Melanie Janine Brown

Brown was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire. After seeing an advertisement for an audition in a newspaper, Brown started her music career in a band known as Touch. The group left the original management team and eventually teamed up with music manager Simon Fuller. Here, she and the other girls were launched on the world as the Spice Girls. After worldwide success in the group she embarked on a solo music career in 1998.

Mel B released her debut solo album, Hot, in October 2000, and it produced three top five singles, including the monster hit I Want You Back – a collaboration with Missy Elliott.

Melanie then embarked upon a new and successful career as a TV presenter and actress. She hosted two seasons of the ITV1 talent show This Is My Moment, shot a documentary for Channel 4 called Voodoo Princess and was a lead character in the BBC3 sit-com Burn It. Melanie has also presented Top Of The Pops and Party In The Park for The Prince's Trust.

In 2002, Melanie released her hit autobiography, titled Catch A Fire, which went straight into the book chart top 10. The following year, she made her theatre debut in The Vagina Monologues in London. She continued to pursue her successful acting career with leading roles in two films, the horror Lethal Dose and the comedy The Seat Filler, co-produced by Will Smith and starring Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland.

From April to September 2004, Melanie played the role of Mimi in the musical Rent on Broadway, and the following year she released her second solo album, L.A. State Of Mind, featuring the single Today.

While rehearsing for The Return Of The Spice Girls world tour, Melanie enjoyed a highly successful stint on Dancing With The Stars on US television – combining preparations for the tour with a gruelling schedule of ballroom dancing rehearsals.

Melanie has two daughters, Phoenix Chi and Angel Iris, and is married to long-time friend and movie producer Stephen Belafonte.