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Leigh-Anne Pinnock broke down in tears as she reflected on her journey from The X Factor to releasing her debut solo album.
The singer, 34, shot to fame when she won the ITV reality series as one-fourth of the band Little Mix in 2011.
Appearing on Capital Breakfast on Thursday, Leigh-Anne became emotional as she spoke with hosts Robert Bruce and Shayna Marie about the last 15 years and promoting her debut solo album My Ego Told Me To.
Shayna said: ‘Nineteen-year-old Leigh-Anne from High Wycombe, fresh from Ibiza, on stage. And then fast forward to you today, the day before your debut solo album is about to drop, and you’re looking back at that. What would you say to her?’
Leigh-Anne replied: ‘I would say: you did it!’
Shayna said: ‘There’s so much going on. You have your album out tomorrow. You’ve been working so hard on this. You’ve actually done it!
Rob added: ‘And honestly, we don’t mean to make you cry, but we also have to let you know. Do you know what I mean? Recognise how far you’ve been, like, in life, in your career, everything that you’ve gone through, everything you’ve overcome, and you’re still going. It’s inspirational!’
Shayna said: ‘Because honestly, like, when we’re asking, ‘What would you say to…’ Because I’m like, there are going to be girls who are nineteen thinking, ‘I want to be a singer. I want to do this.’ And that was you at nineteen. And then now you’re here. It’s insane!’
Leigh-Anne then became emotional as she responded: ‘It’s crazy. I would say: keep that fight, keep that determination.
‘Keep that thing that you have when people try and tell you can’t do something; keep that thing where you just keep saying, ‘Yes, I can,’ and you do it. It generally doesn’t matter what anyone says.
‘Like, you have so much fight and belief in yourself, and you’re going to get there and you do. And it’s not going to be easy. But what I always do as well is I thank her, because she has always been that little, like, fire.
‘And I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her and that go-getter thing that she always had. And, yeah, that’s why I wanted to do this era, because I miss her. But yeah, she has always been there. She is a fighter, man. And she is so resilient. And we’re here.’
Shayna replied: ‘We’re here! She’s a fighter, you’re a fighter. She’s resilient, you’re resilient. All of that. You’re there, and you’re showing the world literally, like, album out tomorrow. Everyone’s going to hear it and understand it. So, I hope you do as well.
It comes after hopes of a Little Mix reunion were thrown into chaos after Jesy Nelson’s heartbreaking confession in her new documentary.
The singer, 34, revealed last week that she had tried to take her own life just days before quitting the chart-topping band in 2020.
In her new Prime Video docu-series, Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix, she recalled feeling ‘really alone’ and claimed bandmates Leigh-Anne, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall ignored her cry for help in the lead up to her overdose.
It was the second time Jesy had tried to commit suicide following an overdose in 2013, which she discussed in her BBC documentary Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out.
Following the comments, Leigh-Anne, Perrie and Jade have reportedly been left saddened by Jesy’s comments which have ‘brought up a lot of bad from the past’.
A source told The Sun: ‘Jesy’s confession has obviously opened up a can of worms for the girls. The documentary itself and the backlash that has followed, has brought up a lot of bad feeling from the past.
‘It’s been upsetting for the girls, but they are focused on their solo careers and the future now.’
The other Little Mix girls have not reacted to Jesy’s claims but while on her solo tour in the US, Jade broke down in tears on stage as she performed Natural at Disaster, which is reportedly written about her struggling friendship with Jesy.
The lyrics include: ‘It’s hard to love you when you hate yourself. Can’t be there for you without negatively impacting my mental health.’
Meanwhile, Perrie, who recently welcomed her second child, has kept off social media, last posting a week ago to promote her new song Woman In Love.
She brought forward the release by four days after originally announcing it would be available on the same day as Jesy’s documentary.
Leigh-Anne has been more active than usual on social media – posting about her new album My Ego old Me To as she goes on tour.
She told fans: ‘I can’t tell you how excited I am to perform this album live for you! Get me back to my happy place now! This one’s going to be so special!’
Daily Mail have contacted Jesy, Jade, Perrie and Leigh-Anne’s representatives for comment.
Tune into Capital XTRA Breakfast with Robert Bruce & Shayna Marie weekdays from 6:30am-10:00am, also available on the Global Player app.