Mel dedicates MBE to abused women
MEL B has dedicated her MBE to “all the other women” who are dealing with domestic violence as she collected the award from the Duke of Cambridge.
The 46-year-old pop star was honoured during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace yesterday after being made an MBE for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women.
Mel B, whose real name is Melanie Brown, first rose to prominence as Scary Spice in the Spice Girls, and became a patron of the charity Women’s Aid in 2018 after leaving what she described as an abusive relationship.
Speaking after collecting her MBE, she said the experience was “absolutely lovely”.
“I never thought I would be here getting this MBE for the work I’ve been doing,” she said. “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.
“So I’m their voice because we’ve all been through exactly the same story, so I don’t take it as it’s my award because it’s our award because we’ve survived.”
Asked about her conversation with William, she said: “He commended me on all my work that I’ve been doing, and he goes, ‘I’m
so sorry you went through such a horrible time’. He did say, ‘I can’t believe I’m giving you one of these – I’m delighted’, and I said, ‘Aw, thank you’ and we had a giggle.”
Asked about her career highlights, she said: “I’ve had a really amazing life so far and it was turned into something horrible for 10 years and I’ve made something worthy.”
She also hinted at more to come from the Spice Girls, but added: “I don’t want to say anything until it’s actually happening.”