Mel C Says Diana Ross Was One of the 'Incredible Women' Who Inspired the Spice Girls. Now She's Sampling the Icon (Exclusive)
- - Mel C Says Diana Ross Was One of the 'Incredible Women' Who Inspired the Spice Girls. Now She's Sampling the Icon (Exclusive)
Meredith Wilshere, Desiree AnelloDecember 21, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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Mel C at Jingle Ball -
The Spice Girls had a lot of influences, including Diana Ross, Mel C tells PEOPLE
Mel C’s recently released single, "Sweat," includes a sample of Ross' hit "Work That Body"
The singer says she grew up listening to a lot of Motown
Diana Ross had a lasting impact on the Spice Girls after the girl group saw the "Queen of Motown" perform live nearly three decades ago.
At the iHeartRadio Z100 Jingle Ball presented by Capital One in New York City on Dec. 12, Melanie "Mel C" Chisolm talks to PEOPLE about the impact of Ross and other artists on her career.
“Well, with the Spice Girls, obviously we started in the '90s, and we had so many influences, and there'd been so many incredible women that had gone before us, and Diana was one of those women," Mel C says.
"We were lucky enough to watch her perform in London very early in our career, and I think a lot of us had our parents be big fans of Diana Ross and The Supremes, and I personally grew up in a lot of Motown as well," she continues.
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Diana Ross
Mel C’s recently released single, "Sweat," includes a sample of Ross' 1981 hit "Work That Body."
“My mom was a huge fan. So it's something that's just always been there," she adds. "I think as an artist, everything that's been in your life, through your life, is what inspires you. So it's wonderful now to have her fantastic sample in my new song."
Along with Mel C, the iconic girl group was comprised of Emma Bunton, Victoria (née Adams) Beckham, Geri Halliwell Horner, and Mel "Mel B" Brown.
Over 30 years since the band's formation, fans have been begging the group for a reunion tour, but not everyone has been on board with hitting the stage again. Since their split in 2001, the Spice Girls have remained friends and even went on a reunion tour in 2019, but without Beckham, a.k.a. Posh Spice.
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Spice Girls
In October 2025, Beckham, 51, told Andy Cohen she has contemplated getting back together for a performance, and while "it's tempting," she knows that a world tour isn't practical right now as she balances her other jobs — such as her fashion house and makeup line.
“Before I was in the Spice Girls, I was so self-conscious, and they made me feel that I was good enough, but being on stage, I realized that as fun as it is, you know, it’s not ultimately what I want to do anymore," Beckham shared.
However, she admitted that a Spice Girls show at the Sphere in Las Vegas would be "amazing."
The group's last public performance together was during the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony — aside from an impromptu reunion at Beckham's 50th birthday party last year.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
