Little Mix gush over strong bond and look to the ‘new dawn’ of band in first trio interview

Little Mix have gushed over their bond and said their friendship is even ‘better’ now after facing major changes during the past year.

Jade Thirlwall, 28, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 29, and Perrie Edwards, 27, spoke about how they’re looking to the future and a ‘new dawn’ of the group in their first interview as a trio with GLAMOUR.

It comes three months after former member Jesy Nelson, 29, announced that she was permanently leaving the band, which took a ‘toll on her mental health’.

Talented trio: Little Mix have gushed over their incredibly strong bond and reflected on the major changes to their band during the past year in their first interview as a three

Reflecting on the changes they’ve faced during the past year, the band said it’s been good to have some time apart during the pandemic and now have an even ‘healthier’ friendship.   

Jade said: ‘I’m not saying that we’re codependent, but we do heavily rely on each other, so it’s been healthy to take a step back and think, ‘What do I want?’ 

‘As we come together and work together this year, we’ll have an even better and healthier relationship with that perspective. 

‘This time’s taught me that I am still figuring out who I am, too… It’s beautiful that we’re still a group, but we want to help push each other to do our own thing, too. 

‘It’s like a new dawn of Little Mix.’

Changes: Jesy Nelson, 29, announced that she was permanently leaving the band, which took a 'toll on her mental health', back in December

Changes: Jesy Nelson, 29, announced that she was permanently leaving the band, which took a ‘toll on her mental health’, back in December

Perrie agreed with her bandmate, adding: ‘That’s totally OK. We’re not going to know, individually. We’ve always had each other, it’s always Little Mix – it’s us.’    

Third member Leigh-Anne also echoed the sentiments saying the trio have a strong sense of ‘sisterhood’ which is helpful when they’re going through tough times.

She said: ‘It’s never been an option to not be together and we’ve always known that we are sisters.’

She added that it helps them ‘learn forgiveness, to be more patient and be more compromising’ as otherwise the group wouldn’t work. 

The trio, who have been awarded GLAMOUR’s Gamechangers in Music award, also chatted about female solidarity as they celebrate their own 10th anniversary, saying it’s been ‘impactful’ to show women working together.

Moving ahead: Jade said the trio will have an even 'better and healthier relationship' after getting to step back and consider what they want during time apart in the pandemic (pictured with Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson in 2019)

Moving ahead: Jade said the trio will have an even ‘better and healthier relationship’ after getting to step back and consider what they want during time apart in the pandemic (pictured with Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson in 2019)

Jade said: ‘We’ve shown that women standing together works, even with all the obstacles in our way. Right from the beginning, we were the dark horse on The X Factor, and no one expected us to do well.

‘We grew and became adult women together. It’s impactful, to show others that you can have longevity, you can break barriers, win awards and break records on the back of sticking together and being a force of women. 

‘If I had a little girl, seeing that unfold before her, from being ten years to 20 years old, what a great thing to have in the pop industry as a message to young women.’

The talented trio also addressed how they’ve faced – and tried to tackle – sexism in the music industry during their incredibly successful career.   

Leigh-Anne explained to GLAMOUR: ‘We’ve always had a voice as a four, we’ve been a force and we’ve always been very, ‘we stick together on things’. 

Good friends: Leigh-Anne also said the trio have a strong sense of 'sisterhood' which is helpful when they're going through tough times

Good friends: Leigh-Anne also said the trio have a strong sense of ‘sisterhood’ which is helpful when they’re going through tough times 

‘But there have been times, like with [music] labels, [where they’ve] backed us into a corner and it is obviously mainly men; they see us as four women and don’t take us seriously. 

‘We’ve had that for our whole career. Even until recently. I’m asking, ‘Has much really changed?’

Perrie also expressed her frustration at how women are sometimes portrayed in their industry and how this has sometimes changed how the band acts.

She said: ‘As girls in the industry, it’s hard enough as it is without saying something, slip up, and then it gets totally blown out of context. We were always just so terrified of that happening, we hated it. That’s why we would just scoot around things.’

Jesy confirmed her permanent departure from the group in December, just weeks after revealing she was taking a temporary hiatus from all work commitments. 

'So after much consideration and with a heavy heart, I'm announcing I'm leaving Little Mix': Documentary star Jesy confirmed her departure from the group in a statement in December

‘So after much consideration and with a heavy heart, I’m announcing I’m leaving Little Mix’: Documentary star Jesy confirmed her departure from the group in a statement in December

Her emotional statement read: ‘The truth is recently being in the band has really taken a toll on my mental health. I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very hard.

‘There comes a time in life when we need to reinvest in taking care of ourselves rather than focusing on making other people happy, and I feel like now is the time to begin that process. 

‘So after much consideration and with a heavy heart, I’m announcing I’m leaving Little Mix.’

She also thanked her bandmates, saying: ‘Most of all I want to say thank you to Jade, Perrie and Leigh-Anne for creating some of the most amazing memories I’ll never forget.

‘I hope that you’ll continue to fulfil all of your dreams and keep on making music that people love. Love Jesy x.’ 

GLAMOUR Women of the Year Awards 2021: The Gamechangers is available to view online on Thursday 11th March at 7pm GMT.

Read it all: GLAMOUR Women of the Year Awards 2021: The Gamechangers is available to view online on Thursday 11th March at 7pm GMT

Read it all: GLAMOUR Women of the Year Awards 2021: The Gamechangers is available to view online on Thursday 11th March at 7pm GMT