It’s hard to believe that it’s been two decades since the Spice Girls released their now-iconic hit, “Wannabe.” When Ginger, Posh, Baby, Sporty, and Scary arrived on the scene in the mid-’90s, the music industry (and listeners) would never be the same.
To their fans, the Spice Girls were more than just a girl group. They combined sequins, glitter, and platform heels with messages of girl power, the importance of female friendships, and sex positivity—themes that were ahead of their time in mainstream music.
Between the outrageous fashion and buzz-worthy moments, these five women embodied a major embrace of feminism—albeit a super-commercial and mainstream iteration of it—in entertainment, paving the way for women in music in the present.
As we celebrate 20 years of spicing up our lives with “Wannabe,” here’s a look back at the Spice Girls, then and now.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Write to Cady Lang at cady.lang@timemagazine.com