Spice Girls singer Mel C has offered a candid glimpse into her personal life, hinting that marriage could be a future possibility with her boyfriend Chris Dingwall. The 52-year-old pop icon, who went public with the Australian model in 2024 after meeting on the exclusive celebrity dating app Raya, reflected on this potential new chapter while also opening up about profound past struggles with depression and loneliness.
New Love and Future Possibilities
In a revealing new interview with The Times, Mel C, whose real name is Melanie Chisholm, spoke warmly about her relationship with Chris Dingwall. 'It's something I didn't think would be part of my story, but I'm so happy with Chris,' she shared. 'Maybe it is something that will be in my life.' This marks a significant personal development for the singer, who was previously in a seven-year relationship with her former manager Joe Marshall until 2015, and before that shared a twenty-year partnership with property developer Thomas Starr, with whom she has a daughter named Scarlett.
Confronting Past Darkness
Elsewhere in the conversation, Mel C spoke with remarkable honesty about the deep loneliness and mental health challenges she faced during the late Nineties as the Spice Girls began to fragment. Living under relentless public scrutiny, she developed serious issues around food and found herself consumed by work while neglecting her personal wellbeing. 'I'd started having a binge-eating disorder, but I didn't understand it,' she admitted, describing reaching a breaking point around the turn of the millennium.
The singer eventually sought professional help and received diagnoses of clinical depression and disordered eating, which she identifies as a crucial turning point that marked the beginning of her recovery journey. Her willingness to discuss these struggles publicly adds an important layer to her personal narrative beyond her pop star persona.
Spice Girls Reunion Progress
The interview also touched upon ongoing discussions about a potential Spice Girls reunion to mark the iconic group's 30th anniversary this year. Mel C addressed persistent feud rumours within the band, insisting that she, Emma Bunton, and Mel B have been in active talks about how to celebrate this milestone appropriately. 'We all are so proud, of course we are, of our legacy. It's amazing. And it is 30 years and we do have to celebrate that in some way this year,' she affirmed.
The Pressure of Legacy
However, the singer admitted that the pressure to get the celebration right is palpable among the group members. 'I think me and Mel B are the cheerleaders and Emma's totally with us, but we all love it so much,' she explained during an appearance on The Rebecca Judd Show. 'I think it's so precious to us. We're frightened to do it the wrong way.' She confirmed that communication lines remain open as they work toward deciding on the best approach.
The Wannabe hitmakers last performed as a complete fivesome at the London 2012 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony, and without fashion designer Victoria Beckham in 2019 as she focused on her family and business commitments. Mel C remains optimistic about finding the right way to honour their three-decade legacy, stating 'I'm always optimistic' about the prospects for a meaningful celebration.
