The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl
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- Create Date：2022-09-29 06:51:44
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Melanie Chisholm
- ISBN：153874029X
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Summary
An intimate memoir from international pop star Melanie Chisholm--better known as Mel C。 or Sporty Spice--chronicling her trajectory from small-town girl to overnight icon as part of the Spice Girls。
I never told my story before because I wasn't ready。 Now， finally， I am。
25 years ago， The Spice Girls， a girl band that began after five women answered an ad in the paper， released their first single。 'Wannabe' became a hit and from that moment， Melanie Chisholm’s life changed forever。
Almost overnight， Melanie went from small town girl to Sporty Spice， part of one of the biggest music groups in history， releasing hit after hit， performing in packed arenas， and spreading the message of Girl Power to the world。 It was everything Mel had dreamed of growing up: The BRITs！ A movie！ Travelling the world playing iconic venues like Madison Square Garden， Wembley Stadium and the London 2012 Olympics！
When you're a woman， though， that power can be easily taken away by those around you， whether by pressure， exhaustion， shaming， bullying or a constant feeling like you aren't enough。 Mel C has been known by many names — Sporty Spice， Melanie C or just plain old Melanie Chisholm — but what you will read within the pages of this book is who she truly is， and how she found peace with that after all these years。
Filled with enlightening and lively reminiscences， revisiting both Mel’s darkest times and her highest peaks， WHO I AM will inspire， empower， and entertain readers。
I never told my story before because I wasn't ready。 Now， finally， I am。
25 years ago， The Spice Girls， a girl band that began after five women answered an ad in the paper， released their first single。 'Wannabe' became a hit and from that moment， Melanie Chisholm’s life changed forever。
Almost overnight， Melanie went from small town girl to Sporty Spice， part of one of the biggest music groups in history， releasing hit after hit， performing in packed arenas， and spreading the message of Girl Power to the world。 It was everything Mel had dreamed of growing up: The BRITs！ A movie！ Travelling the world playing iconic venues like Madison Square Garden， Wembley Stadium and the London 2012 Olympics！
When you're a woman， though， that power can be easily taken away by those around you， whether by pressure， exhaustion， shaming， bullying or a constant feeling like you aren't enough。 Mel C has been known by many names — Sporty Spice， Melanie C or just plain old Melanie Chisholm — but what you will read within the pages of this book is who she truly is， and how she found peace with that after all these years。
Filled with enlightening and lively reminiscences， revisiting both Mel’s darkest times and her highest peaks， WHO I AM will inspire， empower， and entertain readers。
Reviews
Piper Winchester
，
Loved reading about one of my favourite band 。Touching and fun
Thrillerswineandchill
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SPICE UP YOUR LIFE 🔥BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5Growing up in the 90s， the Spice Girls were my absolute IDOLS！ Albums， stickers， posters， clothing， dolls， etc I had them all！ My parents can tell you that I knew every song by heart and watched the Spice World movie a million times。 Still to this day I have several Spice Girls songs sprinkled throughout my numerous playlists and I still do the dance moves from my childhood talent shows to songs like Spice Up Your Life and Stop ✋ This memoir was beautiful w SPICE UP YOUR LIFE 🔥BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5Growing up in the 90s， the Spice Girls were my absolute IDOLS！ Albums， stickers， posters， clothing， dolls， etc I had them all！ My parents can tell you that I knew every song by heart and watched the Spice World movie a million times。 Still to this day I have several Spice Girls songs sprinkled throughout my numerous playlists and I still do the dance moves from my childhood talent shows to songs like Spice Up Your Life and Stop ✋ This memoir was beautiful written by Melanie C and it was such an intense throw back for me。 As I read along and Mel mentioned the titles of different songs， I would stop and pull up music videos that I had not watched in years to relive the hype。 I also paid attention to the lyrics that I did not fully understand back when I was younger and just how powerful the lyrics were by the Spice Girls and Mel C as a solo artist 💪🏼 Melanie’s writing is brutally honest， raw and true to her own voice。 The behind the scenes struggles of being a pop sensation is extremely eye opening and heartbreaking。 This memoir is the epitome of G I R L P O W E R and I think readers will learn a lot and feel empowered from it！ Mel C has lived through a lot of amazing moments， tough times， ups and downs and following along with her journey is incredibly special and I am in awe of her personal and professional achievements 🙌🏻I am honoured to have received a gifted copy from Grand Central Pub in exchange for my honest review！ You made this lifelong fan VERY happy 🫶。 This book releases TOMORROW （September 27， 2022） … RUN， don’t walk to get your copy！ 。。。more
Dana
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Thank you to Grand Central for the gifted copy of THE SPORTY ONE！ All opinions in this review are my own。I cannot even begin to describe how excited I was when I received this book in the mail！Growing up in the 90s meant that I lived through the meteoric success of The Spice Girls。 Melanie C， or Sporty Spice， was always my favorite。 She wore her hair in long brown pony tail like I did， made it cool for a girl to be athletic， and her birthday was only one day before mine。Reading this book， much l Thank you to Grand Central for the gifted copy of THE SPORTY ONE！ All opinions in this review are my own。I cannot even begin to describe how excited I was when I received this book in the mail！Growing up in the 90s meant that I lived through the meteoric success of The Spice Girls。 Melanie C， or Sporty Spice， was always my favorite。 She wore her hair in long brown pony tail like I did， made it cool for a girl to be athletic， and her birthday was only one day before mine。Reading this book， much like listening to the lyrics as an adult， I realized that I had no idea what was going on as a kid。 It's heartbreaking to read about Melanie struggling through during successful years of the group， especially when it came to the group's dynamics。I learned so much from this book。 I hadn't realized that the Spice Girls were only a group for a few years and that Melanie C went on to make many successful solo albums after the group disbanded。If you were ever a Spice Girls fan， you need to read this book！ 。。。more
Ece
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As I started reading this book， I remembered that I respected Mel C so much because she had an incredible voice and she could dance and do high kicks :） It was incredibly amazing to read everything from her side and from her own words。 The book is divided by chapters named by her and Spice Girls songs and since then， I cannot stop listening my Mel C playlist。 She doesn’t only share her story and success but also gives information on her struggle with mental health and having a hardworking solo c As I started reading this book， I remembered that I respected Mel C so much because she had an incredible voice and she could dance and do high kicks :） It was incredibly amazing to read everything from her side and from her own words。 The book is divided by chapters named by her and Spice Girls songs and since then， I cannot stop listening my Mel C playlist。 She doesn’t only share her story and success but also gives information on her struggle with mental health and having a hardworking solo career which makes this book even more interesting。 I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want it to end。 。。。more
Giuliana
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Wow what a book。Thank you Melanie for giving us a glimpse into what was your experience with the spice girls。This is a must have for every not only Sporty spice fan but for every girls and every spice girl fan。 A true treasure a beauty begging to end。
Nicole
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Thank you so much to Grand Central Pub and Hatchette Books for the gifted copy！ I was screaming and jumping up and down when I recieved it。I devoured this book in 2 days！ One being my birthday that's how much I couldn't put this down。 Mel C is an incredible person and so well spoken。 Her story is inspiring and so interesting！ I always liked the Spice Girls but admittedly mostly the hits as I was born right around their prime。 This book was not lost on me at all though。 5/5 stars！ You can catch m Thank you so much to Grand Central Pub and Hatchette Books for the gifted copy！ I was screaming and jumping up and down when I recieved it。I devoured this book in 2 days！ One being my birthday that's how much I couldn't put this down。 Mel C is an incredible person and so well spoken。 Her story is inspiring and so interesting！ I always liked the Spice Girls but admittedly mostly the hits as I was born right around their prime。 This book was not lost on me at all though。 5/5 stars！ You can catch me listening to all of Mel's discography for the next year。 She's gained a mega fan in me and I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested。 。。。more
Janine
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I was so excited when this book was sent to me because my sister and I grew up LOVING the Spice Girls。 There are so many photos of us flashing the peace sign。 We owned dolls （I think my sister had Posh and I had Baby）。 We knew pretty much all the words to their first album。 We loved the Spice World movie。 Needless to say， we were fans。 Being able to read Mel C’s memoir and learn all about her life， including her experience as a Spice Girl， was incredible。 I struggled a little bit in the beginnin I was so excited when this book was sent to me because my sister and I grew up LOVING the Spice Girls。 There are so many photos of us flashing the peace sign。 We owned dolls （I think my sister had Posh and I had Baby）。 We knew pretty much all the words to their first album。 We loved the Spice World movie。 Needless to say， we were fans。 Being able to read Mel C’s memoir and learn all about her life， including her experience as a Spice Girl， was incredible。 I struggled a little bit in the beginning because there was a lot of detail， so it wasn’t flowing naturally in my head and I was moving through it slowly。 But it didn’t take long for me to get to a place where I didn’t want to put it down。 Mel gets very open and honest in this memoir， and that was something I really appreciated。 She talks about her struggles with eating disorders and depression。 Actually， I was surprised at how many things she said that really stuck with me， either because I could relate to it or because it was so meaningful and inspirational。And of course， I loved hearing about all the crazy Spice Girl stories！ I was so young when I was obsessed with them， so I didn’t even think twice about what was going on behind the scenes。 When Geri left the band， I was too young to really even understand what that implied。 So that was a real trip to read all about the drama and details of that time in history。Anyway， I could go on about this book forever but I’ll stop there。 Definitely recommend if you enjoy memoirs or have any type of interest in the Spice Girls！Big thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy！ 。。。more
Mandy White （mandylovestoread）
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I loved this book！ I listened to the audiobook， which Mel C reads herself and it was incredible。 I just had to get the physical copy for my 5-star bookshelf。 Who doesn't love the Spice Girls！ The girl group that took over the world， the girl group that they said would not work。 This book takes you behind the scenes， and into the life of Sporty Spice。Mel C is so frank and open about this time in her life。 It was not all glitz and glamour; things were heard for these girls。 It made me sad to hear I loved this book！ I listened to the audiobook， which Mel C reads herself and it was incredible。 I just had to get the physical copy for my 5-star bookshelf。 Who doesn't love the Spice Girls！ The girl group that took over the world， the girl group that they said would not work。 This book takes you behind the scenes， and into the life of Sporty Spice。Mel C is so frank and open about this time in her life。 It was not all glitz and glamour; things were heard for these girls。 It made me sad to hear what they went through， the way they were treated and made to feel。 They worked so hard for everything that happened for them。 There were so many great stories， how she met and ended up working with Bryan Adams， their first trip to the Brits， the reunion tours and so many more。 It is a must read for any Spice Girls fan。Who was your favourite Spice Girl？？ 。。。more
Living My Best Book Life
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Who I Am is an eye-opening memoir about the ups and downs of fame and life as a Spice Girl。 Melanie C speaks her truth every step of the way。I love the Spice Girls and couldn't wait to read this。 Reading memoirs from some of my favorite celebrities is always interesting because a fan's perspective is usually so different from theirs。 Melanie began her young life with hopes of becoming a dancer。 She loved to perform and got the deserved recognition。 It's funny how one audition lead to an offer to Who I Am is an eye-opening memoir about the ups and downs of fame and life as a Spice Girl。 Melanie C speaks her truth every step of the way。I love the Spice Girls and couldn't wait to read this。 Reading memoirs from some of my favorite celebrities is always interesting because a fan's perspective is usually so different from theirs。 Melanie began her young life with hopes of becoming a dancer。 She loved to perform and got the deserved recognition。 It's funny how one audition lead to an offer to join a girl group。 It was unexpected and thrilling and I don't think anyone can be fully prepared to handle fame。Soon after 'Wannabe' was released it became an instant hit。 The girls had put in the work and to see it all come together was fulfilling。 In the beginning， you can tell how excited the girls were to make music together， but as time goes on things always change。 Melanie noted how pressure really affected her and it will break your heart。 She is so talented and yet people were still telling her that she wasn't good enough。 This left a mark on her and affect her physical and mental health。 She details dealing with eating disorders， depression， and anxiety。 I really felt for her because she gave her all to the entertainment industry and it caused so much turmoil。 If anything， I think this book will continue to remind people to be empathetic and supportive toward one another。 Being a global superstar doesn't mean all your worries and problems go away。 In many cases， it actually amplifies them。 I give Who I Am 4 stars。 I think this book is nostalgic for all The Spice Girls fans around the world。 It also shines a light on the hardships that come with fame and success。 Melanie's writing is moving。 In the end， she finally feels comfortable speaking her truth and that vulnerability is going to inspire her fans just like her music continues to do to this day。 。。。more
Emma Webb
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I absolutely could not put this down。 Yes， it has some really triggering moments for anyone that has experienced an eating disorder or mental illness， but she does put a warning at the beginning of the book。 I needed to put the book down to process some of it at times， especially a binge eating description that could’ve come from my own diary （scarily accurate to what I’m sure a lot of us go through） and there is a terrifying picture （she says it herself） of Mel when she was in her worst state o I absolutely could not put this down。 Yes， it has some really triggering moments for anyone that has experienced an eating disorder or mental illness， but she does put a warning at the beginning of the book。 I needed to put the book down to process some of it at times， especially a binge eating description that could’ve come from my own diary （scarily accurate to what I’m sure a lot of us go through） and there is a terrifying picture （she says it herself） of Mel when she was in her worst state of anorexia， quite something to take in。I have read the other Spice Girls Autobiographies， as a huge fan， but have always been a particular fan of Mel C as an individual and a solo artist （Northern Star is a gorgeous album and her recent singles have been absolute bangers！）。 This book is above all， honest。 Totally honest。 The description of the experiences all the girls went through in the 90s with fast fame and the press could have tainted the magic of the Spice Girls for me， but the tone in which Mel writes about it doesn’t。 It’s honest， but still totally appreciative of the incredible experience that being a Spice Girl continues to give Mel and all the girls。 I am sad to see that all of them didn’t really get to enjoy their 96/97/98 years of the band as much as they would’ve wanted to， but it sounds like they are all in an incredible place right now in the present。 I’m still so proud to be a Spice Girl and Mel C fan， and having seen Mel C live last year， I’m so happy for her。 She seems to be in the best place right now and I thank her for sharing her story。 Mel asks at the end of the book if she should’ve written it， and to that I say you absolutely should’ve， it’s a fantastic book。 Thanks for sharing such intimate information with us fans。 Love you forever ♥️ 。。。more
Leah • leahreads__
，
Hold onto to your hats - it’s gonna be a long one。 Spice Girls was the epitome of my childhood and to say I was happy to get this book would be an understatement。 Who doesn’t remember growing up pretending to be the Spice Girls？！ Collecting the sticker books and putting on concerts。When this book came in the mail I screamed; I have never been so excited to read a memoir！ So yeah maybe my review will be a little （a lot） biased， but it’s my post sooo 🤷🏻♀️This book was exactly what you wanted it t Hold onto to your hats - it’s gonna be a long one。 Spice Girls was the epitome of my childhood and to say I was happy to get this book would be an understatement。 Who doesn’t remember growing up pretending to be the Spice Girls？！ Collecting the sticker books and putting on concerts。When this book came in the mail I screamed; I have never been so excited to read a memoir！ So yeah maybe my review will be a little （a lot） biased， but it’s my post sooo 🤷🏻♀️This book was exactly what you wanted it to be - the making and rise of the Spice Girls and everything in between。 It starts off with Mel C giving us some background of her own life growing up and how she came to audition for what would eventually be the Spice Girls。I loved reading about them starting out and how they were just running around， genuinely having a good time， while also working their asses off。 I was laughing out loud at them performing in board rooms for meetings， going on adventures， and often peeing in random places？！ 😂“We’d turn up in an office somewhere， tear the place up and leave， everybody’s ties and hairs blowing in the wind。 We were a tornado。” Mel C did show us the downside of the group too。 She showcased the struggles the girls had as the pressure mounted and arguments turned more serious。 Mel C also provides a raw look at her own struggles along the way （the comments she received early on were infuriating to read）。 She often struggled with her mental health and eating disorders for years。 She does provide trigger warnings and resources for this at the beginning of the book which is always appreciated。 Say what you want about them， but the Spice Girls paved the way for girl bands and didn’t conform to what anyone wanted them to be。 They wrote and sang what they wanted， dressed how they wanted， and performed how they wanted。 Thank you THANK YOU to Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Books for this gifted copy。 It was a dream come true。 And a special thank you to Mel C for giving us such an honest look into her life。 Proud to be a Spice Girl fan 💜 。。。more
Ailsa
，
As a British woman in my 30s， I was （and am） a huge Spice Girls fan。 They were my first proper favourite band， I have very fond memories of a Spice Girls themed birthday party in 1997 where we all dressed as our favourite Spice Girl and my mum somehow squeezed a DJ into our living room。Looking back on it now through Mel C’s eyes you really see the darkness that was going on at this time。 And of course I know the tabloid media in the 90s/00s was awful because I grew up then too and there’s no den As a British woman in my 30s， I was （and am） a huge Spice Girls fan。 They were my first proper favourite band， I have very fond memories of a Spice Girls themed birthday party in 1997 where we all dressed as our favourite Spice Girl and my mum somehow squeezed a DJ into our living room。Looking back on it now through Mel C’s eyes you really see the darkness that was going on at this time。 And of course I know the tabloid media in the 90s/00s was awful because I grew up then too and there’s no denying it had an impact on the mental health and body image of normal girls let alone the celebrities they were talking about。 But I didn’t realise quite how bad things had got for Melanie C。 She talks in a lot of detail in the book bout her experiences with depression and an eating disorder， so this isn’t necessarily a happy read - though there’s plenty of fun stories， too。 And I for one am very glad that Spice World the movie is finally appreciated for the camp masterpiece that it truly is。 This isn’t going to win a Pulitzer， but it’s a must read for any Spice Girls fan。 。。。more
Sarah
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I would like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review。 I have been a huge fan of the Spice Girls since they first came on the screen and went to their 2008 reunion tour in Toronto。 I was hoping one day Mel C would write her own story， as I have read the other ladies books。 This did not disappoint。 We follow Mel from her childhood， the Spice Girls， and beyond。 She is very candid and honest。 I enjoyed reading this book。
Simplekind
，
Mel C was my favorite of the Spice Girls。 She was the one I pretended to be when all my friends played Spice Girl - even though I have no "sporty" skills at all。 I cannot wait to read this。 I rarely read memoirs but this one is a must。 Mel C was my favorite of the Spice Girls。 She was the one I pretended to be when all my friends played Spice Girl - even though I have no "sporty" skills at all。 I cannot wait to read this。 I rarely read memoirs but this one is a must。 。。。more
Matt Chisling （MattyandtheBooks）
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