If there's one Nineties girl group that has the power to make Emma Stone burst into tears mid-interview, give Adele the seal of approval following a performance of 'Spice Up Your Life' on James Corden's Carpool Karaoke and leave a grown woman shaking with excitement in Libertys last week when Mel C walked past her in the candle department (just me?), it's the Spice Girls.

After all, this a group whose feminist slogan 'girl power' and emphasis on female empowerment, equality, independence and diversity live on far beyond the days when Union Jack dresses, henna tattoos and jelly sandals were the look du jour.

Spice Girls on tour | ELLE UKpinterest
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When they weren't slamming a male crew member for telling them to show more cleavage on set or patting Prince Charles on the bottom, the five some were speaking out against prejudice whenever they saw fit.

Evidence of this comes yet again in a 20-year-old video that's resurfaced online in recent hours of the Spice Girls appearing on Dutch television show, Laat de Leeu.

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The show begins with host Paul De Leeuw bringing fans on stage to ask the Spice Girls questions. So far, pretty normal.

However, proceedings take a turn for the worse when the presenter introduces 'Zwarte Piet', the Dutch name for 'Black Pete' who is a companion to Santa Claus.

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In response, the group can be seen telling the host: 'We don't like that!

Mel B explains: 'I think they shouldn't paint their faces. You should get proper black people to do it.'

Despite attempts to explain the makeup was part of a cultural tradition in Holland, the band says: 'Time to change it, this is the Nineties.'

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As a result, Yorkshire-born Mel B can be seen making a 'cut' sign to the camera, suggesting she want stop end the interview while Geri tells the presenter, 'update your culture'.

Mel B on Dutch TV | ELLE UKpinterest
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In light of the video, fans of the band have taken to social media to celebrate the women's stance against racism and raising awareness of injustices almost 20 years ago.

Fortunately, Paul De Leeuw has educated himself on racism and in a 2014 interview reportedly said blackface has 'no place' in Dutch culture.

According to Vox, there have also been efforts to change the Dutch representation of the folklore about Black Pete.

While a 2014 proposal to remove Black Pete from Amsterdam's Sinterklaas parade was overturned in a higher court, parade organizers have gradually remove Black Pete's racist characteristics from celebrations.

As a result, the 2016 Amsterdam festival replaced all representations of 'Black Petes' with a character called 'Chimney Pete' – without the Afro wig, earrings and blackface.

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Katie O'Malley
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Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.