Melanie Brown (born 29 May 1975) is an English pop singer-songwriter, actress, author and television presenter. She is best known as one of the members of the girl group the Spice Girls, the most successful female group of all time. She was given the nickname "Scary Spice" by the British media because of her outrageous, "in-your-face" attitude, thick Leeds accent, throaty laugh and manner of dress.