VICTORIA MYKINDAPLACE INTERVIEW

I sit back down and take a deep breath. Ten minutes is nothing.
Two hours, 23 cups of tea, and five magazines later, though, and I'm getting twitchy. Is she gonna show up at all? "I'm really sorry," I say, "but just HOW long is Victoria going to be?" I'm assured I'm next, and sure enough I am. Within minutes Victoria has arrived.
She's joking with Dane Bowers, who shares guest billing with Victoria on the True Steppers next single Out Of My Mind, as she walks in. Then she turns to face me and says a warm hello. "We've been really busy this morning," she tells me with a smile, "which is just how we like it."
There's something about Victoria I like straight away - probably the fact that she's a famous Spice Girl who's, well, actually really quite nice.

I tell Victoria that the questions for the interview have come from our readers, so she takes a seat and gets ready to answer your probing questions¡K

 Q. How does it feel to be "Showbiz Queen Of England?"
Hannah Rhodes

Victoria: Wow! Well, I wouldn't call myself that. I'm the luckiest girl in the world. I'm part of a great band who I am genuinely good mates with. I'm also lucky enough to be doing my own music as well 'cause my album's coming out early next year.
But what's always been really important to me is family - David, Brooklyn, my family, David's family - they mean the world to me. It's very flattering when people say things like, 'You're the new Diana' even if I know it's not true. It's the same as when people want to go and buy the same clothes as I've had on or want to copy my hair.
That's why I'd never complain about all of the press intrusion¡K I would never do that.

Our Lisa: Will the media attention ever get too much?

"I'm not the greatest singer in the world, I'm not the best dancer, and I'm not the best looking person in the world."

Victoria: I don't know. Obviously I'd be lying if I said it wasn't upsetting when people write horrible things about you and it upsets our families. People always say stuff like: 'Has she got an eating disorder, she's looking too thin?' But I look at my little boy and think if anyone REALLY thinks I'd put my health at risk when I've got a child ¡K well, that's what really matters - not what people say about you. They think that by slagging you off they're upsetting you, which sometimes they are, but in a way you've just got to think: "At least I'm worth writing about."
I'm a nice person, and I like to think I'm a positive role model for young people. I'm not the greatest singer in the world, I'm not the best dancer, and I'm not the best looking person in the world. But at the end of the day I'm saying to all of the kids out there: 'That doesn't matter.' If you want something hard enough, and work hard enough, then you can do it. You know Lisa, I was a complete underdog. I was picked on at school and I never had a lot of friends, but I knew what I wanted and I went for it. I didn't listen to anyone else. I think that's a good positive message to put out to kids.

Our Lisa: Did that make you work harder?

Victoria: Yeah I think so. People think I must be really thick skinned to put up with the stuff I do, but I enjoy what I do and I put it all behind me. When I'm up on stage, and I see all those kids singing my song and asking for my autograph, I think 'that's what it's all about.'

Q. What are yours and David's most annoying habits?
Tracey Dempsey

"He's got like an Obsessive Compulsive thing. Everything in the fridge has to be symmetrical - in fact EVERYTHING around the house is tidy and symmetrical. If there are three cans of coke in the fridge he'll throw one away so it's equal."

Victoria: Does David have any? I don't think he does actually (she scratches her head)¡K Oh no he does, I'll tell you what he does which is really annoying. He's got like an Obsessive Compulsive thing. Everything in the fridge has to be symmetrical - in fact EVERYTHING around the house is tidy and symmetrical. If there are three cans of coke in the fridge he'll throw one away so it's equal.
The shampoo and conditioner have to be facing straight, and picture frames have to be perfectly balanced. I'm so not like that. I'm messy. He has a go at me 'cause of that, but I say that's 'cause I'm artistic.
He's just so neat and tidy. Every night he'll lay out his clothes for the next day. Even if he's just going training he'll lay out his jeans, matching t-shirt, and matching trainers - but I just jump out of bed in the morning and plough through the piles and piles of clothes. Then it's literally just a case of finding something that doesn't have to go to the drycleaners.
I think that my messiness would just have to be my most annoying habit. Oh, and the other annoying thing I do is when we're driving on long journeys. I'll get in the car and David will ask me if I need to go to the toilet. I'll always say no, but as soon as we get going I'll be like: "David, I need to go to the toilet." He gets angry and shouts: " Why can't you go before you leave?" I'm like a child.

Q. What's your opinion of Geri and Robbie?
Scarlett

"Whether Postman Pat's delivered all his parcels today is much more interesting to me than whether Geri's actually shagged Robbie yet."

Victoria: I don't know if it's just a publicity stunt. All I would say is that if they are together I hope they're very happy. I really don't know - I don't think you can tell. As long as everyone's interested they'll keep writing this stuff. But it looks like they're having a nice time doesn't it?

Our Lisa: They're supposed to have split up now¡K

Victoria: Oh really? See it's a day-to-day thing. I haven't been following it. I have other things to follow like The Tweenies and Postman Pat thanks to Brooklyn. Whether Postman Pat's delivered all his parcels today is much more interesting to me than whether Geri's actually shagged Robbie yet.

Q. Will you be gutted if Out Of Your Mind doesn't go to number one?
Space Bunny

Victoria: No, I was reading a paper yesterday that said it's going to be an embarrassment for Posh Spice if she doesn't get to number one. But as far as I'm concerned the single has already been a success. It's done what I wanted

"I don't mind people talking about my personal life, that's fine, but it's good to have people talking about what made you famous."

it to do. It's got me accepted as a solo artist and got people talking about my music. I don't mind people talking about my personal life, that's fine, but it's good to have people talking about what made you famous.

How anyone can think it's an embarrassment to not have a number one I don't know. You can have a number one by selling 60,000 records, but if there's a great song out the same week as yours you can sell 200,000 and still not get a number one. A lot of people don't realise that.
The stuff that's been said about me isn't true - I didn't ask for the Spiller track to be moved."I'll be flattered if I sell one copy 'cause that means there's one person out there who likes what I'm doing on my own."

I'll be interested to see how many records we actually do sell. I mean Dane has his own fan base, the True Steppers have their own fan base, but nobody knows what my fan base will be like 'cause I haven't done anything on my own yet. I'll be flattered if I sell one copy 'cause that means there's one person there who likes what I'm doing on my own.
I think Groove Jet is a good song. Everyone's saying they're going to be number one, and if they are then I can honestly say 'good luck' to them.

Q. Does David ever get jealous of Dane?
Debs

Victoria: No he doesn't. In fact we all went out together to Twice As Nice which was good, and David and Dane arranged to play golf together - they get on really well.

"David knows Dane's a minger anyway¡K "

And besides, David knows Dane's a minger anyway¡K No, I'm only teasing. We constantly take the mickey out of each other. Anyway he's got a lovely girlfriend who he's always talking about. He just talks about Jordan all day and I talk about David. It's good.

Q. I hear you're playing Ibiza at the weekend. Will you be largin' it?
Kirsty Cartier

Victoria (literally squealing with excitement): Can you believe it? I'm so excited. I don't know what to wear... I'll have to get out my hotpants and bra top!
We're going to be working hard out there, so I don't know if we'll make it clubbing. This song is doing really well across Europe, so it's important for us to do well in Ibiza. I don't know what to expect - I'm just so excited.

Our Lisa: Have you been before?

Victoria: Never. I've never been to Ibiza - I've been to Mustique (a really posh Caribbean island were the rich and famous get their tans). I'll be getting out my hotpants, raver's gloves and whistle.

Q. When will we next hear from the Spice Girls?
Emma B Cool

Victoria: We've got a single out in October - Let Love Lead The Way - and an album out in November.

Q. All the papers reckon David will quit Man U to go to Barcelona. If he does will you go with him?
Minky Monkey

Victoria: Good question. I'd go with David wherever he went. I'd obviously have to travel a lot 'cause my work's in England but we'd make it work. However I'd like to say at the moment David's really happy where he is. I'm sure at some point it's something he'll think about, moving abroad, but not in the immediate future. He's happy where he is. But whatever happens I'll stick with him.

Our Lisa: Do you think you'll ever get to the point where you wake up in the morning and think: "I'm sick of England. I'm leaving?"

Victoria: Uhm, being totally honest, sometimes I'll wake up on a Sunday morning and read all the bitchy things that have been written about me by bitchy people and I'll think yeah, you know what, I've had enough of this. But it's only 'cause I get so much encouragement from my family that I carry on with it. And also for the kids - they aren't the ones writing this stuff.

Q. How much stuff do you get free?
Michelle Piper

Victoria: I get lots free now - I didn't used to. I'm very lucky. I get quite a lot of clothes free, I get a free mobile phone¡K. But when you say you get it free that's not really true. People hope you get photographed with the stuff they give you so they can get publicity. I share it out with my family so that's good. I also get free sunglasses which is cool, and free Adidas trainers through David.

Q. Do you ever shop in the High Street?
Lara Burns

Victoria: I love High Street shops. I think a lot of people say: "Posh only wears designer clothes," but that's crap. I get a lot of stuff from high street stores. You know all your little tops and stuff. It's great.
I think Top Shop do great stuff. Apparently they're giving me a gold card, which is great. They also cut their clothes small which is good so I can get lots of stuff that fits me well. The only trouble is they rip off all my designer clothes¡K ha ha ha. But that's OK. They're a great high street shop.

Q. Is there one thing you could give Brooklyn that you didn't have growing up?
A A O'Brien

Victoria: Ohhh. I don't know. Obviously I could really spoil him, but I think the best thing to give children is love. So I can't say that I'd give him anything I wasn't given. Obviously I can give him more material things but I'm going to make sure he stays very grounded. I hate it when you see these horrible, spoilt little children. Already he knows he has to say 'please' if he wants something, and 'thank you'. That's the important thing.

Q. I heard you were going to be in a film. Is that true?
Julie Smith

Victoria: I have been offered a lot of parts but nothing that's right for me. I'm just concentrating on the music at the moment.

With that we're out of time. Posh thanks me for the interview before she's swept away with Dane and the rest of their record company posse. They're off on another whirlwind of interviews and appearances to promote Out Of My Mind.

As I sit at my desk a few hours later I'm still surprised to find myself smiling. I still can't believe how nice, well grounded, and totally likeable the Posh one turned out to be¡K

Out Of My Mind is on sale Monday 14 August.
Catch Victoria, Dane and the True Steppers at London's Virgin Megastore on Monday 14 August, and in Manchester on Tuesday 15 August.