Melanie Jayne Chisholm was the Spice Girl who showed girls that it’s all right to be tomboys. Born on January 12, 1974 in Whiston, Merseyside, England, her parents Alan and Joan Chisholm met at a Beatles concert and possibly even passed on some musical genes to Melanie; Joan was part of a band called Love Potion. As a young girl, Melanie C confessed that she didn’t entirely enjoy school, disliking being tied down by her classes and also the bullies in her class. She did, however, enjoy her ballet class and taking gymnastics, showing a great aptitude for dance and sports at a young age.
She didn’t have an ultra-glamorous life as a teenager, but she worked hard to be on her way towards becoming famous for performing. At 16, Melanie left home to attend the Doreen Bird Performing Arts College where she received a diploma in dance, singing, musical theater, and drama. She also took on different types of jobs, such as singing background vocals, selling tickets, and being a waitress.
Music practically coursed in Melanie’s blood, and some of her idols included Madonna and Neneh Cherry, whose style she copied and whose success in the music industry inspired her. Little did she know that she was also destined to break into the world of pop music in a big way.
Life as Sporty Spice
In the Spice Girls, Melanie initially didn’t let her sporty persona shine through. At some point, however, her now-famous backflip was integrated into the girls’ early routines, setting the tone for her future image. When the Spice Girls were gradually getting famous, Melanie C was often seen in tracksuits, trainers, and tight ponytails, earning for herself the monicker “Sporty Spice.” She was also famous for her fondness for football, often swearing allegiance to Liverpool.
As a performer, however, she was especially known for her incredible dancing skills and her powerful set of pipes, which she showed off to full effect in every Spice Girls performances. Apart from being a performer, Melanie C also signified that it was perfectly fine to NOT be a girly girl, ushering in an age when women felt confident enough to walk around in sporty tops, track pants, and trainers–and still look gorgeous.
After the Spice Girls
In the years leading up to the decline of the Spice Girls’ activities, Melanie C proved to be the most aggressive in pursuing a solo career, initially doing duets with Bryan Adams (“When You’re Gone”) and Lisa Lopes of TLC (“Never Be the Same Again”). During her solo career, she released the most number of albums and received recognition for her work, as well as bagging awards and number one singles.
A few years ago, after her album suffered a comparative failure, Melanie C parted ways with Virgin Records to establish her own record company, Red Girl Records. The label is now responsible for releasing all her recent musical works.
In the twilight days of the Spice Girls and for most of her career, Melanie C has undergone a lot of physical transformations, at some point ditching her long brunette locks in favor of a short, spiky, blonde do. At one point, she also experienced significant weight gain, which can be attributed to her feeling much more at ease with her body after enduring the grueling workouts and diets she had to follow in order to maintain her Sporty Spice exterior. She has also spoken about her eating disorders and bouts with depression
Melanie C continues to be heavily involved in the entertainment industry, guesting on TV shows, performing in musical productions, going on tour, making more music, and DJing.
