Melanie C

For our money, Melanie Chisholm is the sharpest of the Spice Girls. While several among the feisty five-piece appeared to get lost in Hollywood, Mel C built on the lessons of her first two solo albums (she was dropped by Virgin after 2003's Reason) to boldly set up her own company — Red Girl Records — and do things on her own terms. We've traced her journey from a solo debut hook-up with Bryan Adams (the fabulous made-for-each-other vocal of "When You're Gone") through to 2007 singles "I Want Candy" (first recorded by the Strangeloves in 1965) and "Carolyna" (cowritten by Mel herself). Spice Girls reunions may come and go, but Mel C is forever.