Singer Mel B has been married to husband Stephen Belafonte for seven years, but she revealed this week that she had previously been in a long-term relationship with another woman.

After moving to Los Angeles in 2001, the singer met Crista Brown, who had children at the same school as Mel's daughter Phoenix. By the time Mel met Eddie Murphy, the father of her second child, Angel, the relationship with Crista had ended.

"I did have a four-year relationship with a woman," the singer told The Guardian. "But I’ve been very happily married for seven years to a penis. Ha ha! An amazing guy.”

The X Factor judge said the relationship with Crista was all just part of her life story. "I’ve definitely not been shy or been one to hold back. If I wanted to try something, I did," she said. "I had a girlfriend. So what?"

Although she is in a committed marriage with Stephen, Mel said she does "think women are gorgeous," adding, "Me and my husband are very tight and solid. But I will be the first one to compliment a woman, to say to my husband, ‘Oh my God, look at her legs’; or ‘Doesn’t she look stunning?'"

The star described her husband as her "rock" and "the one who has rebirthed my confidence."

Mel has three children – 15-year-old Phoenix and 7-year old Angel from previous relationships, and 2-year-old Madison with husband Stephen.