The Spice Girls' 'Wannabe' Turns 20: Looking Back on the Song, Band and More

— -- Twenty years ago today, July 8, 1996, the Spice Girls "zig-a-zig-ah'd" their way into pop music history when they released their debut single, "Wannabe" in the U.K. and other countries around the world.

While the single, which promoted female friendship over romance, didn't reach the U.S. until January 1997, it kicked off the "Girl Power" phenomenon of the '90s and became the best-selling single by a female group ever.

The song's parent album, "Spice," is the best-selling album by a female group in history. Eventually, the Spice Girls -- Mel B, Mel C, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton and Victoria Adams -- became the best-selling female group of all time.

The Spice Girls were formed in 1994 by way of a newspaper ad placed by two managers who wanted to create a girl group to compete against the boy bands who were popular at the time. Over 400 women auditioned, and five were selected, though one, Michelle Stephenson, was eventually fired and replaced by Emma Bunton.

Over the next two years, they dumped their management company, signed with Simon Fuller of 19 Entertainment -- the same guy who went on to create "American Idol" -- and secured a record deal. Soon after the release of "Wannabe," Top of the Pops magazine gave each member of the group their soon-to-be-iconic nicknames: Posh Spice, Baby Spice, Ginger Spice, Scary Spice and Sporty Spice.

In 2000, having conquered the world with their hits, merchandising, fashion sense and cheeky attitude, the Spice Girls went on hiatus, but reunited in 2007.

Since then, they've reunited on and off, and reportedly will get back together next year to belatedly mark the 20th anniversary of their recorded debut as a group. They remain cultural icons, and perhaps the ultimate symbol of the "Cool Britannia" of the 1990s.