PREVIEW

It was announced on Monday that the former Spice Girl will be awarded a doctorate from Leeds Beckett University during a ceremony in August. In recent years, Mel, real name Melanie Brown, has campaigned against domestic abuse and worked with charities including Women's Aid. In 2018, the Spice World star split from ex-husband Stephen Belafonte after a decade together. Shortly after the split, Mel claimed the film producer had been emotionally and physically abusive throughout their relationship. Stephen's legal team have called the allegations "outrageous and unfounded". In a new statement, Mel, 49, revealed she is studying at Leeds Beckett University and has completed a course in trauma-informed care. "Since leaving my marriage I've told friends and family I'd love to go to uni, but I don't think people took it seriously. But this gave me an opportunity to actually do it.". "I am proud to feel part of this university in my home town and proud to have come here as Melanie Brown, proud to have worked alongside other students and received excellent guidance from the teaching staff.". The Wannabe singer opened up about moving in with her mum after leaving her marriage in an interview with the BBC in March. "I wasn't just emotionally and physically abused, there was all the financial abuse, too. I didn't realise that I didn't have as much money as I thought I had. So I literally had to eat humble pie, live with my mum.".

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