SPICE Girl Mel B is to be awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of her work for survivors of domestic abuse. Leeds Beckett University will present her with the accolade at a ceremony later this month. And Mel, 49, who is the patron of charity Women’s Aid , hopes to attend the ceremony in a graduation gown lined in her trademark leopard print.
In addition to the honorary degree, Mel — who fled her abusive marriage to Stephen Belafonte in 2016 — has also been studying towards a qualification in trauma care. She said: “I completed a couple in Trauma Informed Care at Leeds Beckett earlier this year. When I was told I was being given the doctorate it was an incredible honour.
“But I wanted to earn something too. “Since leaving my marriage I’ve told friends and family I’d love to go to uni, but I don’t think people took it seriously. “But this gave me an opportunity to actually do it.
” Melanie expects some of her Spice Girls pals to attend the ceremony. She said: “I didn’t tell them I was studying so I think they were surprised. I didn’t even tell my mum.
” Mel attended lectures for three months, with many students not realising who she was. She said: “I loved the camaraderie in the class. It never came up who I was, apart from at the end.
“One of the guys came up to me and said, ‘I thought it was you, but I couldn’t believe it — I thought it was just someone who looked like you’. “I’ve played at Wembley Stadium with the Spice G.
