Little Mix have revealed they were told not to say they were feminists and were ‘terrified’ of saying the wrong thing when starting out their careers.
The girlband – comprised of Jade Thirlwall, 28, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 29, and Perrie Edwards, 27, – also declared they’d spent far too long being patronised by men in the music industry in their first interview as a trio.
In a clip shown during Thursday’s Glamour Women Of The Year Awards 2021, the singers discussed ‘how far they’ve come’ with Perrie saying they now believe it’s better to speak out about issues as ‘not saying anything at all is worse’.
Honest: Little Mix have revealed they were told not to say they were feminists when starting out their careers during Thursday’s Glamour Women Of The Year Awards 2021
After their award for being gamechangers in music was announced, the band were seen sitting together and reflecting on their growth as a band since finding fame on the X Factor a decade ago.
Perrie told her bandmates: ‘Look at how far we’ve come, from when we use to speak about being feminist or anything political in the past.
‘I remember being on a red carpet and they put the mic to us and asked ‘are you feminists?’ and we panicked. We were so terrified to speak back then…
Leigh-Anne then jumped in and added: ‘We were even told not to say we were feminists, so I think we steered away from it and tried to avoid the situation didn’t we’
Perrie continued: ‘I think we were just scared.’
Changing: The band also declared they’d spent far too long being patronised by men in the music industry in their first interview as a trio
Jade also revealed that the band had spent ‘far too long being patronised, especially by men in the industry’.
She said they seemed to make a ‘switch’ and change their thinking at the same time, no longer standing for their previous treatment.
Perrie added that they’ve had to get ‘use to’ the possibility that they ‘might get it wrong and might make a mistake, but being terrified to not say anything is worse.
She continued: ‘We’re not going to learn, or know more about these issues in the world, if we sit back and say we’re too scared to say anything.
Congratulations! Little Mix won the Gamechangers in Music accolade at the star-studded virtual event
Speaking out: Perrie said she ‘loves it’ when the band takes a stand and that not saying anything is ‘worse’ than saying the wrong thing
‘It’s not going to help anyone. I love it when we speak out.’
To end their short video interview, the girls thanked Glamour for their award with Jade saying they’ve ‘worked hard on finding things were passionate about’.
The trios win 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’.
Reflecting on the changes they’ve faced during the past year in an interview with Glamour ahead of the Awards ceremony, 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.’
Elsewhere on Thursday night It’s A Sin’s Lydia West who took home the game changing rising star award and Millie Bobby Brown won for her beauty range.
The streamed ceremony, hosted by comedian Katherine Ryan, was filmed in London and saw all the winners accepting their prizes virtually amid the Covid pandemic.
Elsewhere during the event Frankie Bridge, 32, also reflected on her mental health battle and how she first spoke about it publicly in an interview with Glamour.
Candid: Frankie Bridge reflected on her mental health battle and how she first spoke about it publicly in an interview with Glamour during the streamed ceremony
Speaking on a photoshoot, Frankie said: ‘I didn’t want to live my life anymore, I was crying all the time, wanted to spend time in bed and hide away.
‘Then I realised maybe my depression and anxiety had taken over me rather than me having control of it.
‘This award means so much to me, just having honest and open conversions helping people, but this award is the cherry on top.’
The 2021 Gamechangers awards will honour women who have broken down barriers, incited change and campaigned for justice throughout their careers.
Several of the year’s worthy winners have already been revealed ahead of the virtual ceremony on Thursday night, with Awkwafina scooping the Gamechainging creator award and Naomi Osaka the gong for sports Gamechanger.
Good friends: Leigh-Anne also said in their interview with Glamour that the trio have a strong sense of ‘sisterhood’ which is helpful when they’re going through tough times