A SOUTHAMPTON girl's dream of meeting her favourite Spice girl has come true.

Caring, Melanie C, alias Sporty Spice, performed at Southampton Guildhall last night and proved a real hit with young Victoria Masters.

Mel decided to meet the ten-year-old backstage after reading about her dream to come face to face with her idol in the Daily Echo's sister paper the Southern Sunday Independent. The two are pictured above.

Lucky Victoria won a Spice Girls bedroom makeover after mum Amanda Guest entered her special wish in a Mars Make it Happen competition.

But, despite having a signed photo of her favourite Spice Girl Mel C, the youngster's real dream was to meet her in the flesh.

"I thought I was going to burst into tears, when we met her backstage. Victoria kept saying 'Mum it's Mel C'," said the mother of three from Winston Close, Maybush.

"It was just us and Melanie in her dressing room with her make up artist. She was ever so interested in Victoria.

"She gave her a massive hug and examined her wash-off tattoos and gave her a pink sparkly bracelet."

"Her dream has come true thanks to some letters from me and the Daily Echo."

The pupil of Holy Family school in Millbrook was the envy of classmates after beating 100,000 others in the competition and having a mini-stage with mirrors and a karaoke machine installed in her bedroom.

On the walls surrounding her bed is a life size mural of all the band- including Geri and a mini camera, which can record Victoria and her chums singing on the stage.

Victoria who has Downs Syndrome has been one of the biggest fans of the Spices ever since hit single Wannabe went to the top of the charts in 1996.

Ms Guest added: "Victoria was quite at home, sitting on her sofa in her dressing room and they put lip gloss on together.

"Mel C told me she was nervous about the nights show.

"When Victoria came out she kept saying, I can't believe it and jumped up and down about 60 times.

"It's just been fantastic."

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