BABY SPICE AT 50

Mum, charity advocate and entrepreneur, Emma Bunton is busier than ever as she hits milestone birthday

- By Hannah Britt

Attending Mel B's wedding last July with son Beau and husband Jade

To her legions of fans, Emma Bunton will forever be Baby Spice, known for her girlish style, sweet manner and bouncy blonde bunches.

But as she turns 50 this week, and what with raising awareness of menopause, running her own business and advocating for charities filling a big part of her life these days, perhaps Midlife Spice would be a more appropriate name.

Like her bandmates and the millions of original Spice Girl lovers who bought Wannabe and 2 Become 1 on CD or tape in 1996, the pop star and Heart radio presenter is entering the sixth decade of her life.

Emma, who reaches her milestone birthday on Wednesday, is the youngest of the five Spice Girls.

At 53, Geri Halliwell is the oldest, followed by Mel C who turned 52 on Monday - Lady Victoria Beckham at 51, and Mel B at 50. And as is the case for their fans, midlife means juggling responsibilities.

For mum-of-two Emma that means being involved with the business she co-founded eight years ago, Kit & Kin, which makes sustainable baby and cleaning products.

She is also an author: her best selling book, Mama You Got This: A Little Helping Hand For New Parents, came out in 2021.

The star has devoted a lot of time to giving back. She is an ambassador for inclusive theatre company Chickenshed and children's rights charity Unicef, has worked with The King's Trust and regularly supports BBC Children in Need.

Then there is her Sunday show on Heart Radio plus her candidness about how menopause affected her libido and gave her brain fog.

Emma says she would have been a florist if she had not found fame. She had pursued acting, with bit parts in EastEnders (1992) and The Bill (1993).