Mel B has announced she will be receiving an honorary doctorate for her campaign work.
The former Spice Girl, 49, is set to receive the accolade from Leeds Beckett University later this month. The doctorate will recognise the work she had put in as she studied trauma care.
Uploading a snap of her student ID, the Yorkshire girl penned on Instagram on how “proud” she felt in being able to recognise the patterns of trauma and stand up against domestic abuse. She went into detail on her Instagram post last Monday (July 8) on how she wanted to fully understand the topic.
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“For past few months, I’ve been going to college to study trauma care,” she penned for her fans in the post. “I’ve been through so much and after experiencing trauma on many levels, I know about it.
(Image: @OfficialMelB/Instagram)
“But I wanted to reallyyyyy study it and understand it on all levels, helping others and my work with Women’s Aid is so so important to me,” she added. “I speak with thousands of survivors and women going through trauma and abuse relationships that I wanted to be able to do more.”
Mel added that the course she had been taking was “so so intense” and by pushing herself, it was a “reallyyy really tough” as it forced her to relive some of her past experiences. However, she said it was all worth it to finally finish her course.
To top it off, Leeds Beckett University announced she would be in receipt of an honorary doctorate, thanks in part to the work she does in highlighting domestic abuse. Mel said she was stunned when she heard the news.
(Image: @OfficialMelB/Instagram)
“No one believed I could do this course and go through it all and stick to it, but I am so so proud,” she concluded. “I want to help many many more women along with Women’s Aid so we can support survivors and end domestic abuse together.”
The 90s pop star has been an advocate for domestic abuse victims ever since she joined the Me Too movement in 2018, admitting in her autobiography she suffered abuse at the hands of her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte. These allegations have been strongly denied against by Stephen himself.
(Image: PA)
Speaking following the announcement, Leeds Beckett University’s vice chancellor, Professor Peter Slee, commended Mel B for her work to earn her title. “As a child of this city who reached the top of her industry and then used her platform to advocate for those who shared her hardships, Melanie is exactly the type of citizen we are here to champion,” he said.
This is not Mel B’s first formal recognition for her work in charity and campaigning. In 2022, the singer received an MBE for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women, before going on to become a patron for Women’s Aid.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
