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Jesy Nelson discusses body positivity after viewing herself as ‘the fat one’ in Little Mix

Singer describes herself as being ‘happy’ after years of self-loathing

Tuesday 30 July 2019 15:36 BST

Jesy Nelson attends The BRIT Awards 2019 held at The O2 Arena on February 20, 2019 in London, England. (Getty Images)

Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson has opened up about body positivity after years of viewing herself as “the fat one" in the music group.

Earlier this year, the singer revealed that she would be opening up about her struggles with mental health in a new BBC Three documentary.

The documentary, which is titled Jesy Nelson: My Story and is yet to be given a release date, will explore how social media trolling and body-shaming comments the performer received online took an emotional and psychological toll on the 27-year-old musician.

On Tuesday, the singer posted a photograph of herself on Instagram and opened about how she “hated” herself as a result of the abuse she has received online since joining the band in 2011.

“Six months ago this girl was someone I just wanted to forget,” she captioned the image, adding that she wanted to erase herself from the public’s mind.

11 of Little Mix's top feminist moments

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11 of Little Mix's top feminist moments

During an interview in November 2016 on Australian breakfast radio show Fitzy and Wippa, Thirlwall and Edwards were asked out of the blue why Nelson had been spotted not wearing her engagement ring, having been proposed to by her partner Jake Roche a few months prior. 'That's brutal that,' Nelson responded, before grabbing the interviewer's paper of questions out of his hand and throwing it away. 'Next question, sir,' Edwards added.

YouTube/Fitzy and Wippa

11 of Little Mix's top feminist moments

In September 2018, Nelson shared a photo on Little Mix's official Twitter account which showed her wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan: 'Women are more than muses.' 'Shout out to all the amazing women past and present who fight for the rights and freedom of women,' she wrote in the tweet alongside the photo.

Twitter/Little Mix

11 of Little Mix's top feminist moments

In November 2018, Pinnock spoke to People magazine about the sisterhood she and her fellow Little Mix band members have created. 'Little Mix wouldn't work without one of us. If one of us left, it would be over,' she said. 'We're friends. If anything, we're past friendship. We're sisters.'

Getty Images

11 of Little Mix's top feminist moments

In October 2016, Nelson shared a photo on Twitter of herself wearing a jumper dress with the slogan: 'Too provocative' written across the back, referencing the numerous times the pop group have been scrutinised for their on-stage outfits. Little Mix have responded to criticism over their 'sexy' outfits on multiple occasions, explaining that women should be able to wear what they want without fear of condemnation.

Twitter/Little Mix

11 of Little Mix's top feminist moments

While speaking with Billboard in November 2018, Thirlwall spoke about the taboo still associated with the term feminist, explaining that the band had recently discussed the issue with singer Alexandra Shungudzo Govere, who wrote their song 'Touch'. 'I think we did actually talk about how there’s a weird stigma attached to admitting you’re a feminist and saying you’re a feminist,' Thirlwall said. 'We never understood why, so we just put it in the song: 'Are you a feminist? Hell yeah!' There’s nothing wrong with that.'

Getty Images

11 of Little Mix's top feminist moments

In November 2018, Little Mix released the music video for their empowering hit song 'Strip'. The video featured a number of inspirational women, including founder of charity CoppaFeel! Kristin Hallenga and body positivity influencer Megan Jayne Crabbe. The video also included a photo from a nude shoot the band took part in, during which they had insulting comments they've received in the past written across their bodies.

YouTube/Little Mix

11 of Little Mix's top feminist moments

In October 2018, Pinnock shared a photo of herself on Little Mix's official Twitter account, alongside a caption discussing the way in which women are often judged based on their appearances. 'People can sometimes be quick to judge women at face value and what they see on the outside,' she wrote. 'If everyone took the time to look a little deeper I think the world would be a better place.'

Twitter/Little Mix

11 of Little Mix's top feminist moments

In March 2018, Little Mix won the accolade for 'Best British Artist or Group' at the Global Awards. During their acceptance speech, Thirlwall spoke to the audience about the scrutiny the band often find themselves under on account of their appearances or the way they dress. 'As a girl band, and as women, we do face a lot of scrutiny all the time, whether it's for the way we look, how much thigh we get out, how we dance, what we sing about,' she said. 'And we just want to say that, although one day we hope that does stop, right now we're really not arsed what people think.'

YouTube/Capital FM

11 of Little Mix's top feminist moments

During a November 2018 interview with Attitude magazine, Edwards touched upon the sexism that remains rife within the music industry. 'When women have a voice, some people think that opinion is invalid,' she said.

Getty Images

11 of Little Mix's top feminist moments

In September 2018, Thirlwall shared a message on Twitter about body positivity, inspired by the work of actor and activist Jameela Jamil. She explained how during previous photo shoots, photos of her had been digitally altered to make her facial features look different and her skin look lighter. 'In one of our first magazine shoots we did, my nose was completely changed and my skin was whitened,' Thirlwall wrote. 'At 18, it gave me a complex and an insecurity I'd never had before and for years I was determined to get a nose job.' She continued, explaining that we are 'all unique and beautiful in our own way'.

Twitter/Little Mix

11 of Little Mix's top feminist moments

The members of Little Mix have all spoken out about body insecurities among women on multiple occasions, such as when Edwards wrote on social media about accepting her freckles. In August 2018, Pinnock shared a post on Twitter about encouraging young black girls to embrace their natural hair, and not be made to feel as though it's not beautiful.

Twitter/Little Mix

“I didn’t see her as Jesy I saw her as ‘the fat one from Little Mix’,” the singer continued. “Up until now I hated her not because she’d ever done anything bad but because I was made to hate her by endless amounts of trolling.”

The star, who has over 5.4m Instagram followers, explained that working on her documentary has helped her learn self-acceptance.

“I refused to speak about how I was feeling for so long,” Nelson added. “I was embarrassed and scared to. But I was so wrong to feel that way.”

The “Hair” singer continued, urging her followers to talk openly about feelings of self-doubt, emphasising that “there’s always help out there”.

Concluding her post, Nelson wrote: “If you’d have told that girl one day you won’t feel sad anymore, I’d never have believed you....and here I am.

“Now when I look in the mirror, I don’t see Jesy the fat one, I see Jesy the happy one!”

Several of the singer’s followers have commented on the post to praise Nelson for her honesty.

Little Mix singer Jade Thirlwall commented on the post: “I can’t wait for the world to see your journey.

“So, SO proud of you and how far you have come. I love you so much and more importantly, I love how much you have grown to love YOU [sic].”

Another wrote: “Jessyyyy this documentary is going to help so many people [sic].”

“You are an amazing role model for young girls,” added another.

Little Mix at the Brits 2019 (Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Nelson described her documentary was a project “close” to her heart.

“I’m delighted to be working with the BBC on a documentary that will both challenge me personally and also highlight a hugely important issue affecting young people today,” she explained.

Fiona Campbell, controller of BBC Three, added that the singer was an apt choice to front a documentary on mental health issues given her prominent profile in the media and the public eye.

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“As a young female in a successful girl band where intense scrutiny from the public is the norm, Jesy offers a unique perspective on the impact social media can have on an individual and their mental health,” Campbell stated.

“It promises to be an eye-opening watch, full of universal themes which will no doubt resonate with our audience.”

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