Spice Girls’ Love Lives: Marriages, Scandals and Surprise Flings

As the biggest girl group of the ’90s, the Spice Girls drew a lot of attention—both for their music and their personal lives. Over 25 years after they hit the scene, they remain beloved (admit it, you still know all the words to “Wannabe”!) and Posh, Scary, Sporty, Baby and Ginger are all now moms (or as the Brits would say, “mums”).

Here’s a look at the Spice Girls’ relationships, from longtime marriages to soccer stars and race car drivers to tabloid flings, and families. Read on to spice up your life with a personal look at the lives of the pop icons.

Victoria Beckham — Posh Spice

Victoria Beckham (née Victoria Adams) dated Mark Wood, an electrician, from 1988 to 1994, and the couple was engaged but ultimately broke it off. In a documentary, she quipped, “For some bizarre reason we got engaged. He was an alarm engineer. If only he’d stayed in that cupboard I met him in at my mum’s house.”

In 1995, Posh Spice briefly dated troubled ’80s teen star Corey Haim, but she revealed, “We didn’t have sex or anything. In actual fact, he didn’t seem to want to try. The most we did was kiss.”

At the height of Spice Girls mania in 1997, Posh began dating soccer superstar David Beckham. The pair met at a charity soccer game, and David already had a crush on Victoria, saying that as soon as he heard a Spice Girl would be at his game, he thought, “Please let it be Posh,” and admitting that he was “very nervous” about asking her out. Victoria, meanwhile, wasn’t much of a soccer fan and said she was more impressed by the fact that David was a gentleman who was close with his family than his athletic achievements.

Victoria and David Beckham in 1999
Victoria and David Beckham in 1999Dave Benett/Getty

Victoria and David were two of England’s biggest celebrities, and their relationship was covered breathlessly in the press, with the media dubbing them “Posh and Becks.” They married in an over-the-top ceremony in 1999, and remain a power couple over 25 years later.

Victoria and David Beckham in 2003
Victoria and David Beckham in 2003Kevin Winter/Getty

The Beckhams have three sons, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, and a daughter, Harper. Brooklyn is a model, photographer and entrepreneur while Romeo also models, and became a soccer player like his dad. Cruz is a model and musician, while Harper, the youngest of the Beckham clan, is still in school.

Victoria and David Beckham in 2018
Victoria and David Beckham in 2018Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty

In a recent interview, Victoria said, “I love spending time with my husband. Let me tell you—David Beckham is very funny. I have a husband I very much am still in love with, possibly more than when we first met. We really laugh. And we really support each other in regards to our careers and passions.”

Victoria and David Beckham in 2023
Victoria and David Beckham in 2023Megan Briggs/Getty

Mel B — Scary Spice

Melanie Brown (a.k.a. Mel B) dated Icelandic businessman Fjölnir Thorgeirsson from 1996 to 1997. In 1998, she began dating Jimmy Gulzar, a Dutch dancer who was part of the Spiceworld Tour, and they married that same year and had a daughter, Phoenix, who is now a DJ, and who has recreated some of her mom’s legendary ’90s looks on Instagram. Brown and Gulzar divorced in 2000.

Mel B and Jimmy Gulzar in 1999
Mel B and Jimmy Gulzar in 1999Dave Benett/Getty

After her divorce, Brown dated actor Max Beesley from 2000 to 2002. She was then in a relationship with director and producer Christine Crokos from 2002 to 2006. Brown said she’s had relationships with women throughout her life, but she’s never put a label on her sexuality, saying, “People call me lesbian, bisexual or heterosexual, but I know who’s in my bed and that’s it.” In a 2019 interview with Piers Morgan, Brown raised eyebrows when she revealed that back in the day she had a tryst with her fellow Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell.

Mel B and Geri Halliwell in 1997
Mel B and Geri Halliwell in 1997Ray Burmiston/Avalon/Getty

Brown then dated Eddie Murphy, and gave birth to their daughter, Angel, in 2007. Murphy initially denied he was the father, leading to a court-ordered DNA test, a large paternity settlement and a whole lot of tabloid coverage.

Following her scandalous relationship with Murphy, Brown married producer Stephen Belafonte in 2007. They had a daughter, Madison. Brown accused Belafonte of abuse and they divorced in 2017.

Mel B and Stephen Belafonte in 2014
Mel B and Stephen Belafonte in 2014David M. Benett/Getty

In 2022, Brown announced her engagement to hairstylist Rory McPhee. Earlier this year, she revealed that none other than Victoria Beckham designed her gown, and called her bandmate’s involvement in her upcoming nuptials “such a beautiful honor.”

In an interview, Brown revealed that McPhee made her feel safe after her previous abusive relationship and said, “He’s just been the best thing that’s happened to me. He’s made me believe in love again and trust again.”

Mel B and Rory McPhee in 2024
Mel B and Rory McPhee in 2024Ricky Vigil M / Justin E Palmer/GC Images/Getty

Mel C — Sporty Spice

Melanie Chisholm (a.k.a. Mel C) briefly dated fellow British pop star Robbie Williams in 1997. The next year, she dated music producer Jake Davies, and she was also linked to Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis, who wrote the 1999 song “Emit Remmus” about her. In 2000, Chisholm dated J Brown of the British boy band Five.

Mel C and J Brown in 2000
Mel C and J Brown in 2000Dave Hogan/Getty

She then had a long relationship with property developer Thomas Starr from 2002 to 2012. They have a daughter, Scarlett. From 2015 to 2022, Chisholm was in a relationship with music producer Joe Marshall, who also served as her manager.

Mel C and Thomas Starr in 2010
Mel C and Thomas Starr in 2010Dave M. Benett/Getty

Most recently, Chisholm has been rumored to be dating Cassius Colman, the owner of an art gallery. Before dating, they were friends for 25 years.

Chisholm has said that even though she’s been in long-term relationships, she doesn’t feel the need to get married. As she put it, “Marriage is just a lot of organizing, a lot of decisions to make.”

Emma Bunton — Baby Spice

Emma Bunton dated Lee Brennan of the British boy band 911 in 1997. She was then linked to Leonardo DiCaprio, but denied that she ever went out with him.

In 1998, Bunton dated another British pop star, Jade Jones of the boy band Damage. They broke up in 1999, and she began dating Rio Ferdinand, a soccer player she met through Victoria and David Beckham. After that, she was rumored to be dating Justin Timberlake in 2003.

Emma Bunton and Jade Jones in the '90s
Emma Bunton and Jade Jones in the ’90sTim Roney/Getty

Following their initial breakup, Bunton got back with Jones in 2004, and they’ve been together ever since then, marrying in 2021. They have two sons, Beau and Tate. Bunton has fully embraced mom life, and wrote a book of advice for new moms, Mama You Got This: A Little Helping Hand for New Parents, in 2022. She also has her own line of earth-friendly, charitably-inclined baby products, Kit & Kin.

Emma Bunton and Jade Jones in 2014
Emma Bunton and Jade Jones in 2014Niki Nikolova/GC Images/Getty

Looking back at her long relationship, Bunton said, “I fell in love with Jade at first sight. He was at a Spice Girls concert with the Damage boys and we were backstage and I remember clocking him straight away. We’ve been together ever since.”

Emma Bunton and Jade Jones in 2023
Emma Bunton and Jade Jones in 2023Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty

Geri Halliwell — Ginger Spice

Geri Halliwell dated Robbie Williams, who had previously dated her bandmate Melanie Chisholm, in 2001. In 2005, Halliwell was in a relationship with director and screenwriter Sacha Gervasi, and they had a daughter, Bluebell.

Geri Halliwell and Robbie Williams in 2001
Geri Halliwell and Robbie Williams in 2001Dave Hogan/Getty

Halliwell married race car driver Christian Horner in 2015. The couple has a son, Montague. Since getting married, Ginger Spice has gone by Geri Halliwell-Horner.

Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner in 2013
Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner in 2013Mark Thompson/Getty

Reflecting on her marriage, Halliwell-Horner said, “We’re best friends. And I went to an all-girls school — I didn’t know I could be best friends with a man.”

Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner in 2024
Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner in 2024Clive Rose/Getty

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