Despite her current financial difficulties, brought about by a string of chart flops, Mel B has just splashed out £20,000 on a parcel of land in Brazil. The cash-strapped Spice Girl, who’s been advised by her money men to sell her £2.5 million home in Little Marlow, Bucks, plans to build a house in the South American country and spend part of the year there.
The plot is in the celebrity resort of Angra Dos Rios, which is 50 miles from Rio de Janeiro and one of South America’s hottest new locations. Building a home in Brazil will cost a great deal less than an equivalent property in the UK, and Mel will be able to live in the style to which she has become accustomed at a fraction of the cost.
“I’ve just bought a big bit of land over in Brazil, so I will be visiting quite a bit with my baby – I can’t wait,” says Scary Spice, who is keen to introduce her two-year-old daughter Phoenix Chi to Latin American culture. “I’ve fallen in love with the place because it’s the capital for Latin funky music, brilliant people and thongs.”
Mel’s love affair with all things Brazilian is long standing. She hired a Brazilian carnival troupe to perform at her wedding to dancer Jimmy Gulzar in 1998 and last year transformed her home into a South American paradise for a charity event.
Although her record bosses in the UK are threatening to drop the star after her latest single Lullaby only reached number 13 in her charts and last year’s album Hot received such a poor reception it is unlikely to be released in the US, Mel still has a sizeable following in South America.
Once her new place is constructed, the singer’s neighbours will include Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and his wife Jemima. Leonardo DiCaprio and Sting are also said to be looking for property in the area.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
