Spice Girls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spice Girls
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The Spice Girls performing during a reunion concert in Toronto in February 2008.
From left to right: Mel C, Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Mel B and Emma Bunton |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
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| Years active |
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| Labels | Virgin |
| Past members | |
The Spice Girls were a super popular English girl group that started in 1994. The group had five members: Mel B ("Scary Spice"), Melanie C ("Sporty Spice"), Emma Bunton ("Baby Spice"), Geri Halliwell ("Ginger Spice"), and Victoria Beckham ("Posh Spice"). They sold over 100 million records around the world. This makes them the best-selling girl group of all time.
With their famous "girl power" message, the Spice Girls changed what a girl group could be. They focused on young female fans. They helped bring back teen pop music in the 1990s. They were also a big part of the "Cool Britannia" time in Britain. The group became pop culture icons of that decade.
The Spice Girls were first put together by Heart Management. They held auditions to create a girl group that could compete with the popular British boy bands. After leaving Heart, the Spice Girls hired Simon Fuller as their manager. They then signed with Virgin Records. Their first song, "Wannabe", came out in 1996. It became number one in 37 countries!
Their first album, Spice (1996), sold over 23 million copies worldwide. This made it the best-selling album by a female group ever. It also had three more number-one songs: "Say You'll Be There", "2 Become 1", and "Who Do You Think You Are"/"Mama". Their second album, Spiceworld (1997), sold over 14 million copies. From this album, they had three more number-one songs: "Spice Up Your Life", "Too Much", and "Viva Forever". Both albums showed the group's dance-pop style. They also shared a message of female strength. All members sang and helped write the songs equally.
In 1997, the Spice Girls had their first live concert. They also released a movie called Spice World. Both were very successful. In 1998, the group went on the Spiceworld Tour. About 2.1 million people saw this tour. It became the highest-earning concert tour by a female group. Geri Halliwell left the group in May 1998 during this tour.
After Geri left, they released another number-one song, "Goodbye" (1998). They also had a successful concert tour in 1999. Their third album, Forever, came out in 2000. It had a more R&B sound. This album included their ninth number-one song, "Holler"/"Let Love Lead the Way". This set a record for the most UK number ones by a girl group. By the end of 2000, the Spice Girls took a break to focus on their solo careers.
Since then, they have reunited a few times. They performed at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. They also had two concert tours: the Return of the Spice Girls (2007–2008) with all five members. Then, the Spice World — 2019 UK Tour happened without Victoria Beckham. Both tours won awards for being top-earning concerts. This made the Spice Girls the top touring all-female group from 1998 to 2020.
The Spice Girls have won many awards. These include five Brit Awards, three American Music Awards, and four Billboard Music Awards. In 2000, they became the youngest group to win the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Geri Halliwell's Union Jack dress and the nicknames for each member are famous parts of their image. They also had many deals for products and sponsorships. By May 1998, these deals brought in an estimated $500–800 million. Their huge media presence helped start the "celebrity obsession" in pop culture.
Contents
The Spice Girls' Journey to Fame
How the Group Started (1994–1995)
In the early 1990s, a father-and-son team, Bob and Chris Herbert, wanted to create a girl group. They wanted to compete with the popular boy bands in the UK. In February 1994, they put an ad in a newspaper called The Stage. They were looking for singers for an all-female pop band. About 400 women came to the audition in London.
After several weeks, Victoria Adams, Melanie Brown, Melanie Coloma, and Michelle Stephenson were chosen for a second audition. Melanie Chisholm couldn't make it to the second audition because she was sick. But after Melanie Coloma was let go, Melanie C was asked to join. Geri Halliwell also convinced the Herberts to let her audition. The five women chosen were Victoria, Melanie Brown, Geri, Michelle, and Melanie Chisholm. They were first called "Touch."
The group moved into a house in Maidenhead, Berkshire. They spent most of 1994 practicing songs. They also worked on their own dance routines. After a few months, Michelle Stephenson left the group. The group's vocal coach suggested Emma Bunton as a replacement. Emma auditioned and became the fifth member.
As they trained, the group performed for some people in the music industry. They started writing their own songs. During one session, they wrote a song called "Sugar and Spice." This song inspired them to change their name to "Spice."
Signing with Virgin Records
By late 1994, the group felt unsure because they didn't have a proper contract. They were also unhappy with their management. They convinced the Herberts to let them perform for music writers and producers. This performance in December 1994 was a big success. The Herberts then tried to get them to sign a contract. But the girls refused to sign it after getting legal advice.
In January 1995, the group started writing songs with Richard Stannard and Matt Rowe. During these sessions, they wrote "Wannabe" and "2 Become 1". In March 1995, the group left Heart Management. They felt their ideas were not being heard. They even took their song recordings with them.
The group then worked with other songwriters and producers. Their songs caught the attention of Simon Fuller. He signed them to his management company in May 1995. Many record labels wanted to sign them. After a lot of competition, they signed a five-album deal with Virgin Records in July 1995. Their name was changed to "Spice Girls" because another rapper was already using "Spice." The new name stuck because people in the music industry often called them "the Spice girls."
Becoming Global Superstars
Breaking Through (1996–1997)
On 8 July 1996, the Spice Girls released their first song, "Wannabe", in the UK. The music video was shown a lot on TV before the song came out. It was an instant hit. "Wannabe" quickly went to number one in the UK. It stayed there for seven weeks. The song became a global hit, reaching number one in 37 countries. It was also number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US for four weeks. It became the best-selling first song by an all-female group ever.
After "Wannabe," a magazine called Top of the Pops gave each Spice Girl a unique nickname. These nicknames became very popular around the world. The group released their next songs in Europe. In October, "Say You'll Be There" was number one for two weeks. "2 Become 1" came out in December. It became their first Christmas number one song. It was the fastest-selling song of 1996.
In November 1996, the Spice Girls released their first album, Spice, in Europe. Its success was huge, like "Beatlemania." The media called it "Spicemania" and the group the "Fab Five." In just seven weeks, Spice sold 1.8 million copies in Britain. This made them the fastest-selling British act since the Beatles. Overall, the album sold over 3 million copies in Britain. It became the best-selling album by a female group in UK history. It was number one for 15 weeks. In Europe, it was the best-selling album of 1997.
That same month, 500,000 people came to see the Spice Girls turn on the Christmas lights in London. Their manager, Simon Fuller, also started big sponsorship deals for them. They worked with companies like Pepsi and Walkers. The group ended 1996 by winning three awards at the Smash Hits awards.
Global Success
In January 1997, "Wannabe" was released in the United States. It helped the Spice Girls become famous there. It debuted at number eleven on the Hot 100 Chart. This was the highest debut ever for a non-American act at that time. "Wannabe" reached number one in the US for four weeks. In February, Spice was released in the US. It became the best-selling album of 1997 in the US. It was number one and sold over 7.4 million copies. In total, the album sold over 23 million copies worldwide. This made it the best-selling pop album by an all-female group ever.
Later that month, the Spice Girls performed "Who Do You Think You Are" at the 1997 Brit Awards. Geri Halliwell wore a Union Jack mini-dress that became one of pop history's most famous outfits. The group won two Brit Awards that night. In March 1997, "Mama"/"Who Do You Think You Are" was released in Europe. It was their last song from Spice. It also went to number one. This made the Spice Girls the first group since the Jackson 5 to have four number-one songs in a row.
Their first book, Girl Power!, came out later that month. It sold 200,000 copies in one day. It was translated into over 20 languages. In May, the Spice Girls announced their movie, Spice World, at the Cannes Film Festival. The group also performed their first live UK show for a charity concert. At the Ivor Novello Awards, "Wannabe" won awards for International Hit of the Year and Best-Selling British Single.
Spice World started filming in June. The movie was supposed to use songs from their second album. But no songs had been written yet. So, the group had to write and record songs while filming. This made their schedule very tough. One song they wrote during this time was "Stop". Its lyrics were about how tired they were from being overworked.
In September, the Spice Girls performed at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. They won Best Dance Video for "Wannabe." At the Billboard Music Awards, the group won four awards.
Spiceworld Album and Movie
In October 1997, the Spice Girls released "Spice Up Your Life". This was the first song from their second album, Spiceworld. It went straight to number one in the UK. That same month, the group had their first big live concert in Turkey. They also met Nelson Mandela in South Africa, who called them "my heroes."
In November, the Spice Girls released Spiceworld. It set a new record for the fastest-selling album. It sold seven million copies in two weeks. The album got good reviews. It sold over 10 million copies in Europe, Canada, and the US. It sold 14 million copies worldwide.
Some people in the US criticized them for releasing the album so soon after their first one. They also faced some negative media attention. People criticized them for having too many sponsorship deals. Still, the Spice Girls were the best-selling pop group of both 1997 and 1998.
On 7 November 1997, the Spice Girls performed at the MTV Europe Music Awards. They won the Best Group award. The morning of this performance, they decided to manage themselves. They fired their manager, Simon Fuller. This news was on the front page of newspapers worldwide. Many people wondered if the group would lose their way without him.
Later in November, the Spice Girls became the first pop group to host a TV show called An Audience with... In December 1997, "Too Much" was released. It became their second Christmas number one and their sixth number-one UK song in a row. That month, their movie, Spice World, came out. The premiere was a big event in London. Many celebrities attended, including Prince Charles. The movie was a commercial success, but critics didn't love it. The Spice Girls ended 1997 as the most played artists on American radio.
Touring and Geri's Departure (1998)
In January 1998, the Spice Girls went to the US premiere of Spice World. At the 1998 American Music Awards, they won awards for Favorite Album, Favorite New Artist, and Favorite Group. In February, they won a special award at the 1998 Brit Awards for their success overseas. That night, the group performed their next song, "Stop". This was their first song not to reach number one in the UK, peaking at number two.
On 24 February 1998, the Spice Girls started the Spiceworld Tour. It began in Dublin, Ireland. They then toured Europe and North America. They returned to the UK for two shows at Wembley Stadium. Later that year, the Spice Girls sang on the official England World Cup song. This was their last song with Geri Halliwell until 2007.
On 31 May 1998, Geri Halliwell announced she was leaving the Spice Girls. This news followed days of rumors after she missed two concerts. Geri first said she left due to creative differences. Later, she said she was very tired and unhappy. Her departure shocked fans and was huge news around the world. The four remaining members said the group would continue.
The North American part of the Spiceworld Tour went on as planned. It started in West Palm Beach, Florida, on 15 June. It earned $93.6 million from 40 sold-out shows. The tour had about 97 shows and earned an estimated $220–$250 million. This made it the highest-earning concert tour by a female group. "Viva Forever", the last song from Spiceworld, became the Spice Girls' seventh UK number-one. The music video for this song was made before Geri left. It shows all five members as animated characters.
While on tour in the United States, the Spice Girls wrote new songs. They released a new song, "Goodbye", before Christmas in 1998. It was seen as a tribute to Geri. It became the Spice Girls' third Christmas number one in a row. This matched a record set by the Beatles. In November, Emma and Melanie C accepted two awards for the Spice Girls at the 1998 MTV Europe Music Awards. That year, Melanie Brown and Victoria announced they were pregnant. Melanie Brown gave birth to her daughter in February 1999. Victoria gave birth to her son, Brooklyn, a month later. Victoria later married David Beckham and became Victoria Beckham.
New Music and Break (1999–2000)
By 1999, Melanie Brown, Emma, and Melanie C had all released solo music. They returned to the studio in August 1999 after an eight-month break. Their new music started with a pop sound, like their first two albums. But it changed to a more mature R&B sound with American producers.
In December 1999, the Spice Girls went on a UK tour called Christmas in Spiceworld. They performed new songs from their third album. The eight shows were seen by over 153,000 people. The Spice Girls also recorded a song for a concept album by Elton John. The Spice Girls performed again at the 2000 Brit Awards in March. They received a Lifetime Achievement award. Geri Halliwell attended but did not join her former bandmates on stage.
In November 2000, the Spice Girls released their third and final album, Forever. It had an edgier R&B sound. It didn't get very strong reviews. In the UK, it was released the same week as another popular album. The Spice Girls' album reached number two. The main song, "Holler" / "Let Love Lead the Way", became their ninth UK number one. The Spice Girls stopped promoting the album in December 2000. They began a break to focus on their solo careers. They said the group was not splitting up.
Reunions and Legacy
Coming Back Together (2007–2008)
On 28 June 2007, all five Spice Girls held a press conference. They announced they would reunite for a worldwide concert tour called Return of the Spice Girls. Media had guessed this for a long time. Each member was reportedly paid £10 million ($20 million) for the tour. A documentary film about the reunion, Giving You Everything, aired in December 2007.
Tickets for the first London show sold out in 38 seconds. Over one million people in the UK signed up for tickets. Sixteen more dates in London were added, and they all sold out in one minute. Shows in the US also sold out quickly. The tour started in Vancouver on 2 December 2007. The Spice Girls performed 20 songs and changed outfits eight times.
The Spice Girls' comeback song, "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)", was released on 5 November. It was the official charity song for Children in Need. The Spice Girls performed this song and "Stop" at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. They also performed for the BBC Children in Need telethon. "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" reached number eleven in the UK. This was their lowest-charting British song. The album reached number two. On 1 February 2008, they announced the tour would end early in Toronto. Some tour dates in other countries were cancelled.
The tour was the highest-earning concert act of 2007–2008. It made $107.2 million from tickets and merchandise. The London shows alone earned £16.5 million (US$33 million). The group's comeback also won them several awards.
Musical and Olympic Performances (2010, 2012)
At the 2010 Brit Awards, the Spice Girls received a special award. It was for their 1997 Brit Awards performance. Geri Halliwell and Melanie Brown accepted the award.
That year, the Spice Girls worked on a stage musical called Viva Forever!. Like the ABBA musical Mamma Mia!, it used the group's music to tell a new story. In June 2012, the Spice Girls reunited for a press conference to promote the musical. They also appeared in a documentary called Spice Girls' Story: Viva Forever!. Viva Forever! opened in London in December 2012. All five Spice Girls attended. Critics did not like it, and it closed after seven months.
In August 2012, the Spice Girls reunited to perform at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. They sang "Wannabe" and "Spice Up Your Life." Their performance was praised. It became the most-tweeted moment of the Olympics.
More Tours and Anniversaries (2016, 2018–2024)
On 8 July 2016, Melanie Brown, Emma, and Geri released a video. They celebrated the 20th anniversary of "Wannabe." They hinted at new music as a three-person group. Victoria and Melanie C chose not to join but supported the idea. A new song was leaked online in November. But the reunion project was cancelled because Geri was pregnant.
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In late 2018, the Spice Girls officially announced their second reunion tour. Tickets went on sale in November 2018. They said it would be a four-person group without Victoria Beckham. She chose not to join because of her fashion business. Each of the four members reportedly earned £12 million for the tour.
On 24 May 2019, they started the Spice World – 2019 Tour in the UK and Ireland. The tour ended with three concerts at London's Wembley Stadium on 15 June 2019. Over 13 shows, the tour had 700,000 fans and earned $78.2 million. The three sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium were the highest-earning concerts of the year. They won a Billboard Live Music Award for Top Boxscore. Even with some sound problems early on, many people loved the tour.
Along with the tour, the group worked with the children's book series Mr. Men. They created books, cups, and bags. On 13 June 2019, it was reported that an animated Spice Girls film was planned. It would have old and new songs.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of "Wannabe," an EP was released in July 2021. It included songs that had not been released before. On 29 October, the Spice Girls released Spice25. This was a special edition of their first album, Spice. It also had unreleased songs and remixes. This special release made the album re-enter the UK Albums Chart at number five.
On 27 September 2022, the Spice Girls announced Spiceworld25. This was the 25th anniversary edition of their album Spiceworld. It had live versions and remixes that had not been released before. Their song "Step to Me" was released digitally for the first time. Spiceworld25 was released on 4 November 2022. To promote it, new music videos for "Spice Up Your Life" and "Never Give Up on the Good Times" were released.
The Royal Mail issued fifteen stamps starting 11 January 2024. This was to mark the 30th anniversary of the Spice Girls.
The Spice Girls' Unique Style
Music Style
The Spice Girls used dance-pop music as their base. But they added a strong, independent, and feminist message. Their music mixed different styles. Geri Halliwell said it was a "melding" of the group members' different music tastes. Melanie C said that Madonna and TLC were big influences.
A production team called Absolute worked on their first two albums. They found it hard to work with the group at first. This was because Absolute liked R&B music. But the Spice Girls were "always very poptastic."
Some critics have said that the "undeniable artistry" of the group's songs was overlooked. They said the Spice Girls "instinctively had an ear for a catchy tune." Their second album, Spiceworld, was praised for being "more sophisticated." It had songs with different musical flavors and themes.
Song Meanings
The Spice Girls' songs often talked about female strength and friendship.
Singing Together
Unlike other pop groups before them, the Spice Girls shared the singing. No one member was the main singer. Each song was divided so that each girl sang one or two lines. Then, all five voices sang together in the chorus. Some people criticized this because no one voice stood out. But it was a smart way to show their "all-in-it-together" girl-gang image.
Their former vocal coach, Pepi Lemer, said their voices were unique. She noted the "lightness" of Emma's voice and the "soulful sound" of Melanie Brown's and Melanie C's voices. Melanie C was seen as the singer the group couldn't do without.
Songwriting Process
The Spice Girls did not play instruments. But they helped write all of their songs.
How the Spice Girls Changed Pop Music
Pop Music Boom and Girl Group Rise
The Spice Girls came out when alternative rock, hip-hop, and R&B were most popular. Geri Halliwell said in 1996, "We want to bring some of the glamour back to pop, like Madonna had." The Spice Girls created a new pop trend by focusing on young people. They are credited with changing music by bringing pop music back. They started a global wave of teen pop acts in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These included the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and NSYNC.
The Spice Girls are also known for opening the way for other girl groups and female pop singers. Unlike earlier girl groups, the Spice Girls focused on young female fans. In the UK, they changed the male-dominated pop music scene. Before them, girl groups had hit songs but their albums didn't sell as well. Many in the British music industry thought an all-girl pop group wouldn't work.
The huge success of the Spice Girls led to many new girl groups. About 20 new girl groups started in the UK in 1999. Another 35 started the next year. Groups like All Saints, Atomic Kitten, and Girls Aloud came out during this time. They all hoped to be as successful as the Spice Girls. Outside the UK, girl groups in other countries were also inspired by the Spice Girls.
Many girl groups today still say the Spice Girls influenced them. These include the Pussycat Dolls, Little Mix, and Blackpink. Solo female artists like Jess Glynne, Charli XCX, and Beyoncé have also been influenced. Adele, a 16-time Grammy Award winner, says the Spice Girls were a major reason she loved music. She said, "they made me what I am today."
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Image, Nicknames, and Fashion
The Spice Girls' image was made for young girls. Their five different personalities and styles were important. Fans could identify with one member. This was different from earlier groups like the Beatles.
The British press gave them nicknames. After a lunch with the Spice Girls, the editor of Top of the Pops magazine decided to create nicknames. He said, "it came naturally to give them names that would be used by the magazine and its readers; it was never meant to be adopted globally." Soon, the nicknames were everywhere. One writer explained how they were chosen:
- Victoria was 'Posh Spice' because she wore fancy clothes and seemed quiet.
- Emma was 'Baby Spice' because she wore pigtails and seemed innocent.
- Melanie C was 'Sporty Spice' because she wore tracksuits and was athletic.
- Melanie B was 'Scary Spice' because she was loud and bold.
- Geri was 'Ginger Spice' because of her bright red hair.
Melanie C explained that the Spice Girls' image happened by accident. They tried to dress the same at first. But then they decided to just wear their own styles. They didn't think much of it until the press gave them nicknames. The group liked the nicknames. Melanie C said it was "like a protection mechanism."
Each Spice Girl had a distinct, over-the-top style. This showed their public personality.
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- Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice): Known for her short dark hair, serious look, and fancy designer outfits (often a little black dress).
- Melanie Brown (Scary Spice): Known for her bold attitude, loud accent, pierced tongue, and wild clothes (often leopard-print).
- Emma Bunton (Baby Spice): The youngest, with long blonde pigtails, pastel (especially pink) babydoll dresses, platform sneakers, and a sweet, girly girl personality.
- Melanie Chisholm (Sporty Spice): Usually wore a tracksuit and athletic shoes, with her hair in a high ponytail. She had tattoos and a tough-girl attitude. She also did back handsprings and high kicks on stage.
- Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice): Known for her bright red hair and flashy stage outfits. She was often seen as the leader of the group.
The Spice Girls are seen as fashion icons of the 1990s. Their style is strongly linked to the band. They helped start 1990s fashion trends like Buffalo platform shoes and double bun hairstyles. Their styles have inspired other celebrities like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. Adele also credits them for her love of music. The most famous outfit was Geri Halliwell's Union Jack dress from the 1997 Brit Awards. This dress was sold for £41,320. It set a Guinness World Record for the most expensive pop star clothing sold at that time.
Awards and Achievements
The Spice Girls have won many important awards. These include five Brit Awards, three American Music Awards, and four Billboard Music Awards. They also won two Ivor Novello Awards for their songwriting. In 2000, they received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. This made them the youngest group to win this award. Previous winners include Elton John and the Beatles.
The Spice Girls were the best-selling British act of the 1990s. They sold more than groups like Oasis. They are the best-selling girl group of all time. They sold 100 million records worldwide. The group had the highest-charting debut for a UK group on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Say You'll Be There." They were also the first British band since the Rolling Stones in 1975 to have two albums in the top ten of the US Billboard 200 at the same time. In 1998, they had the highest yearly earnings for an all-female group, about $49 million. In 1999, they were ranked sixth on Forbes first Celebrity 100 Power Ranking. This made them the highest-ranking musicians.
They had nine number-one songs in the UK. This is tied with ABBA. The group had three Christmas number-one songs in the UK in a row. Only the Beatles and LadBaby share this record. Their first song, "Wannabe," is the most successful song by an all-female group. It was also the highest-ever debut for a British band in the US.
Spice is the 18th best-selling album of all time in the UK. It sold over 3 million copies. It was number one for 15 weeks, the most for a female group in the UK. It is also the best-selling album by a girl group ever, with over 23 million copies sold worldwide. Spiceworld sold 7 million copies in just two weeks. They are also the first group (and only female group so far) to have their first six songs reach number one in the UK. Their streak ended with "Stop," which reached number two.
The Spice Girls have the highest-earning concert tours by an all-female group across two decades (2000–2020). They earned nearly $150 million from 58 shows. They are also the group with the most merchandise in music history. Their Spice Girls dolls are the best-selling celebrity dolls ever, with over 11 million sold. Their movie, Spice World, broke a record for its opening weekend in the US. It earned over $10.5 million. The movie also topped the UK video charts, selling over 270,000 copies in its first week.
Albums by the Spice Girls
- Spice (1996)
- Spiceworld (1997)
- Forever (2000)
Concert Tours
- Girl Power! Live in Istanbul (1997)
- Spiceworld Tour (1998)
- Christmas in Spiceworld Tour (1999)
- The Return of the Spice Girls Tour (2007–08)
- Spice World – 2019 Tour (2019)
Meet the Spice Girls
- Melanie "Mel B" Brown / "Scary Spice" (1994–2000, 2007–2008, 2012, 2018–2019)
- Emma Bunton / "Baby Spice" (1994–2000, 2007–2008, 2012, 2018–2019)
- Melanie "Melanie C" Chisholm / "Sporty Spice" (1994–2000, 2007–2008, 2012, 2018–2019)
- Victoria Beckham / "Posh Spice" (1994–2000, 2007–2008, 2012)
- Geri Halliwell / "Ginger Spice" (1994–1998, 2007–2008, 2012, 2018–2019)
Timeline of Members
See also
In Spanish: Spice Girls para niños
