Geri Halliwell was born to Lawrence Halliwell, who was of Swedish descent, and his wife Ana María (nee Hidalgo), of Spanish descent, and grew up in Watford, Hertfordshire. For a brief time, Geri's mother tried to bring her up as a Jehovah's witness. Geri took her A-Levels at Camden School for Girls having taken her GCSEs at Watford Girls Grammar School. Before starting her music career, Geri had worked as a nightclub dancer in Majorca (Spain), a model and presenter on the Turkish version of Let's Make a Deal  and as a glamour model. Following her rise to fame with the Spice Girls, nude photos of Geri were re-published in a number of top-shelf magazines in the UK.

Solo Career
Shortly after leaving the Spice Girls, Geriappeared in the fly-on-the-wall documentary Geri, a 90 minute piece for the UK television channel Channel 4 by Molly Dineen.

In 1999 Geri launched her solo career and released her debut solo album Schizophonic, with lead single "Look at Me", produced by co-writers and old friends, Absolute. The single reached number two in the UK, just 700 copies behind Boyzone's "You Needed Me". The single would go on to sell over 1 million copies worldwide. Further singles from the album, "Mi Chico Latino" and "Lift Me Up", became UK number ones with the latter outselling Halliwell's former bandmate Emma Bunton.

The fourth single, "Bag It Up", also reached number one. Geri set another two records for shortest time for a female songwriter to achieve her ninth and tenth no. 1 UK singles. Lift Me Up hit no. 1 3 years, 3 months, and 3 weeks after Wannabe's first week at no. 1, and Bag It Up hit 4 months later. Mel C, in contrast, took seven more months to achieve her tenth no. 1 single as a songwriter, with I Turn To You. All-time leaders Lennon/McCartney took 3 years, 1 month, 3 weeks between From Me To You and their tenth no. 1 UK hit Paperback Writer.

Demonstrating her flair for outrageous promotion, Geri performed "Bag It Up" during the BRIT Awards ceremony in 2000, emerging between giant inflatable legs, ripping off her shirt and walking in stiletto heels over the backs of topless pink-haired men whilst singing the song. "Look at Me" was released to radio in the U.S. in late 1999, receiving limited airplay. With only a radio single, Schizophonic debuted at number forty-two on The Billboard 200 before dropping out within the next month. This is still the highest charting by a solo Spice album in the U.S.; (Emma Bunton's Free Me peaking at no. 183 and Melanie C's Northern Star peaked at no. 208 on The Billboard 200). The album was eventually certified gold, distributing over 500,000 copies. "Mi Chico Latino" did not have a big impact on USA radio, and no further singles from Schizophonic or albums were released in the U.S.. 'Schizophonic' would go on to sell 2.5 million copies worldwide. Geri went on to have two more successful albums 'Scream if you Wanna Go Faster' in 2001 and 'Passion' in 2004, providing more hits such as 'It's Raining Men' which featured on the soundtrack to 'Bridget Jones Diary'. In 2002, Geri was a judge alongside Pete Waterman and Louis Walsh on the reality music show 'Popstars: The Rivals' which ultimately was responsible for the start of Girls Aloud who were the winning band.

The Author

On April 12, 2007, it was announced that Geri had signed a six-book deal with Macmillan Children's Books.The books feature nine year old Ugenia Lavender,as well as characters loosely based on  Geri's  celebrity friends. In interviews to promote the book series,  Geri said she had no plans to return to a solo musical career.

Charity and Political Work

In 1999, after having left the Spice Girls, Geri Halliwell became a representative for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). As a goodwill ambassador, Geri toured the Philippines on a fact-finding trip. She visited with staff and clients of family planning clinics, women's groups in slum areas, and college students. In 2000, Geri Halliwell appeared in the two part documentary series Geri's World Walkabout for the BBC which followed her work with the UN and other travels. Geri met with kids in Rio de Janeiro and visited child piano-prodigies in the United States, among other things.

Geri picked up UN work again in 2006, by visiting Zambia from 14 November to 16 November, to promote greater international awareness of the urgent need to reduce maternal death and halt the spread of HIV/AIDS. Both aims are contained in the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the world's leaders in September 2000. She attended the first 2007 BBC Four Reith Lecture and can be heard asking questions on women's rights in the recording. Geri attended the UK leg of Live Earth at Wembley Stadium, London on July 7, 2007 and introduced Duran Duran to the crowd. Most recently Geri was back in America demanding more Third World aid for expectant mums.

Family

On May14th 2006 Geri gave birth to her first child,. a daughter named Bluebell Madonna.. speaking of her child's name choice she had this to say: "What really clinched it for me was my mother telling me that the bluebell is increasingly rare – so it's a precious flower, which seems just right for my daughter." Her daughter's second name came from two of Geri's heroines, the Virgin Madonna and pop singer Madonna.