Mel C has penned a heartfelt essay explaining her decision not to take part in a Spice Girls reunion. Her former bandmates Emma Bunton, Geri Horner and Mel B recently revealed they will be reuniting to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary – but both Mel and Victoria Beckham turned down the chance to take part.
"The fascination with the band never seems to go away," the 42-year-old wrote in Love magazine. "It's a blessing and a curse all at the same time. Daily I'm asked 'Are they girls getting back together?' Then it's 'When?' 'How?' 'Why?'
Mel C has explained why she won't be taking part in the Spice Girls reunion
"When we reunited in 2007 the questions stopped momentarily. We had done it – the fans were happy and we were happy. But the minute that tour ended it started again."
She continued: "Truth be told, earlier this year after several face-to-face meetings with the girls I made the difficult decision not to be part of a proposed reunion with Emma, Geri and Melanie. Victoria had already bowed out understandably with the demands of her fashion label and her rather large family.
"The hardest part for me was letting people down, the girls, the fans, civilisation?! Unfortunately, something didn't feel quite right and I had to follow my gut."
She said her "pinnacle" was when the band performed together at the 2012 Olympics
The star also said she "will be a Spice Girl until I die", but seemed to suggest her time with the band came to an end back in 2012.
"There's a lot to be said for bowing out on a high note," she wrote. "For me the absolute pinnacle of my Spice existence was being watched by a billion people around the globe belting out Spice Up Your Life on top of a black cab at the 2012 London Olympics.
"Anything less than the full line-up just doesn't feel like we'd be doing justice to the band or the fans."
The Spice Girls are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year
Mel concluded: "We're constantly reminded of our famous line from Wannabe – friendship never ends. There will always be hurdles with friendship. I love the girls dearly. We have a very unique bond that will never be broken and I will continue to support them all as much as I can.
"Also, I am under no illusion that my solo work will ever come close to a fraction of the impact that we make as the Spice Girls. I love the band, I am beyond proud of my past and will always embrace and celebrate being a Spice Girl. It's what I am."