Jesy Nelson Breaks Her Silence in Candid New Documentary
Former Little Mix member Jesy Nelson is set to share her untold story in a deeply personal new documentary series. The singer, who left the chart-topping group in 2020, will finally reveal the reasons behind her departure while documenting her challenging journey into motherhood.
Opening Up About Life After Little Mix
The 34-year-old artist shared the first look at Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix on Instagram ahead of its February 13 release on Amazon Prime. This marks the first time Nelson has spoken publicly about her decision to leave the band that launched her career.
In the documentary trailer, Nelson describes this period as "the most painful" of her life. She reflects on her time with Little Mix, saying: "I have never spoken about this. I just always wanted to entertain people. It felt magical and then it very quickly isn't. I have just always stayed quiet. I was the one that left."
Mental Health Struggles and Public Scrutiny
The documentary explores the significant mental health challenges Nelson faced during her time in the spotlight. After Little Mix won The X Factor in 2011, Nelson became the target of harsh trolling about her appearance, which severely impacted her wellbeing.
Clips from her Little Mix days show moments of vulnerability, including breaking down in tears and sitting out of group dance practices. Nelson previously revealed in her 2019 documentary Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out that the criticism led to a suicide attempt and severe depression.
When announcing her departure from Little Mix in December 2020, Nelson explained on Instagram that being in the group had "taken a toll on her mental health" and she wanted to focus on things that made her happy.
A High-Risk Pregnancy Journey
The documentary also chronicles Nelson's challenging path to motherhood. She shares intimate details about her pregnancy complications, including Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome - a rare and potentially life-threatening condition.
Nelson and her then-fiancé Zion Foster were told by doctors there was only a 5% chance their twin daughters would survive to birth. Scenes from her three-month hospital stay show Nelson in tears, expressing frustration with her body.
The singer gave birth to twin daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, both diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA1), the most severe form of the condition that causes extreme muscle weakness and respiratory issues.
Moving Forward After Little Mix
Following her departure from Little Mix, Nelson pursued a solo career, releasing singles including 'Boyz', 'Bad Thing', and 'Mine' before stepping back from the spotlight. The remaining members - Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock - went on hiatus in 2022 to focus on solo projects.
While the trio have remained supportive of each other, Nelson revealed in 2023 that she had not spoken to the group since leaving. Their former X Factor mentor Tulisa Contostavlos appears in the documentary, reflecting on Nelson's struggles during their early fame.
A New Chapter Begins
Ahead of the documentary's release, Nelson told Amazon: "We opened the doors fully, and I'm really looking forward to letting you all in as I navigate my way to becoming a first-time mum to our beautiful baby girls, Ocean and Story. I'll be honest, it's not been easy as it's been such a high-risk pregnancy, so you'll see all the highs and lows and rollercoaster of emotions we have been going through."
She added: "I hope you will all join me on this journey as I really open up and say goodbye to the past and enter this new chapter in my life."
The documentary promises to be a raw and honest exploration of fame, mental health, motherhood, and personal transformation as Nelson finally shares her side of the story after years of silence.
