We don’t know what Victoria Beckham really really wants for her 40th birthday, but because you can never have too much of a good thing, take a minute now to catch up on what the girl power pioneers have been up to since they zig-a-zig-ah‘d their way to global stardom. After stomping onto the scene with towering platform shoes in the late 1990s, the women behind the best-selling female pop group of all time have gone to become mothers, writers, designers, television personalities and solo pop stars in their own right. Girl power, indeed.
Victoria Beckham's wealthy upbringing and love of high fashion (remember the little Gucci dress?) earned her the nickname Posh Spice.John Stanton—WireImage/Getty ImagesBeckham released one solo album in 2001, but these days she is better known as a highly successful fashion designer and the wife of soccer star David Beckham, with whom she has four children.Mike Marsland—WireImage/Getty ImagesA magazine gave Melanie Brown, better known as Mel B, the nickname Scary Spice for her bold personality. Her frequent appearances in animal-print outfits probably helped the nickname stick.Dave Hogan—Getty ImagesSince her second solo album, L.A. State of Mind, bombed in 2005, the mama of three has reinvented herself as an international reality star: She's been a judge on the U.K. and Australian versions of The X Factor as well as America's Got Talent.Jemal Countess—Getty ImagesIt wasn't just the babydoll dresses and pigtails that earned Emma Bunton the nickname of Baby Spice—she was also the youngest member of the group.John Stanton—WireImage/Getty ImagesSince the Spice Girls, Bunton has given birth to some baby spices of her own: 6-year-old Beau and 2-year-old Tate. She has released three solo albums, one of which, 2004's Free Me, earned critical acclaim for its Motown-inspired sound.Dave J Hogan—Getty ImagesMelanie Chisholm's tomboyish appearance and preference for tracksuits and ponytails earned her the moniker Sporty Spice.Dave Hogan—Getty ImagesChisholm, mother to 5-year-old Scarlett, has released six studio albums, making her the the most prolific solo member of the Spice Girls. But don't worry, she hasn't given up on the good times: Emma Bunton joined her for a duet on her last record, 2012's covers album Stages.David M. Benett—Getty ImagesGinger Spice broke the hearts of many wannabe Spice Girls when she shockingly left the group in 1998 before a North American tour.Tim Roney—Getty ImagesOnce a Spice Girl, always a Spice Girl: Halliwell performed with the reunited Spice Girls during their 2007-08 reunion tour, and she has also released three solo albums and penned the Ugenia Lavender children's book series. Halliwell gave birth to daughter Bluebell Madonna in 2006.Ferdaus Shamim—WireImage/Getty Images
