During a ceremony at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Monday, Brown, also known as Mel B and Scary Spice, accepted the award recognising her campaigning efforts for domestic abuse victims. The 49-year-old wore a red, blue and yellow robe with a leopardprint lining to the event, held by Leeds Beckett University, in a nod to her days spent in the girl group – where she was known for sporting animal prints. “Being awarded this honorary degree from Leeds Beckett University has been life-changing,” she said.
“I didn’t just want to accept an award. I wanted to be accepted as a student at Leeds Beckett. Not only have I been awarded this degree, but I was also accepted as a student on the Trauma Informed Care course which has been a huge step for me in so many ways.
“I am proud to feel part of this university in my home town, proud to have come here as Melanie Brown, proud to have worked alongside other students and received excellent guidance from the teaching staff.” Brown said that becoming a student was “terrifying” but added that it had “changed” her life. She said: “In my life I have been to many, many places and done many extraordinary things, but being here today as a graduate of Leeds Beckett University is honestly as massive an achievement as performing at Wembley Stadium with the Spice Girls.
“To understand yourself you have to understand the world around you. To understand what has happened to you, you need to understand the impact it has had. .