AS one quarter of pop band Little Mix, Jesy Nelson enjoyed almost ten years at the top of the charts – selling millions of records and amassing an international fan base.
But the popular singer, who first found fame with her bandmates on Simon Cowell's The X Factor in 2011, felt forced to step away from the group just over two years ago to focus on her mental wellbeing – prompting a barrage of online abuse and an uncomfortable fall out with the other three members.
Today, the 31-year-old star opens up about the incident for the first time and while time has not proved a healer for her friendship with her former co-stars, she is finally ready to return as she unveils her latest solo single, Bad Thing.
The track is a hauntingly beautiful ballad which marks a startling departure from her bubble-gum pop roots and tackles a host of complex issues including mental health and domestic violence.
In fact, Jesy reveals she now hasn’t spoken to her former pals since the split more than two years ago.
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She explains: “Being in a girl band, you are a machine going all the time.
"You don't have a minute to breathe and take time out if you just need space. That was something I struggled with.
“For me my mental health issues were an ongoing thing while I was in Little Mix. I was struggling with my body issues, I was constantly being trolled – and I really, really struggled with it.
“I was in it for nearly ten years. I think I was never prepared for what was to come. I didn't have social media or any of that, I was just a barmaid working in Dagenham.
“For me personally, by the end, I couldn't enjoy the good parts and it’s a shame as I had the most amazing times in Little Mix, but I will say this always, your mental health is the most important thing and you only live once so sometimes you have to stop and look after yourself.
"I needed support and help to overcome that, and there wasn’t the time while I was in the band.
"I don’t have any regrets because I had to do what was right for me and I will always cherish the memories I had in Little Mix.
“So no, we haven’t talked since then. Never say never, but I honestly wish them the best on their solo journeys now, which is so exciting.
“I think that is what is so exciting about all of us. We are all musically different styles. I think we will all go in our own lane.
"I am rooting for all of them. I honestly do wish them all the success as they are all crazy talented.
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“Time has been about rebuilding myself, regaining my confidence, going to therapy and talking about it all openly.
"I think whenever you are at a low point, you always think, do what makes you happy - and music is what makes me happy and that is all I want to do.”
“There was a time where I thought, ‘Is it worth it?’ But I always come back to the fact that I love music so much. It is what makes me so happy.
Jesy’s new single, Bad Thing, is a haunting ballad with string section accompaniment and evocative lyrics – paired with a striking video which sees her working with charity Women’s Aid to sensitively depict domestic violence, with the star playing the victim in an abusive relationship.
With demure 1960s styling, it also comes with a harrowing warning to those affected by similar issues and a poignant appeal to those suffering to contact the charity at the end.
It’s an issue Jesy didn’t approach lightly, having witnessed similar abuse first hand – adding that the response to the theme has been shocking.
Emotionally, she explains: “I’ve been blown away by the response to the video and the song, I really wanted to reach out to as many people as possible who are experiencing domestic violence.
“I feel like it's not really my place to say who the video is based on, but I can say that it's about a lot of women in my life who have suffered from abusive relationships.
"And that's why it felt so right for me to make this song and make this music video because I've had to witness it first hand and it is horrendous.
“To watch people that you love go through it, is awful. It was so important for me to raise awareness about this because I don't think it's spoken about enough, and the amount of messages I've had since the video launched just shows how horribly common this issue is.
“Since working with Women's Aid, they told me that it takes on average over six years for women to leave an abusive relationship.
"I didn't know how far to push it until speaking to Women's Aid about it because I knew it was going to be triggering to a lot of people that have suffered domestic violence.
“I spoke to my friend who's been through it, I showed her the video and she cried and she got really upset. Then she said to me, 'That's the first time that I feel like I've ever been understood and ever been really seen'.
“And that was really hard-hitting for me to hear that and I felt like, 'OK, we are on the right path with this'.
"Then she came to the video premiere last week and she got upset again watching it and it was crazy because she said to me - I get upset talking about it - she said, 'It's the first time that she watched it and she said she felt like, oh my God, I can't believe I was in that and I'm out of that now.'
"She said, 'I feel it's the first time in my life since going through that that I've felt proud of myself and I feel powerful'. That alone was enough for me.”
As well as tackling a tough subject matter, Jesy’s return to the limelight marks a dramatic change in sound – one which showcases her soulful vocals and song-writing abilities.
She explains: “I feel like this has always been a side of me, but no one has heard it. It’s just the beginning of my solo journey.
“I honestly just wanted people to really hear me sing. I think it's a softer, more vulnerable side of me. I wanted my music to really connect – and I wasn’t daunted by opening up.
“I think I'm a very open, honest person. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I think a lot of people know that about me.
"When I go into studio sessions, I actually love it because it is like a free therapy session.
“You literally just have to lay bare to whoever you're writing with in the room because they have to understand and be able to know who you are and what you've gone through to be able to write these songs.
“And the styling in the video has been great fun as it was set in the late 60’s, early 70’s – it isn’t really my ‘style’ but I wanted the video to be timeless and to reflect the fact that this is an issue which has spanned many generations and is a tale as old as time.”
And she adds that an album is already in the pipeline, with plans for a tour – She explains: “I am excited to be in room full of my fans, to be able to perform for them and hold their hands.
"You know, really connect with them again. To be able to tour again and put out an album – that is the goal.”
Jesy’s departure from Little Mix came after the band had parted company with one time mentor Cowell – who had formed them after she and bandmates Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall auditioned individually.
They went on to become Britain’s most successful girl group since THE SPICE GIRLS – with a string of commercial hits and sold out tours.
But their relationship with Cowell’s SyCo label came to an end in a row over writing credits, which saw the two sides at odds before reaching an agreement via lawyers.
They later insisted there were no hard feelings over the business matter – and Jesy says she has no regrets over her decision to apply for the show, but believes similar shows are now more cautious with contestant’s aftercare and support networks.
She explains: “I mean, look, without The X Factor I wouldn’t be sat here now.
“There are struggles that come with being on The X Factor but I ultimately, I would not be here without it.
"It was a great opportunity for young artists who are trying to make it but can’t, and gave me a huge platform for everyone to see.
“There is room for The X Factor to come back but it would need to be different - they would need more rules and regulations to help people with their mental health.
“They are doing it now, with Love Island for example, or with our Little Mix show a few years ago – there was a therapist and there were always people on hand to make sure people were okay.
“I’ve got no regrets. I am a very resilient person, I have been through a lot of shit and I’ve had some amazing times but I do truly believe it wouldn’t have made me the person I am today – so I am so grateful for every opportunity that come my way.
“If you don’t have the lows you will never appreciate the highs, that is what I truly believe.
"It makes the highs feel out of this world. I believe in rain and sunshine.”
