Spice Girl Emma Bunton has spoken with striking honesty about the realities of menopause, revealing a significant loss of libido during her journey. The singer, affectionately known as Baby Spice, is preparing to celebrate her 50th birthday this week.
A Personal Journey Through Perimenopause
Emma, who is happily married to Damage star Jade Jones, first realised she was entering perimenopause at the age of 44. The couple, who tied the knot in 2021 after a 23-year courtship, are parents to two sons: Beau, 18, and Tate, 14.
In a frank interview with The Times, Emma addressed the intimate impact of her hormonal changes. "My desire, my libido, whatever you want to call it, it went and that really worried me," she admitted. She described how, even after 24 years together, the dynamic with her supportive husband shifted. "Jade and I still really fancy each other, but instead of acting on it, it was more like, ‘Shall we watch the last episode of Succession?’ Or just 'zzzzzz' rather than ripping each other’s clothes off."
Emma emphasised that this fading desire came as a "big, big shock", a sentiment many women will recognise but few celebrities discuss so openly.
Finding Support and a Solution
The pop icon found a crucial source of help in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which she said "really helped" manage her symptoms. She was keen to highlight the importance of Jade's unwavering support throughout this transition.
"He was really supportive and I can't imagine what it would be like to go through these changes without having a partner who is on your side," Emma shared, underscoring the value of a strong partnership during life's physical and emotional shifts.
Celebrating 50 and Heritage
As she approaches her milestone birthday, Emma is planning a celebration, though she told OK! magazine her plans are remaining top secret for now. Recently, she took to Instagram to mark St Patrick's Day and pay tribute to her Irish roots, as her maternal family hails from County Wexford.
In a celebratory post, she posed in a purple and black polo neck and shared nostalgic clips. One throwback video, from 28 years ago, showed just how little she has aged since the Spice Girls released their debut album Spice in 1996. The clip was from the IRMA Awards in Dublin in February 1997, where a 21-year-old Emma proudly declared her Irish heritage to the audience.
"This is especially good for me, because I am Irish. To all my family in county Wexford! My granddad will be proud, cheers!" she had gushed at the time. She also shared a photo from 2019 of her performing on stage with a Guinness held aloft, captioning it: "Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Sending love to everyone celebrating today, especially my family and friends in beautiful Wexford!"
By sharing her menopause experience so publicly, Emma Bunton continues to use her platform to break taboos, offering solidarity to countless women while celebrating her family, heritage, and enduring spirit as she turns 50.
