Mel B has hit out at claims that she has bleached her skin after sharing a bikini-clad image, in which her complexion was a remarkably light shade.
The Leeds-born beauty, whose father hails from the Caribbean nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis while her mother is English, was seen sporting a scanty two-piece while standing in front of a host of her outfits from her Spice Girls days.
Swarming the comments section of the 42-year-old’s Instagram post, fans were quick to discuss both her sensational figure and also the color of her skin although she was quick to hit back by penning: ‘Yes and I do need a tan’.
‘I need a tan!’ Mel B has hit out at claims that she has bleached her skin after sharing a bikini-clad image, in which her complexion was a remarkably light shade
Mel, who has been putting on a defiant display amid her messy divorce battle with estranged husband Stephen Belafonte, looked incredible in the series of images in which she sported a mismatched scanty bikini while posing up a storm.
In her caption, she revealed the mass of leopard print in her snap was part of her ‘Spice Shrine’ – a homage to her stint as Scary Spice in the Spice Girls.
She added a caption on the shot, reading: ‘Yes this is my spice shrine yes I’m in a bikini yes I’m 42 and yes all my bling is @icelinkofficial #nowornever #loveyourbody #noyourworth #standproud #spicememories #powerof5’.
While fans were certainly wowed by her figure, it was her skin tone that shocked as users penned: ‘ Is it me or she looks white???… Why are you so white lmao… Omg, I’m in love. I want her body lol she’s even turned white…
Way back when: The Leeds-born beauty, whose father hails from the Caribbean nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis while her mother is English, was seen sporting a scanty two-piece while standing in front of a host of her outfits from her Spice Girls days (pictured in 2008)
Hitting out: Swarming the comments section of the 42-year-old’s Instagram post, fans were quick to discuss both her sensational figure and also the color of her skin although she was quick to hit back by penning: ‘Yes and I do need a tan’ (pictured left on Thursday, right in 2008)
‘still can’t be so white judging from her other posts. No offense… Why you are soo white??? I miss scary spice!!! Now u look like baby spice!!!… Why are you só white?????… Why are you white tho… The skin is so much lighter and still beautiful tho…
‘How the f**k you got so white… Hi, so, you’re white now?… And you need to pray for a tan… It’s so Michael Jackson to see a dark skin person become light skin… my childhood is confusing! “U look great tho, don’t get me wrong”…
‘Melanie gets white? I miss the hair. curly hair… Melanie White?… she hasn’t lightened her skin she’s biracial, her hair is dyed lighter and she’s probs lacking in sunlight exposure… What happened to the pretty brown-skinned girl from the spice girls that looked like me who could dance her a** off?! Asking for myself!…
Why? ‘Even her tattoo is bleached… Spice ✓ hot ✓ you white now??… You still look great, having children and all do not mind the tan as long if you are happy and blessed that count’s … Why do you look so light?… Why/How are u suddenly white?’
Struggles: Mel has been putting on a defiant display amid her messy divorce battle with estranged husband Stephen Belafonte
‘Even her tattoo is bleached… Spice ✓ hot ✓ you white now??… You still look great, having children and all do not mind the tan as long if you are happy and blessed that count’s … Why do you look so light?… Why/How are u suddenly white?…
‘Self-hating. Why would you make yourself look white smh… I know you say you need a tan…are you really that light without one or is this lighting weird? I didn’t recognize you. The body is banging though’.
While the comments flooded in, Mel was keen to put her followers in her place with her tanning comment, which left a keen fan account writing: ‘what? Tan? You’re already freak in super hot’.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Mel for comment.
In her court: On Thursday, shortly after posting her picture, Mel was seen at a court in downtown LA as she continued in her messy split from Stephen
A vision: Looking chic, the star was sporting a tan ensemble which added to her lighter complexion while her hair was teased into a loose blowdry
Despite the initial criticism, users were also wowed by her figure as comments flooded in reading: ‘What a hottie with a body… YOUR SO HOT… why still my dream woman to this day… And have a body of a twenty-year-old stunning…
‘Gosh, I hope I look like you when I’m 42! You look amazing! I better hit the gym!! X… Just because your 42 doesn’t mean you can’t wow us! You look beautiful and are still my role model I’m 13… 42 with a body like that? What’s your secret?’
On Thursday, shortly after posting her picture, Mel was seen at a court in downtown LA as she continued in her messy split from Stephen.
Looking chic, the star was sporting a tan ensemble which added to her lighter complexion while her hair was teased into a loose blowdry.
Court-headed: The star was headed to court to continue hashing out the details of the case
Glam: She put on a glamorous appearance as she headed to court alongside a pal, who clutched a designer washbag
Her appearance comes after she agreed to pay Stephen’s $200,000 legal fees by February 8 and both parties will split the proceeds from the sale of the businesses they started during their marriage.
The judge also ruled Stephen will get parental custody on alternate weekends and on Wednesdays.
Mel filed for divorce in early 2017, citing ‘irreconcilable differences, and she made domestic abuse claims against Stephen which he denied.
According to TMZ, the couple has settled on both sharing custody and arranging a schedule for physical care between them, but neither will pay child support.
Happy days: Mel filed for divorce in early 2017, citing ‘irreconcilable differences, and she made domestic abuse claims against Stephen which he denied