Mel B debuted as a solo artist in 1998 with the release of "I Want You Back" which peaked atop the UK Singles Chart.

Her debut solo studio album, Hot (2000), produced the successful singles "Tell Me" and "Feels So Good".

Mel B released "For Once in My Life" in 2013, her first single in eight years; it peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.

Mel B was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to charitable causes.

[5][8] Mel B studied performing arts at Intake High School in Rodley, Leeds before entering the entertainment industry.

Halliwell, Melanie C, Beckham, Mel B, and Michelle Stephenson were originally chosen as the members of the group which was known as Touch.

After teaming up with music manager Simon Fuller, they signed a deal with Virgin Records and the group name was changed to Spice Girls.

It topped the UK Singles Chart and became their third consecutive Christmas number-one – equaling the record previously set by The Beatles.

[27] Turning to television work, she hosted Pure Naughty, a weekly BBC2 magazine show focusing on black music.

[26] She hosted the MOBO Awards on two occasions, in 1998 with Bill Bellamy and in 1999 with Wyclef Jean, and took part in the BBC-funded short film Fish.

[28] She took part in smaller projects as a presenter such as Top of the Pops, Party in the Park for The Prince's Trust and The All Star Animal Awards.

She appeared as herself in an advert for the Yorkshire tourist board in a series which included contributions from other Yorkshire-born celebrities, and in the film Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde.

Following the release of Forever, which was far less successful than their previous two albums, the Spice Girls stopped recording and the members began investing more time into their solo careers.

After Rent, Mel B began recording new songs and decided to release them through an independent label, Amber Café.

[45] On 31 March, it was announced that Mel B signed a global partnership with EMI Music Australia for the release of her third studio album, but she later broke from the contract.

Her act Jason Owen reached the final, but finished in second place after losing out to Samantha Jade, mentored by Guy Sebastian.

[53] Mel B had a small part in the final episode of the ITV2 drama series Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

From August to September 2013, she was a judge on the televised dancing show, Stepping Out, alongside choreographers Wayne Sleep and Jason Gardiner.

[55] On 20 February 2013, NBC announced that Mel B would be a judge on America's Got Talent to replace Sharon Osbourne for its eighth season, alongside Howie Mandel, Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, and later Simon Cowell in 2016.

[56] In early 2014, Mel B become a coach on the Australia show of The Voice Kids, alongside singers Joel Madden and Delta Goodrem.

[57] In December 2014, Mel B missed The X Factor UK Saturday final due to illness and did not return for the twelfth series, and was replaced by Rita Ora[58][59] In the same year, Mel B became a guest co-host on the Breakfast program of Sydney radio station 2Day FM, alongside Jules Lund, Merrick Watts and Sophie Monk.

In late 2014, she appeared on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year[60] and a sketch with the cast of Coronation Street for charity telethon Text Santa.

[61] In January 2016, Mel B began presenting Lip Sync Battle UK alongside Professor Green.

[69] In May 2021, Brown collaborated with Fabio D'Andrea in his short music film, "Love Should Not Hurt", in support of Women's Aid.

[74] Mel B was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women.

In November 2022, Mel B presented the BBC documentary Trailblazers: A Rocky Mountain Road Trip alongside Ruby Wax and Emily Atack.

[79] In 2023 Mel B appeared as a guest star in the French version of The Masked Singer and covered Katy Perry's "Roar".

[83] On February 3, 2025, it was announced Mel B would return as a judge for the 20th season of the main America's Got Talent show after her last appearance in 2019.

[119] In December 2018, Mel B collapsed, breaking several of her ribs and suffering a serious cut to her hand, for which she underwent emergency surgery.

[127] In July 2024, Mel B was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Leeds Beckett University for her career and work for the charity Women's Aid.