'Dance Your Ass Off' Welcomes a New Host: Mel B!

Oxygen gives its dance contest a spicy makeover with the addition of a new face

 

Robert Trachtenberg/Oxygen

In the ten years since the Spice Girls split up, Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) has more or less stayed in the spotlight -- while the other Girls have grabbed media attention only now and then. But Mel Brown (Scary Spice) seems to be poised for another close-up, with two upcoming TV projects.

On Monday night, she begins her first gig as the new host of Oxygen's dance/weight-loss competition, Dance Your Ass Off  (11 p.m. ET), replacing season 1 host Marissa Jaret Winokur. Then, on Labor Day weekend, the Style channel will launch The Mel B Project, a reality show about her busy life juggling career and family (which includes her movie producer husband, Stephen Belafonte, and her two daughters -- 11-year-old Phoenix and three-year-old Angel, whose father is Eddie Murphy).

Of course, Mel B has never really dropped out of sight. In 2007, she won thousands of new fans when she finished 2nd in Dancing with the Stars' season 5. Later, she cohosted TLC's short-lived series The Singing Office with Joey Fatone. But she generated the most ink for her brief fling with Murphy in 2006. After their breakup, the Shrek star disputed her claim that he'd fathered her daughter, Angel -- until a paternity test proved it.

With that tabloid mess behind her, hosting Dance You’re Ass Off is the perfect vehicle to move forward. "With my second pregnancy, I put on roughly 60 pounds," Mel B said in an interview with Starpulse.com. "If there was a show out at that time like this -- that combined dancing with losing weight -- I would have definitely done this show." Having been on DWTS, she has first-hand knowledge about the health benefits of booty-shaking. "I toned up more," she said. "My stamina levels got way higher." No doubt this season's 12 full-figured contestants, who'll be paired with a pro dance partner from week to week, will discover that for themselves.

Mel B's got a Spice Girls reunion on tap as well -- this time for a Broadway show inspired by the girl group's music. When the women link up again, Mel B will have to enlighten her old pal, Posh, about her recent endeavors, because in this interview clipPosh appears totally oblivious of Mel B's new TV show!

Plus:
- PHOTOS: Tune in! Your Guide to Summer TV
- Mel B & Eddie Murphy Make Nice

When the group was together, which Spice Girl was your favorite? Chime in below!

 

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