Mel B, best known as Scary Spice of the Spice Girls, is speaking out against afro-hair discrimination and calling for legal change in the UK.
The singer revealed that during the filming of the group’s debut hit Wannabe, stylists told her she needed to straighten her hair because her “big hair didn’t fit the pop star mould.”
But she refused:
“I stood my ground — backed by my girls — and I sang and danced as me, with my big hair, my brown skin, and I was totally proud of who I was.”
Now 49, Mel B is supporting World Afro Day (WAD) and urging the government to update the Equality Act to protect against afro-hair discrimination, making the UK the first Western country to pass such a law.
She reflected on her childhood in Leeds during the 1970s, when she was often mocked for her mixed-race heritage and curly hair.
Describing it as “big, wild, and untidy,” she said it often got her into scrapes as a child.
Mel B, who has three daughters — Phoenix, Angel, and Madison — added that they too have faced challenges over their natural curls.
But she emphasized that they take pride in their hair, identity, and culture.
Campaigners argue that children with afro-textured hair in the UK are still unfairly punished for wearing natural styles or braids in schools.
To address this, WAD’s “100 Voices, 100 Words” campaign has gathered support from high-profile figures including Beverley Knight, Fleur East, and Professor Patrick Vernon OBE.
The open letter to MPs calls for afro hair to be recognized as a protected characteristic, ensuring legal protection against discrimination.