Back in 1997, I had a shiny little backpack and spent countless nights at the mall with a Spice Girls lollipop in hand. Each lollipop came with a sticker featuring Ginger, Posh, Scary, Sporty, or Baby, and I plastered them all over my notebooks and folders—I might have even decorated my wall with them!
During that time, the Spice Girls were outselling the Beatles, and their catchy brand of feminism—centered around “Girl Power,” platform shoes, and friendship—made them a cultural phenomenon. Thanks to their immense popularity, they promoted various products and even starred in the iconic film Spice World, which, let’s be honest, is a cinematic masterpiece. They also found time to challenge sexism on commercial sets.
In a recently resurfaced outtake from a commercial shoot for a Spice Girls-themed Polaroid camera, Melanie Brown and her bandmates push back against a request for more “cleavage shots” and “midriff shots” from a male crew member. When asked why he made such a request, he casually states, “It’s every man’s fantasy. That’s showbiz.”
Brown firmly rejects the “chauvinistic” request, and soon Geri Halliwell and the other Spice Girls join her in a powerful display of girl power. Victoria Beckham (then known as Adams) even snatches the man’s sunglasses off his face, quipping, “Stop trying to look cool.”
You might think, “But the Spice Girls built their image on midriffs and cleavage.” Yes, but they did it on their own terms. There’s a big difference between expressing your own style as a form of empowerment and pandering to “every man’s fantasy” when addressing young girls. The Spice Girls recognized this distinction and stood their ground. Halliwell even challenged the crew member, asking, “What kind of message would that send?”
In their playful yet impactful way, the Spice Girls drove home a clear message: girls and women have worth, independent of male approval. “Girl power” was not just a catchy phrase for them; it was a way of life both on and off stage. Teenage me would feel proud of them, and honestly, adult me feels the same way today.
Looking back, this candid exchange should have been featured in the Polaroid commercial instead of the bizarre, noir-themed ad that ultimately aired, which included a vomiting nun and an operatic soundtrack with The Spices getting expelled from Catholic school during a rainstorm.
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Summary
The Spice Girls showcased their commitment to empowerment and gender equality in a 1997 outtake where they refused to comply with a sexist request during a commercial shoot. Their stand against objectification highlighted the essence of “Girl Power” and remains a proud moment for fans.