50 Surprising Things You Never Knew About the Spice Girls

Spice Girls wasn't even their original name. 😱

Spice Girls
(Image credit: Getty Images, Design by American Artist)
Rachel Epstein
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published
in Features

The Spice Girls made their debut over two decades ago in 1994. And for those of you who were born near then (and even if you weren't), you probably don’t remember much about the iconic pop group beyond their hit singles, including “Wannabe." From meeting the Queen and Prince Charles multiple times to the story behind their formation, ahead 50 surprising things you never knew about the Spice Girls.

The Spice Girls were originally called "Touch."
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Spice Girls were originally called "Touch."

They changed the name in September 1995 after switching management.

The group was originally created to "compete with boy bands."
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The group was originally created to "compete with boy bands."

They were managed by Bob and Chris Herbert of Heart Management.

The first auditions took place in 1994.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The first auditions took place in 1994.

The girls chose the following songs to sing: Melanie Chisholm sang "I'm So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters, Melanie Brown sang "The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston, Victoria Adams (AKA Victoria Beckham) sang "Mein Herr" by Cabaret, and Michelle Stephenson sang "Don't Be a Stranger" by Dina Carroll. (Don't recognize all these names? More on that...)

If you're wondering why Emma Bunton is missing from the lineup...
(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you're wondering why Emma Bunton is missing from the lineup...

...it's because she wasn't apart of the original group. 😮

Bunton took Stephenson's place in 1994.
(Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Bunton took Stephenson's place in 1994.

After Stephenson left to take care of her sick mother.

Geri Halliwell also missed the first auditions.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Geri Halliwell also missed the first auditions.

Because she was visiting her grandmother in Spain.

Victoria Beckham wasn’t one of the original Spice Girls either.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Victoria Beckham wasn’t one of the original Spice Girls either.

Posh Spice took the place of Melanie Laccohee when the group was still called "Touch."

The Spice Girls have an airplane named after them.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Spice Girls have an airplane named after them.

They named it "Spice One" in 2007.

They released a movie called 'Spice World.'
(Image credit: Getty Images)

They released a movie called 'Spice World.'

It premiered in 1997.

The movie came back to select theaters this September...
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The movie came back to select theaters this September...

...to celebrate its 20th (!) anniversary.

"Wannabe" was written in 10 minutes...
(Image credit: Getty Images)

"Wannabe" was written in 10 minutes...

Mel B revealed,"We were listening to an old Shaggy reggae song and we were like, ‘Oh my God, we have to do something annoying like that song.’”

The video was filmed in one shot.
(Image credit: YouTube)

The video was filmed in one shot.

Just one question: how?

They asked former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to be in the "Wannabe" music video.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

They asked former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to be in the "Wannabe" music video.

But he reportedly refused.

Victoria was the only one who didn’t have her own line in the hit song.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Victoria was the only one who didn’t have her own line in the hit song.

😓

People across the world are still inspired by the song.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

People across the world are still inspired by the song.

In 2016, women in India recreated a video shoot inspired by "Wannabe" for the Global Girls campaign, which is part of a broader initiative to highlight the United Nations' Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

They would often turn Beckham's mic off while she performed.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

They would often turn Beckham's mic off while she performed.

Beckham revealed in a 2016 interview, "They used to turn [my mic] off and just let the others sing. Luckily because I used to wear heels, I just used to jig about a bit and I got away with it, but it never came easily. I was always much more reserved than the other girls.”

Geri Halliwell left the Spice Girls in 1998.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Geri Halliwell left the Spice Girls in 1998.

Her verses were then performed by Victoria Beckham during live performances of "Wannabe."

Geri's iconic Union Jack dress sold for a ton of money.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Geri's iconic Union Jack dress sold for a ton of money.

41,300 euros, to be exact. She wore it to perform at the 1997 Brit Awards. 🇬🇧

Halliwell recently apologized for leaving the group.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Halliwell recently apologized for leaving the group.

19 years later.

They actually didn't make up their nicknames themselves.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

They actually didn't make up their nicknames themselves.

The British magazine Top of the Pops gave it to them (and it clearly stuck). Incase you forgot (from left to right): Posh Spice, Baby Spice, Scary Spice, Ginger Spice, and Sporty Spice.

At one point they decided to run the group themselves...
(Image credit: Getty Images)

At one point they decided to run the group themselves...

After their performance at the 1997 MTV Europe Music Awards.

...so they fired their manager Simon Fuller.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

...so they fired their manager Simon Fuller.

He signed them in 1995 and was known to widely contribute to the Spice Girls' success.

The Spice Girls met Prince Charles and Nelson Mandela...at the same time.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Spice Girls met Prince Charles and Nelson Mandela...at the same time.

And Mel C wore a DKNY cutoff tank top to the occasion.

Oh, and she also wore sneakers.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Oh, and she also wore sneakers.

Just take a moment to observe VB's bra too.

Despite the fashion choices, Mandela loved meeting the girls.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Despite the fashion choices, Mandela loved meeting the girls.

He called the Spice Girls his "heroes."

He also said meeting them was "one of the greatest moments of his life."
(Image credit: Getty Images)

He also said meeting them was "one of the greatest moments of his life."

And of the Spice Girls proceeded to yell, "Wicked!”

The Spice Girls also met Prince Charles on multiple occasions...
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Spice Girls also met Prince Charles on multiple occasions...

"Throwin' up the deuce with the Prince, holla."✌️

...and he clearly loved every minute of it.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

...and he clearly loved every minute of it.

Vote 1 for the fake laugh candid photo-op, vote 2 if they're all genuinely this happy to see each other.

They also met Prince Harry in 1997 when he was 13 (!) years old.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

They also met Prince Harry in 1997 when he was 13 (!) years old.

You're welcome.

Oh, and the Queen too.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Oh, and the Queen too.

Definitely lookin' a little nervous at the Royal Command Performance in December 1997.

Victoria met David during her Spice Girls prime.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Victoria met David during her Spice Girls prime.

And Beckham had no clue who she was.

They become the most "recognizable faces" of the "Cool Brittania" era...
(Image credit: Getty Images)

They become the most "recognizable faces" of the "Cool Brittania" era...

...According to Time. This period is otherwise known as an era of increased pride for the United Kingdom throughout the 1990s. (Also peep Ben Affleck behind Geri.)

They’re responsible for bringing the “buffalo platform shoes” to life.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

They’re responsible for bringing the “buffalo platform shoes” to life.

Making a true statement.

Mel B and Victoria found out they were both pregnant at the same time.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Mel B and Victoria found out they were both pregnant at the same time.

On the final leg of their American tour.

They had toy dolls modeled after them called Spice Girls Dolls.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

They had toy dolls modeled after them called Spice Girls Dolls.

And they made over $11 million in sales.

Victoria and Emma are godmothers to Geri's daughter.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Victoria and Emma are godmothers to Geri's daughter.

Her name is Bluebell Madonna Halliwell and she's 11 years old.

Halliwell made a cameo on ​'Sex and the City​.' ​​
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Halliwell made a cameo on ​'Sex and the City​.' ​​

She can sing and act. You can watch it here.

Mel B wanted to change her name...
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Mel B wanted to change her name...

...to Mel G after she married her husband, Jimmy Gulzar, in 1998. (Good thing she didn't because they divorced.)

The Spice Girls performed at the 2012 Olympics.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Spice Girls performed at the 2012 Olympics.

This was the last time they performed "Wannabe" together.

It was also one of Emma Bunton's favorite memories.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

It was also one of Emma Bunton's favorite memories.

"It felt really special representing our country,” she revealed to US Weekly.

Bunton kept all of her Spice Girls dresses.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Bunton kept all of her Spice Girls dresses.

And the shoes. Iconic.

They never won a Grammy.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

They never won a Grammy.

They did win five Brit Awards, three American Music Awards, three MTV Europe Music Awards, one MTV Video Music Award, and three World Music Awards.

Despite how close they were, there was often a lot of fighting going on.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Despite how close they were, there was often a lot of fighting going on.

In a 2014 interview Mel B admits,"we fought like cats and dogs."

And Mel C says she was bullied.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

And Mel C says she was bullied.

She told Attitude,"I'm not going to name names. But yes. It's been addressed, they were aware of what they'd done. They apologized...now I'm older, I'm a lot more confident and I will not be shat upon." 👏

The Spice Girls reunited altogether at the 2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Spice Girls reunited altogether at the 2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Nine years after Geri left.

Mel B is now a judge on 'America's Got Talent.'
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Mel B is now a judge on 'America's Got Talent.'

Channeling her inner Scary Spice.

And Mel C is a judge on 'Asia's Got Talent.'
(Image credit: Getty Images)

And Mel C is a judge on 'Asia's Got Talent.'

Coincidence?

The group *may* get back together.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The group *may* get back together.

Rumors have been swirling amid their 20-year anniversary, and we'd probably die of happiness.

Rachel Epstein
Rachel Epstein

Rachel Epstein is a writer, editor, and content strategist based in New York City. Most recently, she was the Managing Editor at Coveteur, where she oversaw the site’s day-to-day editorial operations. Previously, she was an editor at Marie Claire, where she wrote and edited culture, politics, and lifestyle stories ranging from op-eds to profiles to ambitious packages. She also launched and managed the site’s virtual book club, #ReadWithMC. Offline, she’s likely watching a Heat game or finding a new coffee shop. 

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