Spice Girl Battle

12/14/1998 at 12:00 AM EST

Former Spice Girl Geri (Ginger Spice) Halliwell, 27, is in a race with 23-year-old Emma "Baby Spice" Bunton to get to No. 1 first as both released singles Monday. Halliwell, whose previous single "Mi Chico Latino" was a No. 1 hit on the British pop charts last summer, greeted more than two thousand fans at a store promotion in London on Monday and signed copies of her new CD and her new book. "You know what, I don't see it as a competition. I am on my own little journey," the ex-Spice Girl told PEOPLE. Halliwell had planned to attend a Royal function but was delayed by the in-store event. "I was due (at) Buckingham Palace an hour ago," Halliwell said, but she ended up missing the reception completely. Later she said she stayed for the fans. "They stood by me when no matter what and supported me," she said. "I've just come to a point of real awakening, these (fans) are the ones that matter. They are the ones that bought my record."