Great Company with Jamie Laing

Episode: JESY NELSON - PART 2: Why I Walked Away From Little Mix

Date: February 6, 2026
Host: Jamie Laing (Jampot Productions)
Guest: Jesy Nelson

Overview

This episode is the second part of Jamie Laing’s in-depth conversation with singer Jesy Nelson, formerly of Little Mix. The discussion delves into Jesy’s journey from childhood entertainer to global pop star, exploring issues of self-doubt, bullying, resilience, and the challenging decision to leave Little Mix. Throughout, Jesy candidly reflects on the highs and lows of fame and personal growth, while Jamie provides empathetic, humorous, and supportive questioning.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood and Early Aspirations

Timestamp: 05:21 – 10:39

• Jesy describes herself as always wanting to entertain, never fitting into academic life.
  • “I just always wanted to entertain people... Even when I was at school. I was a bit. Little bit naughty... I was a bit of a class clown. I liked making people laugh...” (Jesy, 05:21)
• Discusses her determination and early self-awareness—auditioning for theater school (Sylvia Young Theatre School).
  • Faced rejection for a scholarship; her mother worked multiple jobs to afford the fees.
  • Rita Ora was in her class.
  • Hated elocution lessons and ballet:
    “I’m an Essex girl... what makes us beautiful as human is that we’re all different. So why do we want to sound and speak the same?” (Jesy, 08:29)
• Early confidence was eroded by bullying at a subsequent school, resulting in alopecia and leading to a school transfer that restored her confidence.

2. Coping with Bullying and Its Fallout

Timestamp: 10:39 – 13:56

• Jesy details her traumatic experience with bullying as a pre-teen/teen, leading to alopecia.
  • “It completely, like, broke my confidence... I got alopecia because of the stress from the bullying.” (Jesy, 10:56)
• Reflects on how, with maturity, she now feels empathy for bullies:
  • “No real, genuine, happy person that is secure within themselves would ever feel the need to... say something to them in person, do that. I believe... there must be something really, like, deep and internal within you...” (Jesy, 11:22)
• Jamie notes how hard it is for young people to envision a way out when in the midst of bullying.
  • Jesy agrees: “You only really get to that stage when you get older and you’ve been through loads of shit.” (Jesy, 12:41)

3. The Pull of Performance and Making It

Timestamp: 13:56 – 24:29

• Lifelong passion for performing, began attending auditions at a young age.
  • First big audition was for “Man on Fire” at age 8.
• Loved performing, especially acting (“I don’t have to be myself”) but eventually focused on singing and dancing.
• Jesy trained with what would become the dance group Diversity.
• Describes the daunting process of X Factor auditions, including humiliating moments and her mother’s constant support.
  • “If you want to be, I don't know, whatever... as long as my children are happy, I'm happy. But she knew that that made me happy, but she knew that I was just scared, so she wasn't pushing me. She just was, you know, gentle nudge.” (Jesy, 20:41)
• Suffered from an intense fear of rejection, always preparing for the worst.
  • “When I fear kicks in for me, I will get to the worst place before you could testify. Because I'm like, then it won't hurt as much.” (Jesy, 24:29)

4. Reflections on Confidence, Motherhood, and Self-Image

Timestamp: 27:30 – 29:53

• Jamie and Jesy discuss how her confidence has changed since becoming a mother.
  • “Since I’ve had children, I’m like the most confident I’ve ever been. It’s like the most I’ve ever loved myself.” (Jesy, 27:59)
• Now much more aware of the messages she sends her children, breaking cycles of self-criticism she witnessed growing up.
  • “I’m very aware of, like, the language that I’m speaking around my children now and how... I’m so like aware of trying not to do that around them...” (Jesy, 28:29)
• Talks about the resilience and joy her daughters show despite health challenges.

5. Life in Little Mix

Timestamp: 31:57 – 36:50

• Jesy recalls the best and hardest times in Little Mix, emphasizing the group’s genuine friendship.
  • “We were best mates and that is why we lasted so long... we all wanted the same thing and we just, we honestly, we had just had so much fun.” (Jesy, 32:44)
• The power and magic of being part of a band, versus solo performance.
  • “There’s a real difference to when one person walks in, one woman walks into a room than when four girls walk into a room. There’s like a real power and I’ve felt that all the time.” (Jesy, 33:27)
• Never expected to win X Factor as a girl group; always prepared her group for elimination.

6. Lean Honest Moments: Success, Pressure, and Self-Doubt

Timestamp: 35:57 – 40:17

• Many fans identified deeply with the band’s relatability and unique image, rather than a polished or “generic” look.
• The realization of "making it" didn’t sink in until being recognized for the first time or performing at the BRIT Awards.
  • “The proper pop star moment for me... was when we performed ‘Shout Out to My Ex’ at the Brit Awards... seeing the whole arena just like swoon, rush back to their tables to like watch us." (Jesy, 38:53)
• Struggled to enjoy her success while living it; only truly took it in after leaving Little Mix.

7. Why Jesy Left Little Mix

Timestamp: 40:17 – 43:59

• Leaving was “really tough”—she describes longstanding sadness even through the group’s greatest moments.
  • “From the minute I got off X Factor, I felt like I didn’t want to be in it. I did and I didn’t... but the way it was making me feel was just like I couldn’t. I could not handle it.” (Jesy, 41:13)
• Family debates; it was Jesy’s brother who convinced her to stay a few more years and build a foundation for her future and her family.
  • “You’re so much stronger than what you give yourself credit for. And I think you can stick this out for another few years... just make as much money as you can. You know, you’ve got a chance to really change, like, your family’s life.” (Jesy recounts her brother’s advice, 42:13)
• Now, she appreciates having the resources and freedom to care for her own children with special needs.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On resilience:
  “It’s not about the events that happen in your life that define you. It’s about what you do with the events that have happened to you to then propel you.”
  Jesy, 45:05

• On her mother’s influence:
  “She’s just Wonder Woman to me... You only, like, really, like, deep it when you become a mum and you realize all the... that she, like, sacrificed for her children. But, yeah, she, like, I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for my mum.”
  Jesy, 20:33

• On confidence after becoming a mother:
  “Since I’ve had children, I’m like the most confident I’ve ever been. It’s like the most I’ve ever loved myself.”
  Jesy, 27:59

• On why Little Mix resonated:
  “I believe the real heart and soul behind Little Mix was that, one, we were like best mates. And two, I feel like we were just not your, like, generic girl band at that time... I think that, like, there were little girls at home looking at us, being like, oh, I look like her, Or I can relate to her.”
  Jesy, 35:46

• On leaving the band:
  “From the minute I got off X Factor, I felt like I didn’t want to be in it. I did and I didn’t... the way it was making me feel was just like I couldn’t. I could not handle it. I couldn’t deal with it. And obviously I had to show up every day... I just felt like I was faking it the whole time because internally I was so sad.”
  Jesy, 41:13

• Jamie’s affirmation:
  “Sitting across me now is a beautiful, talented, kind, funny, charismatic, amazing person, Mum, whatever it is. And everyone else can see that, but for some reason you don’t see that within yourself.”
  Jamie, 27:11

Quickfire Round

Timestamp: 45:03 – 47:43

• Saying that cheers you up:
  “It’s not about the events that happen in your life that define you. It’s about what you do with the events... to then propel you.” (Jesy, 45:05)
• Best compliment:
  “[A doctor at Great Ormond Street] said to me, I just want to say that when I become a mum, I hope that I’m half the mum that you are. And that was... the best compliment that anyone’s ever given me.” (Jesy, 45:29)
• What scares her:
  “How much my brain can spiral, especially at night.” (Jesy, 45:50)
• Guilty pleasure:
  “Please don’t be offended by this. It’s Made In Chelsea. 100%.” (Jesy, 46:42)
• What turns you on:
  “Someone that can enter a room and leave it without giving a what anyone thinks about them.” (Jesy, 47:02)
• Favourite Little Mix song:
  “Shout out to my ex.” (Jesy, 47:43)
• On a possible reunion tour:
  “Who knows? All right.” (Jesy, 47:57)

Significant Timestamps

• Jesy’s early self-doubt and school struggles: 05:21–08:29
• On bullying/alopecia: 10:39–12:53
• First X Factor audition story: 13:56–15:21; 19:07–24:29
• Views on motherhood and self-image: 27:30–29:53
• Life in Little Mix: 31:57–36:50
• Deciding to leave the band: 40:17–43:59
• Quickfire round: 45:03–47:43

Final Thoughts

This episode stands out as an intimate conversation marked by Jesy Nelson’s honesty and vulnerability about her journey from a passionate young entertainer struggling with self-doubt, through the heights and hardships of pop stardom, to finding real confidence as a mother. She illuminates the complexity of chasing dreams in public, the value of true friendship in high-pressure environments, and the tough, but life-changing, decision to choose personal well-being over public perfection. Jamie’s empathetic and light-hearted approach creates an atmosphere where Jesy’s candidness shines, leaving listeners with a nuanced, heartening portrait of resilience and growth.

For more: Watch Jesy Nelson’s documentary Life After Little Mix on Prime Video from February 13, 2026.