Phoenix Brown, the 26-year-old daughter of Spice Girls star Mel B, said her mother once told her, "I'm the famous one and you're not," a remark that helped shape her determination to build an independent career.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Phoenix said the comment made clear she could not simply live in her mother's shadow and that she had to "find who I am". She has pursued work as a DJ, exhibited her art in London and is preparing to make her runway debut during London Fashion Week for streetwear label Sprayground.
Phoenix addressed the viral "nepo baby" label in the interview and in a Channel 4 documentary she released last year, Born in the Limelight – Nepo Babies: Untold, which explored advantages and challenges facing children of celebrities. "I was so nervous to do it just because it was such a taboo subject," she said of the programme, adding that she hoped it would provoke reflection beyond the celebrity sphere. "It is what it is. I'm not going to shy away from the fact, I am a nepo baby, so go ahead, call me that. But my name is Phoenix."
Her London Fashion Week appearance is scheduled for the brand Sprayground's debut UK show at Freemasons' Hall. The collection, created by New York-based founder David Ben David with content direction from Sandflower Dyson, is described by the brand as gender-fluid and includes accessories, luggage and ready-to-wear pieces. Phoenix told The Daily Mail she has "never walked anything in my life, except from the bedroom to the kitchen," and called the runway a learning experience.
Ben David said the invitation to London followed the brand's previous shows in New York and Milan and a recent placement in Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. He described a stylistic kinship between London and New York and called the LFW slot a timely opportunity to introduce Sprayground to the U.K. market.
Phoenix said her mother gave her confidence to try new things. "Having my mum being called Scary Spice gives me no room not to be confident. I come from a strong, women-led family — I was thrown in the deep end from birth," she said.
The interview also covered family milestones. Phoenix said she encouraged Mel B, 50, to mark her marriage to hairdresser Rory McPhee, 37, with a second ceremony in Marrakesh following a civil service at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Phoenix and her siblings played roles in the ceremonies: Phoenix walked her mother down the aisle, middle child Angel Iris, 18, served as a groomsman, and youngest daughter Madison, 14, was a bridesmaid.
Phoenix described the Moroccan celebration as joyful and said she was pleased to see her mother "get her happy ending." Mel B's previous marriages include unions with Phoenix's father, Dutch dancer Jimmy Gulzar, and with film producer Stephen Belafonte, whom Mel B has publicly accused of domestic abuse. The end of that marriage prompted Mel B to return to the U.K. with her children. The family have since worked with Women's Aid, a charity supporting women and children affected by domestic violence.
On the Spice Girls, Phoenix said she remains a dedicated fan and hopes a reunion will happen, while acknowledging uncertainty over timing. At her mother's Marrakesh reception she declined an invitation to DJ on the night but said she contributed a few requests to a playlist that included Spice Girls songs.
Phoenix framed her current work as part of a self-discovery process. "I'm discovering who I am, what I like, who I like, where I want to be. It's a lot of questions, and I just got to figure out the answers, but I'm here for the journey," she said, underscoring her intent to be known for her own pursuits as she moves into public-facing projects including exhibitions, DJ sets and now fashion weeks.