Entertainment

As Wannabe turns 25, we really, really, really wanna get nostalgic for old Spice Girls photos

June 30, 2021

It’s been a quarter of a century since the Spice Girls first zig-a-zig-ahhed into our lives, making the message clear from the start.

“If you wannabe my lover, you gotta get with my friends,” was their sing-song warning to the boys, in a song about friendship and, of course, girl power, that paved the way for world domination – delivered with a no-nonsense attitude that gave modern feminism “a kick up the arse”, as they would later put it.

Chaotically dancing their way through what was then the Midland Grand Hotel in London’s St Pancras, the video introduced us to a sequin-leotarded Geri Halliwell tottering in heels, Mel B taking charge and demanding we all listen carefully, a pig-tailed Emma Bunton stoically negotiating the moves in wedges, the famous Mel C back-flip, and what would become the Victoria Beckham (then Adams) signature pout.

Originally released on 8 July 1996, according to Official Charts, Wannabe debuted at number three in the UK before climbing to the top spot a week later; it remained at number one for a total of seven weeks, which is still the longest-reigning chart-topper by a girl group.

Wannabe was also hugely successful around the world, hitting number one in no less than 37 countries. In the UK, it has 2.03 million chart sales, including 1.32 million pure sales (making it the seventh best-selling debut single of all time), and 84.2 million streams, the Official Charts figures show.

In Baby, Ginger, Scary, Sporty and Posh, a pop phenomenon was born. As we celebrate 25 years of Spice Girls, here’s the story from A-Z…

The Spice Girls group during their final showreel audition to record companies Raw Spice video 1994
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‘Slam your body down and wind it all around. Got it?’ This is one of the first pictures of the Spice Girls available, taken from an audition tape in 1994
Taken at around the time Wannabe was released, Posh bagsied the wink as her signature move early on. Pic: Stephen Sweet/Rex/Shutterstock
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Pictured at around the time of Wannabe’s release, Victoria bagsied the wink as her signature look early on. Pic: Stephen Sweet/Rex/ShutterstockHalliwell
Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There. Pic: Spice Girls/YouTube
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The video for second single Say You’ll Be There (officially the best Spice Girls song) also led to Posh snagging Becks, who was reportedly a fan of the PVC catsuit. Pic: Spice Girls/YouTube
The Spice Girls in 1997. Pic: Alan Davidson/Shutterstock
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The Brits in the ’90s will always be remembered for Jarvis Cocker’s Michael Jackson stage invasion (’96), Chumbawumba soaking John Prescott (’98), and Geri’s ‘tea towel’ Union Flag dress in 1996. Pic: Alan Davidson/Shutterstock
The Spice Girls at The Brits in 1997
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Plus there was a wardrobe malfunction for Geri’s second outfit of the night, as the band went up to collect one of two awards, and Mel C later challenged Spice Girls critic Liam Gallagher to ‘come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough’
Spice Girls promote Pepsi in 1997
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From Brits to brands: The Spice Girls professed their love of Pepsi in these subtle ensembles
The Spice Girls launch Channel 5 in 1997
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You know you’ve made it when you’re posing with a massive remote. Less than a year after their debut, the Spice Girls were launching a whole new TV channel – Channel 5 was born in March 1997
The Spice Girls' Scary Spice Mel B was named female spectacle wearer of the year in 1997
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Of the many accolades they would win during their career, Mel B’s spectacle wearer of the year award is no doubt up there on the mantelpiece
prince Charles meets The Spice Girls at a royal gala in Manchester in 1997. Prince Charles impressed onlookers by knowing each of the girls nicknames, before they planted kisses on his cheeks. REUTERS/File
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When pop royalty meets actual royalty: Super fan Prince Charles reportedly knew all of the girls’ nicknames, and Geri made headlines by pinching his bum (she later clarified it was just a pat), when they met in May 1997
The Spice Girls, pose at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Winning the Best Dance Video award for 'Wannabe,' they dedicated their award to Princess Diana who died in a car crash less than a week earlier
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Pictured at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York, Geri swapped the Union Flag for stars and stripes
Attracting almost as much media attention as the real thing, the Spice Girls dolls are launched at the British Association of Toy Retailers Fair in London in October 1997
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Attracting almost as much media attention as the real thing, the Spice Girls dolls were launched in London in October 1997
Prince Charles and then South African President Nelson Mandela with the Spice Girls - (left to right): Mel C, Emma, Mel B, Geri and Victoria - at the presidential residence Mahlamba Nalopfu in Pretoria, South Africa in November 1997
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Twice in one year – does that make Prince Charles officially a groupie? The royal met the girls again in South Africa, alongside then president Nelson Mandela
A young Prince Harry with Spice Girls Mel B, Emma and Victoria in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1997
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A young Prince Harry also got to spice up his life during their South Africa trip
The Queen meets the The Spice Girls after the Royal Variety Performance in the Victoria Palace Theatre in 1997.
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Back in London in December 1997, the band met the Queen after the Royal Variety Performance (no bum pinching was reported this time)
Spice Girls at the Spiceworld film premiere in London in 1997
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They also launched their own film, Spice World, just before Christmas that year, ditching their individual looks for matching black pinstripes
Victoria Adams, a member of the British band The Spice Girls, smiles with her fiancee, Manchester United footballer David Beckham January 25, 1998. Beckham and Adams made their engagement public at a luxury hotel after media speculation over possible venues for their wedding
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Becks liked it so he put a ring on it in January 1998, with the couple announcing their engagement outside a swanky hotel in Chester
The Spice Girls wave from the top of a bus on Hollywood Boulevard for the premiere of Spice World the film in January 1998
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Liverpool FC’s Spice Boys may have received the nickname because of the band, but the girls were no doubt in turn inspired by the famous cream suits of the club’s 1996 FA Cup final appearance for their outfits for the US Spice World premiere
The Spice Girls at the Brit Awards in 1998
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Back to the Brits to perform Stop in 1998, the group also picked up the award for best-selling British album act. Never not promoting girl power, Posh (and her new ‘do) thanked her four ‘wicked’ best mates and Sporty praised women in the industry
The Spice Girls perform on stage in Dublin in 1998. The show was the first date of their world tour.
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Outfits got shiny as a world tour started in Dublin in February 1998
The Spice Girls pictured at a news conference announcing live dates for the summer, in Manchester in April 1998. They laughed off speculation that a split was imminent, but Geri Halliwell announced her departure less than two months later
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In April that year they announced more live dates for the summer, and laughed off speculation that a split was imminent… Geri and Mel C obviously missed the suits and bras memo
Emma Bunton 'Baby Spice', performing at the Spice Girls first of eight shows at London's Wembley Arena in April 1998
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Do you think anyone will notice if I keep my dressing gown on? They girls performed at Wembley Arena in April 1998
The Spice Girls at their after party following their first of eight shows at Wembley Arena in April 1998
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Did you even go out in the ’90s if you didn’t have a pair of pedal pushers? Baby combined hers with a corset (another staple of the era) as the girls went out out for the Wembley after party
The Spice Girls continued as a foursome after Geri Halliwell's departure in 1998
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However, all was not well in the Spice Girls camp, and Geri’s shock departure just a month later meant they had to carry on as a foursome
The Spice Girls meet Pavarotti before the Pavarotti and Friends concert for Liberia in Modena, Italy, in June 1998
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As five became four, Geri missed out on all sorts – like meeting Pavarotti in Italy in June 1998
Mel B released I Want You Back with Missy Elliott in 1998. Pic: YouTube
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The girls started taking advantage of solo opportunities, and Mel B teamed up with rapper Missy Elliott to release I Want You Back, which topped the charts in September 1998. Pic: YouTube
Melanie Chisholm and Bryan Adams released duet When You're Gone in 1998. Pic: Action Press/Shutterstock
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Meanwhile, Mel C was wandering round the house all night, wondering what the hell to do, with Bryan Adams. When You’re Gone charted at number three in the UK. Pic: Action Press/Shutterstock
Victoria Beckham and Melanie Brown pictured in December 1998, when they were both pregnant with their first children
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Both Victoria and Mel B were pregnant with baby spices Brooklyn and Phoenix when they filmed the video for Goodbye, their first song without Geri, released in December 1998
Designer Julien MacDonald is joined by models Kate Moss (left) and Scary Spice Mel B after a catwalk show as part of London Fashion Week, at the Camden Roundhouse
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The Spice Girls also dipped their toes into modelling over the years – here’s Mel B with designer Julien MacDonald and supermodel Kate Moss at London Fashion Week in 1999
Geri Halliwell signing copies of her autobiography in October 1999, after leaving the Spice Girls the previous year
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It was out with the sequins and platforms, in with the twinset and demure plait for the launch of Geri’s autobiography, If Only, 18 months after leaving the band
Emma Bunton released What I Am with Tin Tin Out in 1999. Pic: YouTube/TinTinOutVEVO
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Meanwhile, Emma Bunton released her first solo song, What I Am with Tin Tin Out. Pic: YouTube/TinTinOutVEVO
Spice Girls Mel B, Victoria Beckham, Mel C and Emma Bunton with their wax doubles at Madame Tussaud's Rock Circus in London in December 1999. The girls become the first pop band to be modelled as a group since the original Fab Four, The Beatles in 1964.
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I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want – to be immortalised in wax, that’s what. One more celebrity milestone ticked, the Spice Girls became the first band since The Beatles to make it as a group at Madame Tussaud’s
Victoria Beckham (second right) is comforted by Emma Bunton, Mel C and Mel B as she becomes overwhelmed with emotion during the Spice Girls performance at the Brit Awards, where they received the outstanding contribution to British music prize, in March 2000
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Another Brits, another award – this time for outstanding contribution to music in 2000…
Geri Haliwell made a dramatic entry from between a pair of giant thighs for her performance during the Brit Awards 2000 - at which the Spice Girls also appeared
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… although the girls were slightly upstaged by Geri, who ditched the demure to make a dramatic entrance from between a pair of giant legs for her performance of solo single, Bag It Up. Awkward
Spice Girl Victoria Beckham makes her debut on the catwalk at the Grachvogels Autumn/Winter Collection 2000 show as part of London Fashion Week.
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When Posh started to get really posh: Victoria made her debut on the catwalk at the Grachvogels Autumn/Winter Collection as part of London Fashion Week in 2000

Victoria Beckham, the Spice Girls' Posh Spice, with Another Level's Dane Bowers, performing their song Out Of Your Mind on stage at the Radio 1 Road Show 'Big Sunday' outdoor music event in Middlesbrough in August 2000
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This tune’s gonna punish you: Posh then hooked up with Another Level’s Dane Bowers and garage act True Steppers for Out Of Your Mind, her first foray into life as a solo artist, in 2000
The Spice Girls at the MTV Europe Music Awards in November 2000
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With a look we like to call ‘Halloween sexy devil-inspired’, the Spice Girls returned with an RnB sound for third album Forever and lead single Holler towards the end of 2000, but it wasn’t long before they began an indefinite break
The Spice Girls - Victoria Beckham, Melanie Chisholm, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton and Melanie Brown - at a press conference at the O2 Arena in London in 2007, announcing their first reunion
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After babies, several hairdos, and various solo stints in the charts, the Spice Girls announced their first reunion in 2007
The Spice Girls perform at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in November 2007 in Hollywood
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They performed at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Hollywood later that year
The Spice Girls unveil the new name, Spice One, of a Virgin Atlantic jet at the Flight Path Museum at Los Angeles Airport in 2007
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‘Can I say the line about where the exits are?’ ‘Yeah, I’ll do the bit about oxygen masks, then. Emma, you hand out the mini wines.’ The girls unveiled Spice One – like Air Force One, but with more leopard print – in December 2007
Geri Halliwell (right) and Melanie Brown (left) collect the award for 'Best Brit perforance of 30 years' on behalf of the Spice Girls during the Brit Awards 2010
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In 2010, Geri and Mel B – the ‘naughtiest’ Spice Girls – collected the prize for ‘best Brit performance of 30 years’ on behalf of the band
The Spice Girls (from left to right) Melanie Brown (Mel B), Melanie Chisholm (Mel C), Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham during a photocall at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London to launch Viva Forever
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Back to where it all started – the steps of the now St Pancras Renaissance Hotel – in 2012, to launch the musical, Viva Forever. VB, by now a fashion designer, quietly praying no one mentions doing the dance
The Spice Girls - Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm, Melanie Brown - perform during the London Olympic Games closing ceremony in August 2012
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The Spice Girls also performed during the London Olympic Games 2012 closing ceremony – the last time they were all on stage together
Spice Girl members Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton and Melanie Chisholm arrive for the premiere of musical Viva Forever! in London in December 2012
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In December that year, Mel B, Geri, Emma and Mel C attended the Viva Forever premiere…
Victoria and David Beckham with children (L to R) Romeo, Cruz and Brooklyn at the premiere of Spice Girls musical Viva Forever in 2012
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Victoria took along Becks and the kids for a family night out
The Spice Girls rebranded as GEM in 2016, without Victoria Beckham and Melanie Chisholm
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Stop right now, thank you very much: The Spice Girls rebranded as GEM in 2016, without Vicky B or Mel C
Spice Girls
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But of course, friendship never ends! Posh caused a stir with this post on Instagram in 2018
Spice Girls Mel B, Geri Horner, Emma Bunton and Melanie Chisholm appear together for first time since comeback announcement.
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Later in 2018, they revealed they were reuniting once again – sadly minus VB, despite her earlier Instagram post. What a tease
Spice Girls on the stage for their first 2019 reunion gig in Dublin. Pic: Andrew Timms/PA Wire
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Viva Forever! On stage at their first reunion gig in Dublin in 2019 – will there be more planned for 25 years of Spice? Pic: Andrew Timms/PA Wire