Melanie Brown MBE is to receive an honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University for services to the city of Leeds.
Born in Leeds, Mel B rose to fame as a member of iconic British pop band The Spice Girls.
Selling over 85 million records and leading the Girl Power movement, but it’s not just her global music success which is gaining her this award but her inspiring role as a campaigner and advocate for domestic abuse victims.
Following the release of her impactful 2018 memoir ‘Brutally Honest’, Mel B has since become an advocate for survivors of domestic abuse.
After sharing her personal stories of abuse, Melanie was made a patron of Women’s Aid and has since been invited to speak in Parliament on the topic.
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In 2022, Melanie was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to survivors of domestic abuse.
This year, a further three chapters have been added to her memoir, focusing on overcoming the trauma of abuse; and Melanie has enrolled in the Trauma Informed Care course at Leeds Beckett University.
Speaking about receiving the award, Melanie Brown MBE said: “Being awarded this honorary degree from Leeds Beckett University has been life changing.
“I didn’t just want to accept an award. I wanted to be accepted as a student at Leeds Beckett. Not only have I been awarded this degree, but I was also accepted as a student on the Trauma Informed Care course which has been a huge step for me in so many ways.
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“I am proud to feel part of this university in my hometown, proud to have come here as Melanie Brown, proud to have worked alongside other students and received excellent guidance from the teaching staff.”
Professor Peter Slee, Leeds Beckett University Vice Chancellor, said: ‘’On behalf of all our students, colleagues and governors here at Leeds Beckett University, I would like to congratulate Melanie Brown MBE on this Honorary Degree.
“As a child of this city who reached the top of her industry and then used her platform to advocate for those who shared her hardships, Melanie is exactly the type of citizen we are here to champion.
“This year, she joins over 2,300 graduates from the School of Health, equipping a generation of professionals to meet the healthcare challenges of the nation both now and into the future.”
Melanie Brown MBE will receive her honorary doctorate during Leeds Beckett’s graduation week in July.
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