Sporty Spice reinvents herself as a California blonde
Melanie Chisholm, also known as Sporty Spice, has spent the last six months hanging out on the beaches of California - and doesn't it show? Once a pale, soccer-mad tomboy and the least outgoing of the Spice Girls, Sporty's completely changed her image.
Mel recently chopped off her long dark hair and dyed it peroxide blonde, and instead of covering up with baggy tracksuits and zip-up jackets, is showing off her tanned body with skimpy tank tops, short skirts and shorts. Back in the studio to record the third Spice Girls album, Mel recently skipped happily down a London street with a new pair of (what else) Adidas trainers - fresh off the plane from her adopted home in LA.
Mel moved to the States late last year to work on her solo album, and has since become a regular on the Hollywood music scene. After recording a duet with Bryan Adams on his recent album, On A Day Like Today, she surprised LA audiences by joining former Sex Pistols, Duran Duran, and Guns 'n' Roses members for a Viper Room gig.
She's also been spotted out and about having power lunches in Beverly Hills with heavyweight music contacts keen to contribute to her solo album - scheduled to be released in October.
Despite Melanie G and Victoria Adams recently having children and getting married, the Spice Girls plan on going into the studio soon and continue to shoot down speculation that the group might call it quits. "We all love the Spice Girls so much, it's not time to call it a day, not yet," says Mel. "Not when the fans, who've been so loyal, still expect something from us."