the nickname Scary Spice, so it's hard to imagine that behind closed doors Mel B – real name Melanie Brown – was a victim of domestic abuse for ten years.She quietly suffered at the hands of her abuser before finding the strength to speak out, her story immortalised in her memoir Brutally Honest. Nowadays, Mel, patron of Women's Aid, campaigns tirelessly for domestic abuse survivors and she was recognised for her commitment earlier this year with an MBE in the Queen's Honours List.READ: Alex Scott admits she's a 'proud feminist' but more change is needed to achieve gender equalityIn an exclusive interview with HELLO! for our International Women's Day digital issue, the singer reveals why she stayed quiet for so long, the post-abuse trauma she still feels today, and the turning point that encouraged her to break her silence.Honestly, I was completely overwhelmed, so much so that I couldn't even speak for a few minutes, I had tears rolling down my face.