NewsDio Desk : “I can’t believe how miserable I was. Now I am free”. With these words Jessy Nelson sums up her motive behind leaving the group.
The ‘Little Mix has been the biggest band for a generation, shifting more than 60 million records in a decade at the top. The Little Mix group was formed in 2011 during the Eighth series of ‘The X Factor. The band consists of Jade Thirlwall , Perri Edward’s, Leigh Anne Pinnock and former member Jerry Nelson. From 2011 to 2020 the group has produced some biggest hits like Shout out to my Ex ( 2016) , Black Magic (2015), Touch (2016), Sweet Melody (2020) etc. The four female singers were lauded by the entire music industry. The group had gained wide acclamation throughout the world. Winning the Brit Award for song of the year with ‘Shout out loud to my Ex in 2017 and the Brit Award for British video of the year for “Women like Me” in 2019, they have also received six MTV Europe Music Award and nine British Award nominations.
But last year saw the first major bump in the roar for “Little Mix” – as Jerry Nelson announced she was stepping away to take time out from the gruelling schedule and limelight.. she claimed that she left the group due to mental health struggles. In an interview with cosmopolitan, the 29 old opened up about the struggles she faced being in a band and how she feels since leaving. She said that, she could no longer cope with being compared to her bandmates and that she reached “Breaking Point” after returning from lockdown to shoot a music video. She has opened up about the events that led to the decision to say goodbye to her ‘Little Mix’ bandmates.
Nelson said that spending lockdown with her family was the “ happiest she ever felt and that when she returned to the work, she put ‘enormous pressure on herself to loose weight ahead of the filming for single sweet Melody’. The star ended up suffering a panic attack on set because she was unhappy with how she looked. She said :-
“The last music video we did was the breaking point. We’d been in the lockdown and the first time I could have a break and be at home around people that I love. It was happiest I’d ever felt and I didn’t realize that until I went back to work. I immediately became a different person. I had anxiety. Whenever we had a music video, I put an enormous amount of pressure on myself to try and loose weight ………
“On the day of the sweet Melody video I had a panic attack on set because I didn’t look how I wanted to look and I found it so hard to just be happy and enjoy myself. I looked at the other three and they were having the time of their life. I get so jealous because I want to feel like that and enjoy it , because music is my passion”.
She finally decided to exit the band She further added ” I didn’t know that I could be this happy after leaving the group . I thought when I was in group that it was just normal to feel that way .And because I’d felt like that for 10 years’ I just thought “This is life”. But since I’ve left the group, I feel Free . I don’t wake up with anxiety, thinking I’ve got to do a music video today, I need to starve myself , or I need to go on an extreme diet so that I can look like the other three”. That was consuming me .
Although the three remaining band members of “Little Mix” in a statement said “This is an incredibly sad time for all of us but we are fully supportive of Jerry””, but several insiders have claimed that communication between Jerry and the trio has broken down . JERRY Nelson and her Ex “ Little Mix” bandmates have reportedly not spoken directly in months with the singer wanting to sever ties following her exit from the group.
What’s Next for Jerry Nelson now?
Jerry Nelson has got people very exciting after posting hints on social media that she might begin a solo music career soon. She has been teasing fans by sharing videos and photos of her in a music studio with two music producers and captioned it “ My Happy place❤”.
Similarly in a previous post she captioned a selfie with the words “Let’s Go” and several music note emoji’s which first peaked fans suspicion. The star hasn’t denied rumours and has even liked a comment that referred to her first potential singer. Jerry has also thanked her fans for all their support.
Jerry Nelson has shared a new short hair transformation on instagram .She revealed her brand new hairdo after ditching her long locks. The former Little Mix singer has always been known for her waist-length hair but has now debuted a sleek Bob. Fans are loving the new look of Jerry and are praising her for the transformation.
What to Take out from Jerry’s story( her exit from the band)?
The ultimate truth is that in the end what really matters is your happiness. You may be a common person or a Meag star like Jerry, if you are emotionally disturbed ( or you are suffering from depression) there will be no inner peace. As John Milton quotes in paradise lost ( Book 1) :- “ The mind is its own place and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell , a Hell of Heaven”. If you have good peace of mind ( Serenity) you will be happy even if you have nothing (like money, fame et) and vice versa.