She’s also written a best-selling book and become a campaigner against domestic violence while successfully raising three children – Phoenix, now 25, Angel, 16, and 12-year-old Madison.
In her 20s, as Scary Spice, Melanie was responsible for inspiring a generation with girl power. Now 48, could she do the same for midlife women also in their second act?
“You are as old as you feel,” she says firmly during our exclusive in ter view. “Numbers aren’t relevant. You can have a bit of a panic when you come into your 40s, because you haven’t got things quite as you thought they were going to be. You have some of your hardest challenges. But there’s also something really freeing about it.
“I don’t know if it’s because you’re putting yourself out there, or just ready for it in life. But there’s a lot to be said about women in their 40s because they’re more aware and self assured. It’s an age not to mess with.”
It has taken her several years, however, to reach this point in her own life. In 2018, Melanie wrote her memoir Brutally Honest, a detailed account of her marriage to the film producer Stephen Belafonte, which she says was emotionally, physically and financially abusive. He has always denied the claims.
This week, the book is republished with three new chapters, describing how she started again "from ground zero".
After leaving her then husband in 2017, she returned to the UK from Los Angeles in 2019 for the Spice Girls' reunion tour, lived for a while at her mum's house in Leeds and slowly, painfully, began to piece herself back together.
PAYING IT FORWARD
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THROWING IT BACK TO THE 1990S 'VOGUE' ERA OF THE SUPERMODEL
KATE MOSS LEADS FAMOUS FACES REFLECTING ON FASHION HEYDAY
FORMER 'MADE IN CHELSEA' STAR FRAN NEWMAN-YOUNG
DAZZLES IN BESPOKE WEDDING GOWN AS SHE TIES THE KNOT IN STYLE IN MAJORCA
LENDING SUPPORT TO CHILDREN'S HOSPICE PRINCESSES BEATRICE AND EUGENIE
BRING LIGHT INTO LITTLE ONES' LIVES AS THEY PLANT A SYMBOL OF HOPE
ON BUOYANT FORM AFTER HIS WIFE'S GOOD NEWS THE PRINCE OF WALES
DISHES OUT THE HUGS ON VISIT FROM THE HEART
WITH AN INCREDIBLE GLIMPSE INTO FAMILY LIFE THE PRINCESS OF WALES
SHARES MESSAGE OF HOPE AS SHE LOOKS TO THE FUTURE AND BALANCING HER ROLE
IN HIGH SPIRITS AT THE BRAEMAR HIGHLAND GAMES THE KING AND QUEEN
ENJOY LAUGHS APLENTY AT A FAVOURITE EVENT BEFORE MONARCH QUIETLY MARKS TWO YEARS ON THE THRONE
AS HOLLY WILLOUGHBY RETURNS NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS
STARS DAZZLE ON NIGHT OF GLAMOUR AND GONGS
CREATING A NEW SISTER ACT ELIZABETH OLSEN
ON CO-STARRING WITH NATASHA LYONNE AND CARRIE COON
MAKING HISTORY AT STARSTUDDED EVENT IN NEW YORK TAYLOR SWIFT
SMASHES IT WITH SEVEN OF THE BEST AT THE V.M.As
KIM KARDASHIAN AND DAKOTA JOHNSONS
FASHION AND COMPASSION AT A-LIST CHARITY EVENT