Spice Girls’ Melanie C Details Overcoming “Noticeable” Eating Disorder

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Content warning: This story discusses eating disorders.

Melanie Chisholm is reflecting on a difficult time in her life.

Melanie Chisholm, known as Sporty Spice, has spoken about her battle with an eating disorder that occurred during the later years of the Spice Girls’ original time together.

Melanie described a period of intense physical change, telling The Times of London in a January 24th interview that she was exercising frequently, reducing her food intake, and steadily losing weight. She emphasized that these changes were very apparent and physically noticeable.

Melanie C, known for her song “I Turn to You,” said that although her Spice Girls bandmates – Melanie Brown, Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, and Geri Halliwell – noticed she was struggling and tried to support her, she didn’t accept their help at the time.

She explained that when you spend a lot of time together, and your eating patterns shift, people notice. They did attempt to talk to her about it, but she wasn’t receptive at the time.

She explained that after returning home, she felt incredibly alone. While visiting family in Los Angeles, she’d become unable to get out of bed, spending hours crying. She’d also begun to struggle with binge eating, but at the time, she didn’t realize that’s what it was.

Becoming a mother to her daughter, Scarlett Chrisholm Starr (now 16, and whom she shares with her ex-partner, Thomas Starr), was a major moment that changed how the 52-year-old viewed herself.

Becoming pregnant with Scarlett was a really special time for me,” she said. “It was the first time I truly felt proud of my body. It was an amazing feeling – I was just in awe of what it could do.

Melanie explained that she and her husband have kept their daughter, Scarlett, out of the public eye. She intentionally made that choice when Scarlett was a baby. While she understands other parents handle things differently and doesn’t judge them, her own experiences with fame led her to believe it was best to let Scarlett grow up privately.

Mel isn’t alone in being open about their struggles with mental health. Here are some other celebrities who have also shared their experiences.

Melanie explained that she and her husband intentionally keep their daughter, Scarlett, out of the public spotlight. She made this decision when Scarlett was a baby, and while she knows other parents handle things differently – and respects that – her own past experiences with fame led her to believe it was best to let Scarlett grow up privately.

Mel isn’t alone in being open about their struggles with mental health. Here are some other celebrities who have also shared their experiences.

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He explained that these diagnoses led to a mental health crisis in 2020.

He explained on The Breakfast Club that the experience made him realize he needed to prioritize his health and take responsibility for his well-being. He said he never wants to go through something similar again and is committed to seeing a therapist, and taking medication if necessary.

Gucci Mane shared that, beyond wanting to help others, his children – Ice Davis and Iceland Davis – along with his wife, Keyshia Ka’Oir, motivated him to get help when he was struggling.

He explained that his wife was expecting their son, and he worried about the impact raising a family would have on his mental health. He feared experiencing a severe mental health episode from which he couldn’t recover, so he proactively began addressing his well-being and seeking professional support.

The former star of Gossip Girl recently shared his struggles with body image, describing what he went through as a young actor as “body dysmorphia.”

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn shared that they deeply disliked their body and wished they had a different one.

He explained that after his parents’ divorce, and struggling with depression and isolation, he began to focus on his appearance. He felt that being seen as more attractive might lead to greater success and make him feel more valued.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He explained that overcoming his disappointments and personal struggles enabled him to return to his work, hoping he’d grown and changed as a person in the process.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

She described her struggles with food, saying on The Funny Thing Is podcast, ‘Some people might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I lived my life.’ She admitted that food was her main coping mechanism, and she engaged in extreme behaviors related to it.

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

I’ve been really open about my ups and downs with eating, but I also want to share the positive steps I’m making towards a healthier lifestyle. It’s not always easy, but I’m proud of the progress I’m seeing with my health and fitness!

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely changed her lifestyle by eliminating sugar and alcohol, and taking up yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described this combination as being more effective than the medication Ritalin.

She shared that she struggles with food and body image, which are genuine challenges for her. However, she’s working on healing those issues and is focusing on a healthy lifestyle by prioritizing nutritious foods.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

She admitted on her podcast, Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, that it’s really hard to talk about, even with those closest to you. She explained that she personally feels she should be able to handle it, and admitting she struggles feels like a weakness.

The Grammy-winning artist frequently talks about safeguarding her well-being, including blocking negativity online, and often offers guidance to others who are struggling.

When asked for mental health advice, she told Vogue that patience is key. She emphasized being kind to yourself and not rushing into anything. She explained that giving things time allows difficult feelings to pass.

As people adjusted to social distancing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the singer of “Firework” opened up about how challenging and stressful times like these can be.

She tweeted about struggling with the difficulties of the pandemic, saying it’s hard to decide what’s more challenging – avoiding the virus itself or the resulting feelings of depression. Katy explained that she often finds peace in her car, which has become her go-to safe space since there aren’t many other options for getting away from things.

I was so moved to see the model partner with Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition! She was on Good Morning America today, and it meant a lot to hear her openly share her own struggles with anxiety. It’s really brave of her to use her platform to raise awareness and help others feel less alone.

It’s like, after the panic attacks started happening again, I finally, finally figured things out. It took so long, but I got the information I desperately needed to understand what was going on. It was such a relief!

Kendall explained she experiences both good and very anxious days, making her emotional state inconsistent. This is why she was drawn to the movement – she wants people to know they’re not alone in their struggles.

As someone who follows wellness trends and celebrity openness, I’ve been really impressed with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s honesty about his struggles with depression. He’s been vocal about how tough it can be for men, in particular, to open up and talk about their mental health, and I think that’s incredibly important. It’s a real step towards breaking down stigmas and encouraging more people to seek help when they need it.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t pick and choose who it affects. It took me a while to understand this, but the most important thing is to not be afraid to talk about what you’re going through. Men, especially, often tend to keep their feelings bottled up, but remember, you’re not alone.

Oh my gosh, Prince Harry is just… amazing. Seriously! When he talked to the Telegraph about going to therapy, it felt like a huge weight lifted for so many of us. He was so open about his own struggles, and it just made me realize I wasn’t alone. He said something that really stuck with me – that once you start talking about your mental health, you find out you’re actually part of a really big group of people going through similar things. It was so incredibly validating and helped break down so much of the shame around getting help. He’s a total inspiration!

The actress from Empire is a strong advocate for seeking professional help and has openly discussed her experiences with depression. She shared with Variety that therapy is essential for her well-being, saying, “That’s the only way I can get through it.”

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

The Grammy-winning artist revealed she began a treatment involving MDMA and psilocybin therapy to cope with the effects of both an eating disorder and performance anxiety.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she experienced touring without any stage fright for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation – almost like a change in air pressure – that she felt with the audience. This made her understand how much she thrives on, and even needs, that intense, emotional connection with people to truly feel her music come alive.

She explained that prioritizing her mental health and stopping birth control helped her develop a broader understanding of her gender identity.

She explained that she decided to stop taking birth control because it felt like a break from societal expectations of womanhood. It might sound strange, she admitted, but she felt liberated and like she could explore new possibilities by stepping outside of those traditional boundaries. She believed this freedom allowed her to grow and discover more about herself.

In a 2017 Instagram post, the Riverdale actress shared that she battled with serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and credited the support of her family and a therapist with saving her life. She encouraged others to seek help, stating that asking for it is the initial and most important step, and that everyone has immense value.

The singer of “What He Didn’t Do” has opened up about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly shared on the August 2025 episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast that her anxiety began during her divorce, which happened during the Covid pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I got used to keeping things to myself and handling problems on my own. Eventually, a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and start understanding what was going on. It wasn’t something that started recently; I’ve actually been dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder since I was a child, around six or seven years old.

The actress known for Frozen has openly discussed her mental health journey for years, sharing coping strategies in public speeches and on social media platforms like Instagram.

As a lifestyle expert, I always tell people the best approach to wellness is deeply personal. What works for one person might not work for another. For me, it’s a combination of things! I’ve found that sometimes medication is necessary, and I really lean into gratitude – I make it a practice to think of ten good things for every negative thought. Plus, regular exercise is a non-negotiable! That’s what Health magazine highlighted as part of my routine, and it’s been a game-changer.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has openly discussed her experiences with postpartum depression, a common but often unspoken challenge for new mothers.

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became simpler to talk about her experience each time. Her hope was to show others that this could happen to anyone, and to help those going through it feel less ashamed and isolated.

I was absolutely floored reading this! Apparently, while she was doing press for Mirror, Mirror, she told The Edit about how incredibly tough her teenage years were. She actually talked about battling depression and even suicidal thoughts – can you believe it? She described feeling this ‘darkness’ inside her back then, and honestly, it just makes me admire her even more for being so open and sharing her story. It’s heartbreaking, but so brave!

Cara explained that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness, but she’s now learned to find joy on her own. ‘It took me a long time,’ she said, ‘but now I can be happy by myself.’

Ariana Grande responded to a fan’s joke about her therapist by sharing how much therapy has helped her. She tweeted, “This is funny, but seriously, therapy has saved my life multiple times.”

She encouraged me not to be afraid to ask for help. You don’t have to live with constant pain, and it is possible to heal from trauma. She admitted she had a long way to go, but said simply recognizing that healing is possible is a good first step.

The singer has publicly shared her struggles and recovery related to addiction, mental health, and other personal challenges, often incorporating these experiences into her songs.

She consistently encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous effort with inevitable setbacks. She once shared on Instagram, “To anyone who’s struggling: life has its highs and lows, but it’s important to keep going.”

The actress has openly discussed mental health, both through her work – like her portrayal of Rue in the show Euphoria – and in her personal life.

As someone who’s talked to a lot of people about managing everyday life, I remember reading years ago – back in 2013, actually – that Zendaya had a tough time with anxiety after a little technical difficulty on Ellen. Her microphone cut out during an appearance, and it really got to her. The good news is, she’s figured out healthy ways to cope since then. She put it perfectly: sometimes you just need to take a break and create some distance so things don’t feel so overwhelming.

I was really touched by the singer’s recent interview with WSJ Magazine. She was so open about her struggles, and she described her mental health journey so honestly. She explained that when she was doing well, she felt amazing, but when she was down, it would completely knock her out for weeks. It was incredibly brave of her to share something so personal.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but finding the right medication has made a huge difference in her life.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her own experiences as well.

In 2018, while accepting the Global Changemakers Award at a fundraiser, she shared that she’d kept her mental health challenges private for a long time. She explained that she now believes hiding these struggles actually makes things worse, stating, ‘Secrets keep you sick.’

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2026-01-26 19:19