Mel B 'to be awarded an MBE' in recognition of her services to domestic violence victims
- The Spice Girl and Women's Aid patron, 46, has bravely opened up about her own experience of abuse and has relentlessly campaigned for change
- A source said: 'Despite her achievements in music and TV, she believes her campaigning is the most important thing she's ever done'
- Mel split from ex-husband Stephen Belafonte in 2017 and claimed he had emotionally and physically abused her during their 10-year marriage
Mel B is set to receive an MBE in recognition of her services to domestic violence victims.
The Spice Girl and Women's Aid patron, 46, has bravely opened up about her own experience of abuse and has relentlessly campaigned for change, even taking her crusade to Downing Street back in 2019.
The pop star even fronted a Women's Aid campaign - a music video called Love Should Not Hurt - in which she portrayed a character who was a badly beaten victim of violence.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/12/20/01/52001697-10327365-image-a-21_1639964492388.jpg)
Deserved: Mel B is set to be awarded an MBE in recognition of her services to domestic violence victims
A source told The Sun: 'Despite her achievements in music and TV, she believes her campaigning is the most important thing she's ever done.
'Not only does she have firsthand experience of it, but she has met many women who have suffered. She has a real fire in her belly about campaigning.
'She is so passionate about it and brings so much energy to everything she works on.'
MailOnline has contacted a representative for Mel for comment.
![Courageous: The Spice Girl and Women's Aid patron, 46, has bravely opened up about her own experience of abuse and has even portrayed a character who was a badly beaten victim of violence for a campaign (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/12/20/00/51999571-10327365-image-a-17_1639960979784.jpg)
Courageous: The Spice Girl and Women's Aid patron, 46, has bravely opened up about her own experience of abuse and has even portrayed a character who was a badly beaten victim of violence for a campaign (pictured)
Two years ago, the Yorkshire-born pop star released her memoir Brutally Honest, which led her to work with Women's Aid after she detailed her marriage with Stephen Belafonte.
Mel split from Stephen, 46, in 2017 and claimed he had emotionally and physically abused her during their 10-year marriage - something which he has always vehemently denied.
In previous interviews, the mother-of-three also claimed she was financially abused during her marriage, having no access to her own money.
![Ex: The singer split from Stephen Belafonte, 46, in 2017 and claimed he had emotionally and physically abused her during their 10-year marriage - something which he has always vehemently denied (pictured in 2015)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/11/10/47781495-9979983-Ex_The_singer_split_from_Stephen_46_in_2017_and_claimed_he_had_e-m-11_1631354380444.jpg)
Ex: The singer split from Stephen Belafonte, 46, in 2017 and claimed he had emotionally and physically abused her during their 10-year marriage - something which he has always vehemently denied (pictured in 2015)
Mel shares daughter Madison, 10, with Stephen. She began divorce proceedings in 2018 before eventually reaching a settlement which involved abuse charges being dropped.
Mel is also mum to daughters Phoenix, 22, from her previous relationship with ex Jimmy Gulzar, and Angel, 14, who she shares with ex Eddie Murphy.
Women's Aid statistics have revealed that almost half of women reported feeling depressed or having suicidal thoughts as a result of the domestic abuse they had experienced.
Over the past few months, Mel has been keen to get the government to listen to survivors of domestic abuse, as well as providing specialist mental health support.
![Making a difference: Two years ago, the Yorkshire-born pop star released her memoir Brutally Honest, which led her to work with Women's Aid after she detailed her marriage with Stephen](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/12/20/01/47780083-10327365-Making_a_difference_Two_years_ago_the_Yorkshire_born_pop_star_re-m-19_1639962045511.jpg)
Making a difference: Two years ago, the Yorkshire-born pop star released her memoir Brutally Honest, which led her to work with Women's Aid after she detailed her marriage with Stephen
The singer said based on what she had endured, survivors 'need and deserve support services for mental health' to help them recover from the abuse.
In a September interview with The Sun, Mel said of her own experience: 'Paralysed with fear, I woke up trembling from another nightmare. I couldn’t breathe until I knew that I was safe and my girls were safe. This happened for years after I left my abusive partner – but this is the reality of surviving an abusive relationship.'
After making the decision to walk away from her marriage, Mel said she struggled with anxiety and her mental health.
'I wanted to literally physically scrape myself clean of my abusive ex-partner, but it’s harder to scrape away the memories and start to repair the emotional damage,' she said.
For free and confidential support call Refuge's freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or click here
![Fighting: The Yorkshire-born pop star has relentlessly campaigned for change, even taking her crusade to Downing Street back in 2019](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/12/20/01/52000647-10327365-image-a-18_1639962039226.jpg)
Fighting: The Yorkshire-born pop star has relentlessly campaigned for change, even taking her crusade to Downing Street back in 2019
Most watched News videos
- Hairbrush and women's clothes found in tunnel where hostages died
- 'Respect to him': Ex-convict praises Starmer after early release
- Moment of 'Ukrainian kamikaze drone attack' on Moscow building
- Knife-wielding break-in suspect chases local after being confronted
- Tory MP Robert Jenrick dodges Tory leadership 'dirty tricks' query
- Princess Sofia shows baby bump at Parliament State Opening
- Audi fails to stop after hitting a pensioner in Keighley, Yorkshire
- Ukrainian sniper fires at two Russian soldiers with grenade launchers
- Moscow woman reports live: 'Where are we supposed to run to?'
- MPs in Commons react to plan to means test winter fuel payments
- Man who turned house into cannabis farm caught in police raid
- Moment 'drunk' Brit and his wife are hauled off Ryanair flight