Melanie Chisholm (Sporty Spice) closeup and right shoulder

Sporty Spice

(Mel C.)


Power Level:
Game system: DC Heroes Role-Playing Game

Context

Yeah, we have late 1990s Spice Girls character writeups. I could say that it’s a “you had to be there” thing, but I could also simply blame Nick for it. Decisions, decisions.

For context, the late 1990s career of the Spice Girls was GINORMOUSLY successful. The kind of commercial success and pop consciousness impact that previously was exclusive Beatles territory.


Background

  • Real Name: Melanie Jayne Chisholm; Mel C.
  • Star Sign: Capricorn.
  • Known Relatives: Alan (Father); Joan (Mother); Dennis (step father); Carol (step mother); Stuart, Tad, Paul, Liam and Declan (brothers); Emma (step sister).
  • Base Of Operations: Finchley, UK formerly Rainhill in Liverpool.
  • Group Affiliation: Formerly the Spice Girls.
  • Height: 5’6” Weight: 132 lbs.
  • Eyes: Hazel Hair: Brown, sometimes black.


Advertisement


Powers and Abilities

Melanie was the sporty one of the spice girls, hence her not so clever nickname. Adept at various athletic skills, martial arts and the legendary art of “football”, also known by some as soccer.

Unfortunately her many piercings and tattoos have no inherent special powers.

She’s arguably the best singer from the Spice Girls as well.


History

The world-famous Sporty Spice, singer Melanie Chisholm was born January 12, 1975 in Liverpool, England. She was a onetime session vocalist and ballet dancer.

In March of 1994 she answered an advertisement for an all-girl vocal group, and with fellow applicants Geri Halliwell, Victoria Adams and Melanie Brown formed the nucleus of what later (with the addition of fifth member Emma Bunton) became the Spice Girls.

The biggest pop phenomenon of the late 1990s, the Spice Girls enjoyed a series of chart-topping singles like “Wannabe,” “Say You’ll Be There” and “2 Become 1”. The tracksuit-clad Sporty Spice, Mel C. (as Chisholm was commonly known) was widely considered the most musically talented Spice Girl.


Advertisement


In the fall of 1999 she made her solo debut with Northern Star. She has since had several hits and dueted with singers as diverse as Lisa Left Eye Lopez and Bryan Adams.

Melanie has shown some odd characteristics over the years, including her fascination with Liverpool Football Club . Most of her life revolves around the team, including only using red toothbrushes in honour of her team colours.


Description

Shortish dark hair, generally thought of as the least attractive of all the Spice Girls, but not by all. She has visible piercings in her ears (lobes and cartilage) and nose, although is rumoured to have more.

Her tatoos are plentiful, and has a celtic band on her right bicep, chinese characters that can be translated to “girl power” on her right shoulder, celtic cross on her left bicep, the words angel tattooed under her navel, and a lotus flower on the base of her spine.

Her upper left 2nd incisor is also gold capped.


Quotes

“We treat everyone the same, whether you’re the prince or you’re the postman, because ya know, everyone eats and goes to the toilet, don’t they ?”

“America’s brilliant because you can have whatever you want, whenever you want, in America. You can say, I dunno, I want the most bizarre thing and you can get it like that, 24 hours a day.”

“We’re all really proud to be British !”


DC Universe History

Due to her many duets over the years, I could see a Sporty Spice Team Up idea, where she will turn up helping out heroines. Possibly up her abilities slightly, and have her as a rotating sidekick, utilising both quite impressive physical abilities, and equally impressive bank account.

For a regular supporting character, she could be incorporated within the Wonder Woman title, helping spread Girl Power around the globe.

Space Girls

A version of the Spice Girls already exists within the DC Universe. Renamed the Space Girls, they are a hugely successful French band, with a marketing mostly targeting teen girls and with an apparently strong English language répertoire. Their main hit was called “Chik-a-boom.” They seem to have only a passing similarity to the actual Spice Girls.

Band members are:

  • Monique “Open Space” (last name unknown), who has a general party girl outlook in brightly coloured skimpy clothes.
  • Anik “Deep Space” Sarrazin, who has a graduate student look (blue robe, stupid square flat hat) and bookish demeanour.
  • Dominique “Closet Space” Melancon, with a leather/biker look and style (complete with cop-style leather cap).
  • Adrianne “Empty Space” Simmard, who wears a naughty schoolgirl outfit with a huge pointy hat with “DUNCE” on it and acts rather giggly and shallow.

There was a fifth, “Dead Space”, but she left the group and an attempt was made to replace her with Supergirl (don’t ask).



Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG

Tell me more about the game stats

Sporty Spice

Dex: 03 Str: 02 Bod: 03 Motivation: Thrill of Adventure
Int: 03 Wil: 05 Min: 04 Occupation: Pop Star
Inf: 05 Aur: 04 Spi: 04 Resources {or Wealth}: 014
Init: 015 HP: 015

Skills:
Acrobatics: 04, Artist (Dancer): 05, Artist (Singer): 06, Martial Artist: 03

Advantages:
Iron Nerves; Lightning Reflexes; Local Hero (various Melanie Chisholm fan clubs); Scholar (Pop Industry, Business/Finance, football).

Connections:
Pop Industry (High); former Spice Girls (High; excludes Ginger); Sport Industry (Low).

Drawbacks:
Minor Irrational Attraction to Body Art; Serious Irrational Attraction to Liverpool FC; Public Identity.


Former (and possible) Statistics

While a member of the Spice Girls, Melanie had Popularity. Since the break up she has proved to be the least popular of the group, despite having the most successful solo career.

If you believe the British tabloids, Sporty also has the Dark Secret drawback, concerning her sexual orientation. This may or may not be relevant in any campaign she appears in, and is mentioned for completeness only.

By Nick Yankovec.

Source of Character: British Pop Industry.

Helper(s): VH1.com  (how many times has VH1 been a helper, eh ?); Roy Cowan (he loves Sporty, he does); Sébastien Andrivet (he doesn’t); John Colagioia (and he doesn’t even know their music !).