Mel B received her MBE on Wednesday with a special dedication (May 4).
Melanie Brown, the Spice Girl’s true name, was honored at Buckingham Palace for her contributions to humanitarian organizations and disadvantaged women. Brown has been an advocate for victims of domestic abuse since 2018, when she joined the Women’s Aid organization after fleeing an abusive relationship.
The 46-year-old singer dedicated the award to “all the other women” who are victims of domestic abuse. “I don’t take it as it’s my award because it’s our award because we’ve survived,” she said, adding that she felt like she was expressing the “voice” of all women who had been mistreated.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, presented Scary Spice with the prize. Brown told the PA news agency, “never thought [she’d] would be here getting this MBE for the work [she’s] been doing,” according to BBC.
“It’s amazing to have,” she continued, “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.”
When presenting Brown with her prize, the Duke of Cambridge praised her achievements and expressed regret that she had gone through what she had. “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 said of the abuse she endured.
Brown’s Twitter handle has been modified to read “Melanie Brown MBE” next to her verified checkmark. Victoria Beckham, a former Spice Girl, was also in attendance, outfitting her buddy for the event. “A special night celebrating @officialmelb! Posh Spice captioned a touching photo of the pals on her Instagram story.
