Beau and Tate, whom she shares with husband Jade Jones, she released a book in 2002 titled Mama You Got This: A Little Helping Hand For New Parents.
How Well She Lives Up To Her Spice Name: While she may have ditched the bouncily bunched hair, Bunton's public persona remains sweet and approachable.
Fun Fact: No stranger to being a huge Spice Girls fan, actor Emma Stone admitted she changed her name from Emily to Emma because of Bunton.
Her Best Quote From Spice World:
You know, I'm always gonna be known as Baby Spice, even when I'm... 30!
- 368 VOTES
Mel C/Melanie C (Sporty Spice)
Her Persona: Tough but sweet girl attitude. Tattoos down both arms. Her image appeared the least manufactured.
Her Fashion Sense: Typically sports gear, such as matching tracksuit sets, football shirts, sneakers, and vest and tank tops. The high ponytail was also a trademark hairstyle.
Her Vocals: While all Spice Girls sang, many fans felt Melanie Chisholm was the lead or standout vocalist. With a distinctive voice, she proved to be a versatile vocalist, catering to a range of genres including pop, dance, rock, and R&B.
Her Solo Career: Chisholm has released eight solo albums to date, more than any of her bandmates. Her 1999 debut, Northern Star, was a huge success, selling 4 million copies worldwide. It remains the best-selling solo Spice album. Her first single from the album was a collaboration with Bryan Adams, “When You're Gone.” As a solo artist, Chisholm has had two No. 1 singles and seven top 10 hits in the UK.
Her Post-Spice Life: Outside of music, Chisholm has ventured into acting and TV. In 2012, she became a judge on the British talent show Superstar. Three years later, she became a judge on Asia's Got Talent. In 2021, she remained busy, serving as a coach on The Voice Kids UK and a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. In 2009, she appeared on the stage as Mrs. Johnstone in Blood Brothers and later as Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar. Her biography, Who I Am, became a Sunday Times bestseller. She is also a mom to daughter Scarlet, whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Thomas Starr.
How Well She Lives Up To Her Spice Name: A supporter of Liverpool F.C., Chisholm remains a football fan. She has also completed the London Triathlon twice and is no stranger to wearing sporty garments on a regular basis.
Fun Fact: On the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 1999 album Californication, lead vocalist Anthony Kiedis wrote the song “Emit Remmus” ("summertime" spelled backward) about Chisholm after they met.
Her Best Quote From Spice World:
It must be so hard for you, Victoria. I mean, having to decide whether to wear the little Gucci dress, the little Gucci dress, or... the little Gucci dress!
- 463 VOTES
Her Persona: Bold and outspoken. Not afraid to speak her mind.
Her Fashion Sense: Animal print, typically leopard. Crop tops, catsuits, platform boots, and colorful or metallic pants. While known for her curly locks, Melanie Brown was also known for sporting space buns and Bantu knots.
Her Vocals: Brown would usually sing in the lower range in Spice Girls songs, and her voice is well-suited to pop and R&B.
Her Solo Career: She was the first Spice Girl to release a solo song. In 1998, while still a member of the group, she teamed up with Missy Elliott to release the No. 1 single “I Want You Back.” It came from Brown's 2000 debut album Hot, which boasted two more top 10 singles: “Feels So Good” and “Tell Me.” Despite the hits, Hot was the only debut solo album from a Spice Girl to enter the top 10 in the UK, peaking at No. 28. Mel's Brown's second and final album to date, 2005's L.A. State of Mind, was a commercial failure, only reaching the No. 453 spot after reported sales of just 670.
Her Post-Spice Life: Brown has remained a regular face on TV on various continents. In the UK, she became a judge on The X Factor and performed as Seahorse on The Masked Singer. In the Australian version, she became a panelist. In the US, she has been an on-and-off judge on America's Got Talent and previously starred in the reality show Mel B: It's a Scary World with her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte.
In 2004, she starred as Mimi Marquez in Rent and Peep Diva in Peepshow. In 2016 and '17, she played Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. Brown has also released two autobiographies: Catch a Fire in 2002 and Brutally Honest in 2018. She has three daughters - Phoenix, Angel, and Madison - from two marriages and one intimate relationship.
How Well She Lives Up To Her Spice Name: Brown still as candid and outspoken as ever. She is also no stranger to leopard-print outfits, even after all these years.
Fun Fact: She was supposed to feature on Azealia Banks's 2018 song “Anna Wintour." However, as Banks explained in a 2018 Billboard interview, multiple scheduling conflicts got in the way.
Her Best Quote From Spice World:
Um, blah blah blah, girl power, feminism, you know what I mean?
- Photo: Spice World / Columbia Pictures563 VOTES
Her Persona: Sophisticated and chic. A fan of shopping. Often looked serious.
Her Fashion Sense: Mini black dresses with heels. Signature shoulder-length locks with stylish jewelry.
Her Vocals: Victoria Beckham didn't feature as prominently on the Spice Girls songs but still had a number of standout moments. Her backing vocals on “Holler” remain on point. In a 2016 interview, she admitted her mic was turned off for live performances.
Her Solo Career: Beckham has released the least solo material out of all the Spice Girls - just one self-titled album in 2001. However, she did have plans to release two other albums recorded in 2003. Open Your Eyes showcased a more electropop sound, while Come Together was influenced by R&B and hip-hop. Unfortunately, both got shelved after her label Telstar went bankrupt. While Beckham is the only Spice Girl to not achieve a No. 1 single, she's also the only member to have all her singles peak within the top 10 in the UK.
Her Post-Spice Life: Fashion has always been her passion. Beckham launched her eponymous label in 2008 that carries everything from dresses to handbags, and eyewear to fragrances. She won Designer Brand of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2011, while in 2019, she launched her own beauty brand, Victoria Beckham Beauty. In 2007, she and her footballer husband David Beckham starred in the reality show Victoria Beckham: Coming to America. In 2023, the couple released a Netflix documentary series titled Beckham.
Following her performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony with the Spice Girls, she revealed she had no interest in performing again. When the group reunited for a 2019 stadium tour, Beckham was not present and said she would “rather concentrate on my family and my company." She shares four children - Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruise, and Harper - with David.
How Well She Lives Up To Her Spice Name: Beckham still lives up to her Spice persona, now more than ever. She still enjoys luxury clothes and accessories, and lives a more “posh” lifestyle than she ever did.
Fun Fact: Beckham has a collection of more than 100 Birkin handbags, one of which is shocking pink and now said to be worth more than £1.5 million ($1.8 million) after originally retailing for £100,000 ($125,000).
Her Best Quote From Spice World:
Well, it's not gonna go very far. I mean, look, she's still got her tights on!
