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MIXING IT UP
Little Mix say Girl Power is more important than ever as they credit #MeToo revolution as inspiration for their new album
EXACTLY seven years ago in the canteen at ITV, I sat down with an X Factor girl group called RHYTHMIX who were so nervous about being in front of the camera they could hardly speak.
Now the wisely re-named LITTLE MIX – PERRIE EDWARDS, LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK, JADE THURLOW and JESY NELSON – are confident pop superstars, whose fifth album LM5 is all about female empowerment, inspired by the past 12 months of the #MeToo revolution.
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Jade tells me: “That’s definitely played a part – just this whole idea of women standing up together and being there for each other is incredible.
“We’ve always represented the girl power front as a girl band. But now more than ever it is really important and I think that is reflected in our music.”
However, the group still feel there is a long way to go before they’re taken seriously as young women in a music industry still predominantly run by older men.
Speaking to me for ITV’s Lorraine show, she says: “There’s still a long way to go. Sometimes these big powerful people in the industry still struggle to think we are four very strong, opinionated women who have a voice and we’re in control of our careers.”
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The ladies have also taken control of their own image, after they were manipulated in the early days.
Jade is angry she had her nose manipulated and skin lightened in photo shoots.
She explains: “It probably happens quite often to be honest. It’s this obsession with trying to create the perfect person on social media or in magazines.
“It’s really unhealthy. Obviously we were thrust into the limelight overnight and to have people change the way you look or edit the way you look, it’s a lot for somebody to take.
“We really struggled with that in the beginning.”
Jesy – who faced the most trolling over her weight – adds: “Whenever I’ve found someone who looks a bit different, I’ve always found them the most beautiful person.
“Then obviously when I went on X Factor it became such a thing where people was like, ‘Oh she’s really ugly, she looks so different, she’s fat.’
“What I used to think about myself completely changed, I became so insecure, I believed everything that everyone said, and it was just such a horrible road for me to go down.
“I feel like as we’ve got older we’ve all just learnt not to care anymore. We’ve learned to really embrace out imperfections.
“It’s about being yourself, not changing for anyone to please them and just being your own kind of woman. And yeah if they don’t like it then do one.”
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Perrie’s insecurity was over her freckles, which she now regularly shows off in social media posts.
She says: “As I’ve got older they’ve come out in the sun but when I was younger they were there all the time.
“I remember getting called ‘freckle-face’ and everybody used to criticise them and no boys caught me in catchy-kisses in the playground because I had freckles.”
Little Mix look horrified as Richard Arnold jokingly asks them if their boyfriends 'take them into the shower'
But she adds with a smile: “Look at me now boys, huh? It's just silly isn't it.
“Being yourself is enough and you should embrace your insecurities because that's what makes you different and unique.”
All four members remain in relationships.
Perrie, who went through very public heartbreak with ex-fiance ZAYN MALIK, says: “It’s rare that there’s no drama. It’s lovely.”
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All four members remain in relationships.
Jade has been in the longest having dated Jed Elliott, the bassist from The Struts, for three years.
Jesy has been seeing musician Harry James, who also goes by the name of Fugative, since early last year while Leigh-Anne and Perrie are loved up with Premier League footballers.
Leigh-Anne has been with Watford striker Andre Grey for two years, while Perrie got together with Liverpool midfielder ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN in November 2016.
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But they all predict it will be Leigh-Anne, who was sick for the interview, to walk down the aisle first.
Jesy says: “She literally can’t wait, she wants it bad.”
Jade adds: “She’s a helpless romantic.”
The girl band have already released two more albums than the SPICE GIRLS and think it’s their genuine friendship that has kept them going.
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Jade explains: “There’s no egos, nobody wants to be better than anyone else, there’s no competition.
“If anything, it’s the opposite where we’re always supporting each other and encouraging each other to be the best we can be. Our friendship is the main things that’s kept us going for so long.”
I’m so glad to have see these lovely young ladies become such inspirations for their fans.
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