America's Got Talent judge Mel B's turbulent life – teen dream to Eddie Murphy marriage

Melanie Brown hasn't looked back since responding to a magazine advert in 1994 – if she hadn't, we might not have ever seen the Spice Girls.

Now on hosting duties on America's Got Talent, here The Mirror looks back on Mel B's turbulent life since batting off 400 wannabe pop stars to join the iconic girl group alongside co-stars Emma Bunton, Melanie C, Geri Horner and Victoria Adams.

She's done a lot since signing up to the opportunity of a lifetime as a 19-year-old from Leeds; from a Hollywood marriage to a well-documented divorce. She's topped the charts all around the world in her highest highs and battled demons at her lowest lows.

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READ MORE: Mel B reveals Spice Girls announcement that 'involves all 5 of us' is coming very soon

Early life

Years before securing her place in the Spice Girls, after belting a rendition of Whitney Houston's The Greatest Love of All, Mel, born Melanie Janine Brown, was raised in Kirkstall, attending Intake High School in Bramley. Her dad Martin is from Saint Kitts and Nevis and her mum Andrea, first cousin of actor Christian Cooke, is British.

But it was during these early years at school that Mel says she experienced racism and bullying while and that her mum would make her dad carry her as a baby to avoid being attacked. She recalled her role models were Terri Seymour and Neneh Cherry.

Personal life

Mel hasn't kept her relationship history under wraps, previously detailing a former fling with Katie Price's ex Peter Andre back in 1996, describing him as a "fantastic lover". She dated businessman Fjölnir Thorgeirsson before beginning a relationship with Dutch dancer Jimmy Gulzar in March 1998 while on the Spiceworld Tour.

After dating just one month, Jimmy popped the question and they tied the knot in September that year. They welcomed their first child, Phoenix Chi Gulzar, on February 19 in 1999. But disaster struck just a year later when Melanie filed for divorce after reports that the couple were constantly arguing. At the time, she won custody of their daughter and paid a settlement of £1.25 to Jimmy.

After that, Melanie then dated actor Max Beesley for two years before meeting film producer Christine Crokos. The couple split in 2006. Mel also claimed that she and Geri Halliwell were once romantically linked, a claim Geri vehemently denies. Melanie then met Hollywood actor Eddie Murphy with whom she had a second child, Angel Iris Murphy Brown in April 2007. At that point the couple had already separated.

Mel married film producer Stephen Belafonte in Las Vegas in June 2007. They welcomed daughter Madison Brown Belafonte in September 2011. Five years later, they split, with Mel accusing her ex-husband of emotional and physical abuse.

Stephen denies all claims made by the singer, his legal team previously called the claims "outrageous and unfounded". Mel has since became a patron of the domestic violence survivors' charity, Women's Aid. She has also previously opened up about living with dyslexia, ADHD, and dyspraxia.

Mel's life now

After the Spice Girls split in 2000, Mel successfully launched her solo career. She's now thriving on television, including her current gig on America's Got Talent. She's also had roles on shows such as The X Factor and ITV's The Masked Singer.

In 2022, she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours for services to domestic violence victims. "I never thought I would be here getting this MBE for the work I've been doing," she told the PA news agency afterwards. "It's amazing to have but it's not just for me - it's for all those other women.

"Especially because of Covid, there's been such an epidemic of domestic violence, that's been completely on the rise, and you know I've got an army of women behind me that need help and need to be heard." Mel now lives in Los Angeles.

Spice Girls reunion

This week, Mel B has teased that the five original Spice Girls will hit the road to tour once again - and says fans will know more in a few short weeks time. Opening up to American feel-good morning radio show Today with Hoda & Jenna, the singer known as Scary Spice declared: "Well, I've been saying this forever, but now we're actually going to be releasing some really good news in about a few weeks that involves all five of us.”

Mel went on to explain that coordinating a new tour is tricky, saying: "there's five of us and we've got five different diaries, and we're all parents." But she added that fans will be "100 percent satisfied" by the imminent news. She added: "It's going to be the gift that keeps on giving, without saying too much about it… I’m going to get myself into so much trouble." This is far from the first time the Spice Girls have teased that they will perform as a five again.

In November 2021, Mel C teased that the group was planning to perform at Glastonbury - a dream that has repeatedly failed to materialise. She said at the time: "I don't think we've been asked in all honesty, we haven't been asked to do it, but I do believe it could be the thing that would see all five girls on stage. So should we start a petition?"

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