Following months of speculation, the Spice Girls have announced a comeback tour. But are Sporty, Baby, Ginger, Posh and Scary still the envoys of girl power?

A lot has happened in the years since the girls last spiced up the charts. There have been marriages, babies, bust-ups, breakdowns and body battles to contend with.

And as Spice mania threatens to grip us once again, we chart the journeys, sometimes on rocky ground, of the five girls from wannabes to solo stars and, finally, comeback queens.

Melanie B

Wannabe: Melanie Brown earned the nickname Scary for her shock of wild hair and animal print outfits. The Leeds lass was loud, outspoken and didn't suffer fools. Along with Geri, Melanie embodied the philosophy that was Girl Power.

Spice up your life: After a successful duet with Missy Elliott, her solo efforts plummeted and the star relocated to L.A. to concentrate on an acting career. A brief flirtation with lesbianism in 2003 had the tabloids in a frenzy but Mel refused to comment. Now she has won her paternity battle with Hollywood star Eddie Murphy, proving he is the father of baby Angel Iris, Mel will be hoping to hit the headlines for the right reasons.

Two become one: Mel's most recent relationship, with Murphy, seemed like true love but ended up just as fiery as all her others. The pair were due to get married but ended up splitting and squabbling over two-month-old Angel Iris. Her relationship with Spice Girls backing dancer Jimmy Gulzar was a hot and steamy one that resulted in the birth of her first daughter, Phoenix Chi. The pair later married but the passion they shared on tour turned into a bitter divorce battle and a war of words. Mel famously nicknamed her husband Jimmy Goldcard, claiming that he had leeched off her during their relationship. Equally, Jimmy was keen to expose their sex life in the tabloids and painted the singer as sex mad. Mel, 32, has also dated a string of actors and singers including Max Beesley.

Who do you think you are? 'I live my life on self-belief and I live it partly on going with the flow.'

Girl Power rating: Still fiercely independent - 5/5.

Melanie C

Wannabe: Melanie Chisolm was renowned for her tracksuits, trainers and back flips and this earned her the title Sporty. The Liverpudlian was arguably the best singer in the band.

Spice up your life: Mel has been through the mill to say the least having suffered from depression, had to put up with rumours of lesbianism and seen her solo career fall flat. When the Spice girls ended, Mel initially enjoyed the most success as a solo artist but the good times didn't last and things got worse as she revealed she was suffering from depression. She also spoke of problems with an eating disorder but she is thought to be back on track now with plans for a new album in the pipeline.

Two become one: Mel, 33, has dated the likes of Robbie Williams and Red Hot Chilli Pepper Anthony Kiedis. She is currently in a stable relationship with Thomas Starr, the director of a Hertfordshire construction firm. Mel is the only Spice Girl who has not become a mother.

Who do you think you are? 'I just feel, in life, I'm searching for something I can rely on, something that's constant and something that's going to guide me through.'

Girl Power rating: Prefers to stay in the background - 2/5.

Geri Halliwell

Wannabe: Flame-haired Geri believes she was destined to be famous. Her curvaceous figure, outspoken nature and sheer determination made up for her lack of any real talent and it was she that originally coined the phrase 'Girl Power'. She was affectionately nicknamed Ginger.

Spice up your life: Attention-seeking Geri has been through it all. She famously coordinated the sacking of Simon Fuller at the height of the Spice Girls' reign and then sensationally walked out, leaving the group to implode. She has battled anorexia and bulimia, seen her pop career nosedive and has had a continuing love/hate relationship with the men in her life, including Robbie Williams and George Michael.

Two become one: Apart from stage managing 'relationships' with the likes of Robbie Williams and Chris Evans, Geri seems destined to be doomed in the love department. Her relationship with L.A. screen writer Sacha Gervasi finished shortly after she found out she was pregnant with his child, Bluebell Madonna. Fiercely independent Geri initially insisted on bringing her up alone and wanted nothing to do with Gervasi although it is thought the 34-year-old has since relaxed her views.

Who do you think you are? 'I want everything I do to be special and fun. Everything I have done I have always done passionately, with all my heart and soul.'

Girl Power rating: Feisty single mother - 5/5.

Victoria Beckham

Wannabe: It is hard to believe it now but Victoria Adams was, along with Melanie C, probably the least popular Spice Girl. Famed for her sulky pout, which she has retained to this day, her love of the little black Gucci dress, and her lack of vocals on the debut single all contributed to an aloofness named Posh.

Spice up your life: Victoria struggled to make a name for herself in her own right after the band split and her solo efforts were widely panned. She was forced to deal with allegations of unfaithfulness by husband David, peaking with the Rebecca Loos saga in 2003. The self appointed fashionista has now carved a niche as an integral component of 'brand Beckham' and the recent move to L.A. will give her the perfect opportunity to enhance its appeal. Two become one: The seemingly perfect fairytale romance with footballer David Beckham was one of the love affairs of the nineties and the couple's continuous courting of the media saw them barge their way onto the map of popular culture. Victoria always proclaimed a desire for a big family and with three boys under her belt, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, she is certainly going the right way about it. She is thought to be planning a fourth and desperately wants a girl.

Who do you think you are? 'If I set my mind to something I do it. My biggest wish for all of us is that we are happy, successful, and that we stay true to ourselves.'

Girl Power rating: Struggled to assert herself as a celebrity in her own right but is said to be the mastermind behind the comeback - 3/5.

Emma Bunton

Wannabe: A favourite with the boys and girls, her blonde bunches and cute baby-doll dresses made her universally appealing. As the youngest member of the group she was aptly named Baby.

Spice up your life: Squeaky clean Emma has certainly lived up to her image and, apart from a smattering of kiss-and-tell stories at the height of her Spice Girls fame, there hasn't been much in the way of scandal to blot her record. Her solo career was over almost as soon as it began, but Emma remained a popular figure and was warmly received as a contestant on reality dance show Strictly Come Dancing.

Two become one: Rumoured to have been involved with Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller, a story that was always vehemently denied by both parties. She is now expecting her first child with long-term partner Jade Jones.

Who do you think you are? 'I can be a real brat sometimes!'

Girl Power rating: Always popular in a lovable puppy kind of way - 4/5.