At the launch of AXN’s “Asia’s Got Talent,” Melanie C exudes infectious energy.
(Read “Are you ready for ‘Asia’s Got Talent’?”)
She sashays down the stage of MasterCard Theatres in Marina Bay Sands to meet with hosts Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez. Her gait makes her orange jumpsuit flow and her brown hair bounce. When she reaches the end of the stage, she sways her hips to meet Rovilson’s.
“I am never going to wash this suit again,” jokes Rovilson. She laughs pleasantly.
Confidence
The former Spice Girl and “Asia’s Got Talent” judge says that confidence is very important if one dreams of making it in show business. “A lot of people walk onstage with rounded shoulders. That is one thing that we want to point out. As soon as you enter the stage, you have to remember you are performing.”
However, you can’t say that everything she does in public is for show. There’s a palpable sincerity about her.
A reporter asks a question in broken English and convoluted sentences that baffles the other judges. But Melanie rescues the reporter from further embarrassment by cutting everybody’s laughter with, “Shall I begin?”
“Asian talent is quite diverse. We saw a lot of culture from this part of the world. We need to have open minds and hearts to the things that move us, wow us, excite us,” she says.
(Read “Van Ness Wu: Still a heartthrob after all these years“)
She says there’s a new kind of girl power she discovered when she became a mom, adding that she had conversations with Indonesian judge Anggun about fashion and motherhood.
Cultural difference
Asian talents fascinate her. The diversity and mix they’ve encountered in the show blew her away, she says. She finds Asian people gracious at how they take criticism.
“I think the biggest cultural difference for me was how people from Asia are beautifully mannered,” she says.
Besides Asian manners, she is also fascinated with the region’s obsession with selfies and selfie sticks. And if there’s one star she’d love to have a selfie with, it would be Madonna.
She also has high praises for Filipino performers. “It’s quite a phenomenon that there are a lot of great singers from the Philippines. But there is no particular style that they follow because they come from different parts of the country.”
She adds that she needs to go back to the country to visit her family living here.
Somebody asks her if there’s a chance for the Spice Girls to do a reunion tour, and she smiles. “If it can happen in the Olympics, it can happen again. I will tell the girls.”
“Asia’s Got Talent” premieres March 12 on AXN.