Mel B. On How A Herpes Infection Caused Temporary Blindness: 'I Was Not OK'
Last November, British Pop Legends, the Spice Girls, announced that they would be reuniting for the first time since 2012 to give us the 90s' flashback experience we didn't know we needed. Four of the five group members will be kicking off their world tour on the 24th in Ireland, but recent news of Mel B.'s unique medical condition threatened to bring these plans to a halt.
Last week, news broke that the 43-year-old singer was being rushed to the hospital due to blindness in one of her eyes, and she later opened up about the true cause of her temporary ailment on Instagram. She explained:
"Thank you so much for all the lovely support and messages I've had about my eye. Just so you know the real truth. I had an awful experience last week when I went blind in my right eye and my left eye went blurry."
Upon reaching the emergency room, Mel's vision was restored and she was diagnosed with severe iritis and uveitis, which are both infections in the eye caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and very rarely, HSV-2) and usually show little-to-no symptoms before a serious outbreak.
There's a lot of stigma around having a virus like herpes, but more than half of the population under the age of 50 has contracted the HSV-1 virus and suffers from chronic cold sores and fever blisters, and nearly one in six people have HSV-2, which is sexually transmitted and causes genital lesions. Among the several men and women who have herpes, few of them even are even aware that they ever caught the virus, and the same is true for Mel, who says this the first time that anything like this has ever happened to her. She continued:
"Just to be clear I was NOT ok and this has NEVER EVER happened to me before. I was actually in a lot of pain and very very scared."
Thanks to eye specialists in London and some heavy duty eyedrops, the singer says she has her infection totally under control.
"I'm taking multiple prescription heavy duty eye drops and other medication the dr gave me that I have to take every day to keep the inflammation under control, Also I'm being so well looked after by Team Spice special thanks to our paramedics too!! I'm still dealing with it and will be for the next 3/4 months to fully get it under control but I'm no longer worried that my condition will get worse."
Judging from her recent Instagram posts, Scary Spice is back in full effect the world tour must go on. She continued:
"My only problem now is I have to find a very cool Scary eye patch. Does anyone - apart from Madonna - know where I can get one??"
Although herpes is a condition that is often stigmatized, it's important to know that the virus can appear differently in different people. While sometimes herpes can appear in the form of genital lesions and fever blisters, it can also mean a nasty eye infection that can render temporary blindness that you never saw coming. According to WebMD, if you spot these symptoms, it's time to head to your local eye specialist:
- Pain in and around only one eye
- Headache and fever
- Redness, rash, or sores on the eyelids and around the eyes, especially on the forehead
- A rash on the tip of the nose
- Redness of the eye
- Blurry vision
- Swelling and cloudiness of the cornea
You're in our prayers and we hope you get well soon, Mel!
Featured image by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
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Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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How Power Women Protect Their Finances With Smart Money Boundaries
No matter what it is, setting boundaries can be challenging, especially when those boundaries involve money. But if you want to sustain success and financial freedom, boundaries are important, both with yourself and with others.
Many wealthy successful women have mastered setting boundaries and prioritizing accountability so that they can ensure they remain that way. Let's face it: If you want a certain quality of life and you work hard to achieve that, you don't want to risk it by taking on habits that jeopardize your financial stability.
Be inspired to not only set money boundaries but keep them by taking heed to the common financial boundaries power women of today establish:
1. They pay themselves first.
Building consistent savings habits is important to wealth-building no matter how much you earn, and the practice is often one that continues even after you're well-booked and well-paid. Actress, producer, and philanthropist Queen Latifah has always been a proponent of this after learning from her mom to "save your money."
This is the epitome of the energy behind paying yourself first. You squirrel something away and take care of yourself by taking care of your future first, before paying any bills. You invest in yourself (within your means and with a budget in mind, of course).
2. They don't loan money without clear repayment rules and expectations are agreed upon.
It's awesome to be able to help people out by loaning them money, but when you don't communicate clearly about repayment (or what will happen if the money is not repaid) you set yourself up for a cycle of taking on other's debts and maybe even building more debt of your own.
Unless you're doing charity, set those boundaries early about when and how a loan will be repaid. And if you know you won't get the money back, rethink the loan altogether.
3. They create budgets that are realistic and reflect their current lifestyle.
In her book, What I Know for Sure, Oprah Winfrey wrote, “I hope the way you spend your money is in line with the truth of who you are and what you care about.” This is key for many successful women, especially when they're budgeting and investing.
Issa Rae told Money.com, "I don’t splurge just because. I will never have 17 cars. I will never have expensive jewelry. I don’t spend that much on my clothes, or shoes. I will spend money on a stylist, and a makeup artist, because those things feel necessary for work. But material things? No."
There's a clear indication that there are clear value systems sustained by what matters to them no matter how much they make, and budgeting is a huge part of that.
4. They consider the long-term effects of a rash purchase before proceeding.
It's totally okay to treat yourself, but if you find yourself impulsively buying things you don't really need or always living check to check because you've maxed out your credit card to take that sixth trip in one year, there's a problem that might put a damper on those financial freedom plans. (That is unless your trip is part of how you make your money, and it's a worthy investment into expanding your prospects.)
Successful women are conscious of the long- and short-term effects of purchases, small and large. They're always thinking about how one action can impact the bigger picture.
5. They are givers and believe in the reciprocity of that.
Many of us are familiar with the famous quote, "To whom much is given, must is required," and there's that undertone of service and charity that is a common thread for wealthy, successful women, especially those who run businesses or lead brands. Involving yourself in acts of service not only enriches your development and that of communities, but it increases your exposure, network, and credibility, often leading to more opportunities to make more money.
Most leading CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals are big on giving back, whether it is through resources, a nonprofit, money, or their time. "As you become more successful, it's important for you to give back. Even if you can't financially give back, kind words and sharing about other businesses on social media mean so much. Every little thing counts. Help out your friends and family with advice, encouragement, and support," said Angela Yee, award-winning radio host and entrepreneur.
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Originally published on August 16, 2024