By Wonderwall.com Editors
8:21am PST, Jan 8, 2019
Boy bands will always have a special place in our hearts — and on the walls of our childhood bedrooms — but it was girl groups who taught us about girl power. In honor of Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm's 45th birthday on Jan. 12, 2019, check out what some of our favorite female trios, quartets and quintets are up to today, starting with Baby, Scary, Ginger, Posh and Sporty. Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, Victoria Adams and Mel C created more girl power — and sold more records — than any other female group in history (85 million records, to be exact). Keep reading to see them now…
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Although they haven't released new music together since 2007, the Spice Girls reunited for a performance during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. They also came together for the December 2012 West End premiere of "Viva Forever: The Musical," which chronicled their rise to the top. In November 2018, they announced their highly anticipated U.K. and Ireland stadium reunion tour (Victoria Beckham will not be participating), which kicks off in May 2019 and has been selling incredibly well. As for their solo acts: Still-pouty Victoria is a successful clothing designer and has four kids with retired soccer star David Beckham. Mel C, who's continued performing as a solo artist, separated from property developer Thomas Starr, with whom she shares daughter Scarlet, in 2012 after 10 years together. She is currently dating her manager, Joe Marshall. Mel B juggles three daughters (including one with Eddie Murphy), a solo music career and gigs as a judge on "America's Got Talent" and a co-host on Britain's "Lip Sync Battle." She finalized a messy divorce with Stephen Belafonte in 2018 and published a bombshell-filled autobiography, "Brutally Honest," the same year. Geri Halliwell has been putting out music as a solo artist since leaving the group in 1999. The mother of daughter Bluebell wed Formula 1 racing mogul Christian Horner in May 2015. The couple welcomed son Montague in 2017. Meanwhile, Emma Bunton has two sons, Beau and Tate, with longtime partner Jade Jones.
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Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LaTavia Roberson (top, second from left), LeToya Luckett (top, far right) and Farrah Franklin (bottom, second from left) made up Destiny's Child over the years. Not only did the group battle a number of lineup changes, but they also had to endure wearing matchy-matchy red carpet ensembles created by Beyonce's mom. (Yep, they're survivors all right.) Ultimately, Destiny's Child sold more than 60 million records worldwide before disbanding in 2006.
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Destiny's Child members Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams recorded "Nuclear," their first song together since the group broke up, for their third compilation album, "Love Songs," which was released on Jan. 29, 2013. A few days later, they performed together during the Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show. They reunited again during Beyonce's headline-making performance at Coachella 2018. Bey and Kelly also added their voices to Michelle's 2014 single "Say Yes." As for their work outside the group? Beyonce has become a global superstar, with over 118 million solo albums sold. She most recently released a joint album with her hubby, JAY-Z, and wrapped a worldwide tour in 2018. In 2012, they welcomed daughter Blue Ivy Carter; five years later, the pair welcomed twins Sir and Rumi after overcoming Jay's infidelities. Kelly wed manager Tim Witherspoon, with whom she shares son Titan, in May 2014. She released her fourth solo album, "Talk a Good Game," in June 2013. In November 2018, Kelly released a new single off an upcoming album. These days, Michelle focuses her attention on musical theater and gospel music. In late 2018, she called her off her engagement to pastor Chad Johnson and sought help for depression. Former members LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett formed their own group, Anjel, after they were ousted from Destiny's Child, but they never released an album. LaTavia later suffered from depression and alcohol abuse but has bounced back with a 2016 web series and a 2017 single. LeToya achieved some solo success with her platinum 2006 album, "LeToya." She has since released two more albums, and is currently expecting her first child with husband Tommicus Walker. In 2011, Farrah Franklin, who has appeared in a handful of acting projects and is an unsigned recording artist, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC dominated the charts in the '90s with tracks like "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "Waterfalls" and "No Scrubs" and became the first girl group to receive diamond status from the RIAA. Sadly, Left Eye was killed at the age of 30 in a car accident in La Ceiba, Honduras, on April 25, 2002.
T-Boz and Chilli continued performing together, co-starred on reality show "R U The Girl" and co-produced the VH1 biopic "CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story." They're currently the best selling American girl group of all time and released their fifth album in 2017. Independently, T-Boz has battled a number of health issues over the years: Not only has she lived with sickle-cell anemia since childhood, but in the mid-'90s, she suffered a near-fatal brain tumor. In 2013, she starred in a short-lived reality show, "Totally T-Boz," which aired on TLC, natch. T-Boz has a daughter, Chase, with her ex-husband, rapper Mack 10. Chilli previously dated Usher for two years but the couple split in 2004 after he cheated on her. She has a son, Tron, with her ex-boyfriend, producer Dallas Austin.
As the progeny of members of The Beach Boys and The Mamas & the Papas, Carnie Wilson, Chynna Phillips and Wendy Wilson of Wilson Phillips were destined for stardom. Their 1990 eponymous debut album sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and scored three No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
Wilson Phillips stepped back into the spotlight in 2011 when they were featured in "Bridesmaids" and appeared on the reality TV show "Wilson Phillips: Still Holding On" on the TV Guide Network. The following year, they released their fifth studio album, "Dedicated," and continue to perform worldwide. Chynna Phillips, who appeared on "Dancing With the Stars" in 2011, has been married to William Baldwin, with whom she shares three children, since 1995. Carnie Wilson, who made headlines when she had gastric bypass surgery in 1999 and lap-band surgery in 2012, has continued to be an advocate for those struggling with their weight. She has two daughters with her music producer husband, Rob Bonfiglio. Sister Wendy Wilson is married to record producer Daniel Knutson and has four sons.
Cheryl "Salt" James," Sandra "Pepa" Denton and Deidra "DJ Spinderella" Roper of Salt-N-Pepa got everyone talking about sex — and shooping! — in the '90s with their Grammy-winning rap tunes.
In 2007 and 2008, the group appeared on VH1's "The Salt-N-Pepa Show," which chronicled their reformation. Sandra "Pepa" Denton has also appeared on "The Surreal Life" and her own 2010 reality show, "Let's Talk About Pep." In 2018, Salt-N-Pepa toured as part of the worldwide "I Love The '90s" tour. They also had their own Las Vegas residency at the Paris Theater in October 2018. Pepa has two children, including one with ex-husband Treach of Naughty by Nature. She and daughter Egypt appeared on WE tv's "Growing Up Hip-Hop." Cheryl "Salt" James found religion and started making Christian rap and Christian R&B music. She lives in New York with her husband, Gavin Wray, and has two children. Spinderella DJs for KKBT 100.3 in Los Angeles. She has a daughter with former New Jersey Nets point guard Kenny Anderson.
Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine (not pictured), Gina Schock, Paula Jean Brown (not pictured), Margot Olavarria and Elissa Bello (not pictured) made up The Go-Go's, who, unlike many girl groups, actually played their own instruments. Their biggest hits include "Vacation" and "We Got the Beat."
Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey and Gina Schock went on a farewell tour in 2016 but have continued to perform in the two years since. "Head Over Heels," a new musical featuring the songs of the Go-Go's, premiered on Broadway in the summer of 2018. Belinda, who saw much success as a solo artist, appeared on "Dancing With the Stars" in 2009 and released a memoir, "Lips Unsealed," in 2010. She's a practicing Buddhist and has a son, Duke Mason — a West Hollywood politician — with her film producer husband, Morgan Mason. Jane appeared on "The Surreal Life" in 2005 and has a comic book based on herself called "Lady Robotika." Although she acts as an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church under the name Reverend Sister Go-Go, she and her longtime partner, musician Travis Kasperbauer, remain unmarried. Charlotte is semi-retired due to carpal tunnel syndrome. However, she wrote the book, music and lyrics for "Lovelace: A Rock Musical," which debuted in 2008, and co-wrote Keith Urban's hit song "But For the Grace of God." She shares a daughter with her husband, Jeff McDonald. Kathy Valentine released a solo album in 2005 and lives in Austin. In 2013, she sued her former bandmates, claiming that they attempted to "deprive her" of her full stake in the band. Yikes! Gina works as a songwriter, most notably co-writing Miley Cyrus' song "Breakout" and Selena Gomez & the Scene's "Falling Down." Margot Olavarria got her doctorate in political science in 2003 and works as a Spanish-to-English translator in New York. Elissa Bello lives in Los Angeles and works in movie production.
Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, Dawn Robinson and Maxine Jones of En Vogue took their inspiration from the girl groups of the '50s and '60s, hitting all the right notes on tracks like "Hold On" and "Don't Go." The group sold more than 20 million records worldwide.
En Vogue currently consists of Cindy Herron, Rhona Bennett and Terry Ellis, the only members to stay with the group since its inception in 1989. Dawn Robinson left in the early 2000s and found success with another band, Lucy Pearl. En Vogue's seventh full-length studio album, "Electric Café" — their first studio album in 14 years — was released in April 2018. Cindy has been married to former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Glenn Braggs since 1994; the couple lives in Los Angeles with their four kids. Maxine Jones lives with her daughter in Charlottesville, Virginia, and runs a general goods store with her sisters.
Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin of Bananarama eschewed harmonies in favor of singing in unison on chart-topping hits like "Venus." In total, they had 11 singles reach the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 between 1983 and 1988 including two more in the Top 10, with "Cruel Summer" and "I Heard a Rumour."
These days, Keren Woodward, Sara Dallin and Siobhan Fahey continue to perform as Bananarama. The trio recently wrapped up a 2018 U.K. concert trek, "The Original Line-up Tour." Keren lived in Cornwall, England, with her long-time boyfriend, Andrew Ridgeley of Wham!, until their split in 2017. She has a son, Thomas, with ex-boyfriend David-Scott Evans. Sara has a daughter, Alice, with former Bananarama dancer Bassey Walker. After leaving the band in 1988, Siobhan formed a new group, Shakespears Sister. In 1993, she admitted herself to a psychiatric unit for severe depression. She rejoined the band in 2017. Siobhan has two sons, Sam and Django, with her ex-husband, Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics. Her former band replacement, Jacquie O'Sullivan, is a yoga teacher and belly dancer.
Aundrea Fimbres, Dawn Richard, D. Woods, Aubrey O'Day and Shannon Bex of Danity Kane came together under the tutelage of Sean "Diddy" Combs on "Making the Band 3" and had great success with their singles "Show Stopper" and "Damaged."
Nowadays, Aubrey O'Day has found her second calling as a reality TV star. She starred in "All About Aubrey" and appeared on "The Celebrity Apprentice," "Celebrity Big Brother 18" and "Famously Single," where she connected with former love Pauly D. She made her debut as a solo artist with the EP "Between Two Evils" in 2013. In 2018, Aubrey made headlines after reports emerged claiming that she had an affair with the president's son, Donald Trump Jr., after they met on "The Apprentice." D. Woods released several mixtapes and EPs between 2009 and 2012. (She did not return for Danity Kane's 2013 reunion.) Shannon Bex independently released her debut country album, "I'm a Woman," in 2012. Dawn Richard has released three solo albums since 2013 and was also a member of Diddy-Dirty Money until the group disbanded in 2012. That same year, she ended her five-year relationship with Day26's Qwanell Mosley over his alleged fidelity issues. In August 2014, Aubrey filed a battery report against her after things got heated during a Los Angeles recording session. Aundrea Fimbres left Danity Kane in 2014 when she wed radio host Joey Perez. She currently serves as an executive producer of J-Live Entertainment's "Next Big Thing Talent Show." In August 2018, four years after the group's second disbandment, the trio of Shannon, Dawn and Aubrey announced that they would be going on tour together. The tour is set to end in March 2019.
Kandi Burruss, LaTocha Scott, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, Tamera Coggins (not pictured) and Tamika Scott-Byas of Jermaine Dupri-backed band Xscape had a number of hit songs including "Just Kickin' It," "Who Can I Run To" and "Understanding." Tamera left the group after one year and Xscape found success as a quartet.
These days, Kandi Burruss stars on Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." In April 2014, she wed Todd Tucker, a former line producer for the show, with whom she now shares son Ace. (She has a daughter, Riley, from a previous relationship.) Tameka "Tiny" Harris is married to rapper T.I., with whom she's appeared on the VH1 reality series "T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle." She has four children (three with T.I.) and three stepchildren. Tamika Scott frequently collaborates with Tyler Perry and has appeared in his 2004 play "Meet the Browns" and composed songs for his movie soundtracks. LaTocha Scott appeared in the 2005 comedy "Fair Game" and on the second season of the TV One show "R&B Divas: Atlanta" in 2013. Xscape reunited in 2017 and embarked on an reunion tour through early 2018. In late 2017, Kandi Burruss told reporters that she lacked interest in recording new music with Xscape and instead wanted to pursue Broadway roles. In response, Tiny, LaTocha and Tamika formed the subunit XSCAP3. The trio released their first EP in March 2018.
Originally a Los Angeles burlesque troupe, the Pussycat Dolls — Kimberly Wyatt, Ashley Roberts, Melody Thornton, Nicole Scherzinger, Jessica Sutta and Carmit Bachar — became a music group in 2003. They achieved worldwide success with hit singles "Don't Cha," "Buttons" and "Stickwitu."
Nicole Scherzinger has certainly kept busy since leaving the Pussycat Dolls: She released two solo albums, starred in 2012's "Men In Black 3," won the 10th season of "Dancing With the Stars," served as judge on the American version of "The X Factor" and dated Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton off and on from 2007 to 2014. In January 2019, Nicole made her debut as a panelist on the reality competition series "The Masked Singer." She is currently dating Bulgarian professional tennis player Grigor Dimitrov. Carmit Bachar is half of electro-pop duo LadyStation. She and longtime love Kevin Whitaker welcomed daughter Kaela Rose in 2011. Kimberly Wyatt wed British model Max Rogers in February 2014 and the couple now share two daughters. She also released an album as part of a band called Her Majesty & The Wolves and won the BBC's "Celebrity MasterChef" in 2015. Ashley Roberts released her debut solo album, "Butterfly Effect," in 2014 and has appeared on several reality TV shows over the years. She previously dated "Footloose" star Kenny Wormald. Jessica Sutta, who previously romanced James Blunt, released her debut solo album, "I Say Yes," in 2017. Melody Thornton, who briefly dated Kanye West in 2010, dropped her first mixtape, "P.O.Y.B.L.," in 2012 and will compete on "Dancing on Ice" in 2019. The version of the Pussycat Dolls that exists today features completely new performers.
Cheryl "Coko" Clemons, Leanne "Lelee" Lyons and Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George of S.W.V. — which stands for Sisters With Voices — made all the fellas "Weak" with their sweet harmonies. The group sold more than 25 million records.
SWV took a break then reunited and earned a Grammy nomination for best traditional R&B performance for "If You Only Knew" in 2013. In 2016, they released a new album and continue to perform nationwide. Cheryl "Coko" Clemons, who lives in Virginia Beach, has released four solo albums and has two sons, Jazz and Jaylon. She filed for divorce from gospel producer and Israel and New Breed drummer Mike "Big Mike" Clemons in February 2018. Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George is married to former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George, whom she has defended despite claims of infidelity, and with whom she has a son, Eriq. Taj has appeared on two reality shows: "I Married a Baller" in 2007 and "Survivor: Tocantins" in 2009. After S.W.V. disbanded, Leanne "Lelee" Lyons fell on hard times and was temporarily homeless, but she has since bounced back. She lives in Atlanta and has two kids, Margaret and Khiry.
Thanks to their Disney Channel roots, the Cheetah Girls — Kiely Williams, Sabrina Bryan and Adrienne Bailon — had ferocious record and merchandise sales. They sold more than 3.6 million records worldwide and grossed more than $43 million from their second tour.
Cheetah Girls singer Sabrina Bryan went on to appear on two seasons of "Dancing With the Stars," where she fell for partner Mark Ballas in 2007. The couple split and Sabrina married Jordan Lundberg in October 2018. She also released two workout DVDs and co-authored a 2008 novel, "Princess of Gossip." Adrienne Bailon, who's a co-host on the daytime talk show "The Real," romanced Rob Kardashian from 2007 to 2009 and was engaged to love of six years Lenny Santiago until 2015 but married gospel star Israel Houghton in 2016. Kiely Williams appeared in 2008's "The House Bunny" and in "Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming" in 2010. She's also released a number of singles, though they failed to garner much attention. Kiely married Brandon "BJ" Cox in 2016 and welcomed a daughter in 2018. She and Sabrina co-starred on the web series "Dinner With Friends," "March Moms" and "Bad Sex With Good People" in 2015 and 2016.
Shaznay Lewis, Melanie Blatt, Nicole Appleton, Natalie Appleton and Simone Rainford (not pictured) of English-Canadian girl group All Saints found success with their catchy 1998 single "Never Ever."
All Saints reunited in 2016 and released another album, "Red Flag." They have been touring ever since and released a new album, "Testament," in July 2018. Shaznay Lewis also now works as a songwriter for groups like Westlife and has two kids — Tigerlily and Tyler-Xaine — with her husband, dancer Christian "Storm" Horsfall. Melanie Blatt is a property developer and has a daughter named Lilyella with her ex-boyfriend, Jamiroquai bassist Stuart Zender, from whom she split in 2006. She also served as a judge on "The X Factor New Zealand" from 2013 to 2015. Nicole Appleton shares son Gene with ex-husband Liam Gallagher of Oasis. They split in 2013 when it was revealed he'd fathered a child with another woman. Meanwhile, her sister, Natalie Appleton — who's been married to Liam Howlett of The Prodigy since 2002 — has two kids (daughter Rachel from a previous relationship and son Ace). And finally, Simone Rainford — a founding member of All Saints when the band was just a trio — tried and failed to launch a solo career. According to the Mirror, she moved to South Africa in the early '00s and died from kidney cancer at age 38 in 2013.
Best known for their cover of "I Want You to Want Me," which was featured on ABC Family's "10 Things I Hate About You," KSM — Shae Padilla, Shelby "Cobra" Spalione, Kate Cabebe, Katie Cecil and Sophia Melon — was developed as a new version of The Go-Go's. Shelby, who was busted for DUI in 2011 at 18, continues to make music. Sophia reportedly studied at Columbia University. Kate is a drummer and photographer and married Steven Kadowaki in 2014. Katie, who has a long-time boyfriend, currently plays music as half of the duo Wayfarers. Shae plays guitar for the band True Violet and is engaged to her longtime girlfriend.
