Twenty five years ago, the Spice Girls released their first single, Wannabe and from that moment on, Melanie Chisholm was known as Sporty Spice and her life changed forever.
For the first time, Melanie C shares her story in her own words and provides a full account of what life was really like in The Spice Girls.
“I have been known as Sporty Spice, Mel C, Melanie C, Mum or just plain old Melanie Chisholm, but what you will read within the pages of this book is who I truly am, the person underneath it all, and how I found peace with that after all these years,” says Melanie.
Yes, she answered an advertisement in a newspaper and auditioned for a role in the girl band. However this was only one of many defining steps in her creative journey.
“I was suddenly part of one of the biggest music groups in history, releasing hit after hit, performing to our wonderful fans and spreading the message of Girl Power to the world. It was everything I'd dreamed of growing up, and I've had some incredible times... The BRITs! The movie! Travelling the world playing iconic venues like Madison Square Garden, The O2, Wembley Stadium and the London 2012 Olympics! We spread the message of Girl Power to the world, and it was amazing.”
However, she revisits her darkest times to describe the pressure, exhaustion, shaming and the price of fame. Despite not being a devoted fan, this is a highly enjoyable memoir. Melanie says she hasn’t been ready to tell her story until now and I think her writing benefits greatly from her experience since her Spice Girl days. She honestly discusses her body image, self-esteem and healthy eating issues and life lessons learnt over time. I expected an empowering tone, but Who I am is also entertaining and inspiring.
Melanie Jayne Chisholm was born in Whiston, Lancashire, and grew up in Widnes, Cheshire, England. She rose to fame as a member of The Spice Girls, who would become the bestselling girl group of all time. In 1999, she released her first solo album, Northern Star and has since released seven albums. She has sold 23 million records as a solo artist and this is her first book. Follow Melanie C online.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy Welbeck, RRP $34.99