She was once a quarter of the UK’s biggest girl band, touring the world and performing in front of thousands of fans each night.
But despite her international success, life hasn’t been easy for Jesy Nelson, who has turned her hardships into becoming the ultimate role model for her eight-month-old twins, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster.
Tragically, Jesy revealed this month that her daughters have been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy – a genetic neuromuscular disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and wasting due to motor neuron loss.
In a tearful video, she explained the condition could leave them unable them walk and explained the hardships they will face in life, yet revealed, ‘I truly believe my girls will defy all the odds with the right help and do things that have never been done.’
Jesy’s resilience has seen her overcome more than her fair share of struggles and heartbreak and is a trait she will be passing down to her children.
After winning X Factor with her former band Little Mix back in 2011, the singer, 34, was subject to vile trolling about her looks, which impacted her mental health.
The Daily Mail takes a look at how Jesy Nelson has overcome trolling hell that left her ‘suicidal’ and rocky romances to become the ultimate role model for her twin daughters
The singer, 34, welcomed her twin daughters with partner Zion on May 15, 2025
‘I wasn’t Jesy the barmaid, the happy confident girl that I used to be,’ she said during an appearance on Lorraine in 2019. ‘I was vulnerable, nervous wreck.’
The hitmaker revealed that she received disgusting messages telling her she was the ‘ugliest thing’ and that she ‘deserves to die’.
The star went on to lose weight and returned to the X Factor stage in 2013, but was still subject to nasty comments, which later led to her overdosing.
Opening up about the harrowing time in her BBC documentary titled Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out, she said: ‘I just remember thinking, ‘I just need this to go away, I’m going to end this’.
‘I remember going to the kitchen and just took as many tablets as I could.
‘Then I laid in bed for ages and kept thinking, ‘Let it happen. Hurry up”.
‘I thought, ‘I could be the skinniest girl in the world, and this is never going to go away,’ That was the point I got severely depressed,’ she added.
In December 2020, Jesy confirmed that she was going to leave Little Mix after nine years.
In an Instagram statement, she explained that she was focus on things that make her ‘happy’ and also said that being in the group has ‘taken a toll on her mental health’.
‘To all my Mixers, the past nine years in Little Mix has been the most incredible time of my life.
Since winning the X Factor with her former band Little Mix back in 2011, the singer, 34, has had more than her fair share of struggles and heartbreak (L-R Jesy, Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards)
After shooting to fame on the hit show, Jesy was subject to vile trolling about her looks, which impacted her mental health (pictured in 2013)
‘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.’
Jesy emotionally added: ‘I need to spend some time with the people I love, doing things that make me happy.
‘We have achieved things I never thought possible. From winning our first Brit Award to our sold out shows at the O2.
‘Making friends and fans all over the world I can’t thank you all enough from the bottom of my heart for making me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
‘You have always been there to support and encourage me.
‘I’m ready to embark on a new chapter in my life – I’m not sure what it’s going to look like right now, but I hope you’ll still be there to support me.
In December 2020, Jesy confirmed that she was going to leave Little Mix after nine years (pictured 2020)
She took to Instagram to share a heartfelt statement where she revealed she wants to focus on things that make her ‘happy’
Little Mix also took to Instagram to share the news as they admitted it was an ‘incredibly sad time’ for the band but they ‘fully support’ Jesy’s decision
‘I want to say thank you to everyone involved in our journey. All the hard work and dedication that went into making us a success.
‘To every single fan who came to see us in concert, who listened to our songs and sung their hearts out, sent me messages and supported me along the way I want you to know I love you all so much and I could never have done this without you and I appreciate it endlessly.
‘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.’
After leaving the band, Jesy embarked on her solo career, releasing singles including Boyz, Bad Thing and Mine, and then later stepped away from the spotlight.
The remaining members of Little Mix – Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock – went on hiatus in 2022 to pursue solo projects.
While the trio have been vocal advocates for each other – their relationship with Jesy, who revealed in 2023 that she hadn’t spoken to the girls since she quit the band – was frosty.
Jesy notably was at the centre of drama with Leigh-Anne, who accused her of blackfishing in the music video for Boyz in leaked messages with influencer NoHun.
Jesy’s Boyz collaborator Nicki Minaj then branded her former bandmates ‘jealous clowns’ on a barbed Instagram live.
The remaining members of Little Mix went on hiatus in 2022 to pursue solo projects and for a while their relationship with Jesy seemed frosty (pictured in 2021)
Perrie previously spoke about her friendship with Jesy ending on Fearne Cotton’s podcast as she admitted the shattered relationship inspired a new song.
She said: ‘I wrote a song about it – a friendship I had that I no longer have. We don’t know how to talk about friendship breakups.
‘It’s still as heartbreaking – when you go through all these things with someone all the highs and lows and then they’re just gone. But these things happen. Do we try and rectify things? Or just stay away?’
Yet more recently, Jesy’s relationship with her bandmates seems to have improved.
In 2024, Jesy was asked on social media, ‘Jesy, have you heard Angel Of My Dreams? Do you like the song?’
To which she positively responded with: ‘I have it’s a vibe!!!’
While last October, Perrie seemed to an extend an olive branch to Jesy when she ‘liked’ an Instagram post of hers in which she detailed overcoming her battle with body confidence.
As for her love life, Jesy has been in several notable relationships over the years (pictured with ex Chris Hughes in 2019)
She began dating Diversity star Jordan Banjo in 2012, but with the pressures of work and travel, they decided to call time on their relationship after 10 months
She then started a relationship with Jake Roche, the lead singer of Rixton and son of Coleen Nolan. The couple got engaged in July 2015 but ended their engagement the following year
Following this, Jesy had a brief relationship with Chris Clark in 2017
As for her love life, Jesy has been in several notable relationships over the years.
She began dating Diversity star Jordan Banjo in 2012, but with the pressures of work and travel, they decided to call time on their relationship after 10 months.
She then started a relationship with Jake Roche, the lead singer of Rixton and son of Coleen Nolan.
The couple got engaged in July 2015 but ended their engagement in November the following year.
Speaking with her Little Mix bandmates on radio show Z100 at the time, Jesy said: ‘When you break up with someone it’s awful. It’s like one of the worst pains. It’s horrendous.’
Following this, Jesy had a brief relationship with Chris Clark in 2017 and dated musician Harry James for around 16 months.
Jesy broke up with Harry in November 2018, before going public with Love Island star Chris Hughes during their kebab outing two months later.
Despite briefly splitting a month later, they quickly got back together and jetted off on holiday to Dublin together.
Chris previously admitted he could see himself marrying the singer and wanted to have kids with her.
On social media, Jesy had even referred to him as her ‘future husband’.
However, they soon called it quits despite fans believing that the pair would last in April 2020.
Jesy dated musician Harry James for around 16 months. They broke up in November 2018
She also had a relationship with actor Sean Sagar (pictured 2020)
Following her split from Sean, Jesy went on to find love with rapper Zion Foster, whom she began dating in November 2022 and the pair announced they were engaged last year
It was claimed at the time that Jesy dumped Chris over the phone as they were both isolating in different houses during the COVID-19 lockdown.
She then dated Our Girl actor Sean Sagar after they were said to have spent time together and got close during lockdown.
The pair parted ways in March 2021 after eagle-eyed fans noticed they had unfollowed each other on social media.
Following her split from Sean, Jesy went on to find love with rapper Zion Foster, whom she began dating in November 2022.
The couple announced that they were expecting their first child in January last year.
But her pregnancy wasn’t easy as she had been in hospital since March after being diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) – a rare condition that can put one or both babies at risk.
Sharing the news that her babies had arrived, Jesy wrote on Instagram on May 18: ‘So… Our beautiful baby girls decided to come at 31 weeks plus 5 days.
‘It all happened so quickly, but we are so blessed that they are here with us, healthy and fighting strong! We’ve never felt more in love.
The couple announced that they were expecting their first child in January last year and gave birth in May to twin daughters
‘Everybody meet Ocean Jade Nelson-Foster and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster.’
In October, Jesy admitted that she finally feels proud of her body after ’33 years of extreme dieting’ as she shared a candid Instagram post.
She said she has ‘put herself down’ wishing she had a ‘flatter belly and smaller waist’ for her entire life.
Alongside the body positive post, she shared three stunning black and white photos showing off her amazing figure in her underwear while holding her baby girls.
She wrote: ‘I never thought it would have taken having two beautiful baby girls, that I could have potentially lost, to make me realise how incredible my body actually is.
’33 years of extreme diets, 33 years of putting myself down wishing my belly was flatter, wanting my waist just a little smaller and almost going through with a boob job, to now standing here having this photo taken.’
‘I cannot wait to show my girls the first place they called home and the place where they defied all the odds. If there’s anything I’ve learned over the past 9 months of being pregnant, it’s that I never want my girls to feel the way I did about my body for so many years.’
Jesy concluded by telling other new mums, who are ‘feeling the pressure to snap back’, to be ‘kinder to yourself’.
In October, Jesy admitted that she finally feels proud of her body after ’33 years of extreme dieting’ as she shared a candid Instagram post
Jesy said she has ‘put herself down’ wishing she had a ‘flatter belly and smaller waist’ for her entire life
She added: ‘So to all the future mummies or the mummies that have just given birth, if you’re struggling with how you are feeling in yourself or are maybe even feeling the pressure to “snap back” just take a moment to remember what YOU did! Be kinder to yourself and remember you are INCREDIBLE!!!’
Fans and friends rushed to the comments to share sweet messages with several gushing how ‘incredible and strong’ Jesy is.
They wrote: ‘What a women, incredible role model mama; Incredible woman, incredible mama; 2011 Jesy would be so proud; Beautiful pictures and you look amazing;
‘Incredible mother and body that grew your 2 tiny humans; Absolutely stunning photos. Women are amazing; Thank you for using your platform to share what normal bodies look like after having a baby/babies – amazing;
‘Wow such a powerful message and especially as you have always been such a fierce gorgeous girl in my eyes; What a beautiful family! You look amazing.’
It comes as Jesy said that doctors initially dismissed her fears about her baby twins not hitting milestones because they were born prematurely as she opened up on the ‘most heartbreaking time of my life’.
Fans and friends rushed to the comments to share sweet messages with several gushing how ‘incredible and strong’ Jesy is
On Sunday the former Little Mix star explained that after ‘the most gruelling three or four months’ her daughters have been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Jesy was tearful as she explained that the condition ‘affects every muscle in the body down to legs, arms, breathing and swallowing’, adding that ‘essentially what it does over time is it kills the muscles in the body.’
In her emotional video posted to Instagram on Sunday she explained that her mum had first noticed that the twins’ legs weren’t as mobile as maybe they should be.
Jesy then took them to the doctors to get things looked at and routine health visitors had also checked them over.
She explained: ‘A few months ago my mum noticed that the girls were not showing as much movement in their legs as they should be.
‘It wasn’t really a concern to me at the time because from the minute I left NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), I was told ‘your babies are premature, so do not compare your babies to other babies.
‘They won’t reach the same milestones, take them as they are and they will get where they need to be when they do’.
Health visitors also offered reassurance when Jesy and her partner Zion also grew concerned about their feeding.
However, they were told the babies were ‘great and healthy’ and there wasn’t anything to worry about.
After later undergoing further tests, they were given the SMA Type 1 diagnosis.
Choking back tears the singer said in her video on Sunday: ‘If it’s not treated in time your baby’s life expectancy will not make it past the age of two.’
She went on to explain that Great Ormond Street have advised that the girls ‘are probably never going to be able to walk or regain their neck strength so they will be disabled.’
She added: ‘The best thing we can do right now is get them treatment and hope for the best.’
On Sunday the former Little Mix star explained that after ‘the most gruelling three or four months’ her daughters have been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Her ex Chris was quick to comment under her post saying: ‘A warrior Jess. Be easy on yourself. Sending prayers to you all, everyone behind you guys.’
Reality star Jess Wright added: ‘Sending you so much love Jesy. Love & strength.’
Made In Chelsea’s Ashley James said: ‘Jesy I’m so sorry. I’m thinking of you and your girls and sending love.’
TOWIE’s Fran Parman penned: ‘Sending so many prayers and love your way. Xx.’
Singer Sam Bailey commented: ‘Oh Jess!! This is so not fair!! You are so strong for sharing this and I just wanna climb down the phone and give you a big mummy cuddle!’
Ella Morgan said: ‘Sending you and your family all of my love and strength and prayers.’
Billie Shepherd added: ‘Sending you all so much love❤️ xxx.’
Amy Childs said: ‘I’m so sorry jesy what your going through ❤️xx sending love and strength to you and your beautiful girls xxx.’
Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips wrote: ‘Sending you and your girls so much love and positive prayers, you are a superwoman and they are lucky to have you.’
Choking back tears the singer said in her video on Sunday: ‘If it’s not treated in time your baby’s life expectancy will not make it past the age of two.’
Little Mix’s achievements
Little Mix were crowned the winners of The X Factor in 2011 when they become the first band to ever win the show in its history.
The band has since gone on to become one of the biggest ever girl group’s in the UK, scoring number one hits including Wings, Black Magic and Shout Out To My Ex.
They were signed to Simon Cowell’s record label Syco until November 2018 when they switched to rival label RCA.
Little Mix won two BRIT Awards for their 2017 hit Shout Out to My Ex and their 2019 single Woman Like Me featuring Nicki Minaj.
Winners! Little Mix won two BRIT Awards for their 2017 hit Shout Out to My Ex (pictured) and their 2019 single Woman Like Me featuring Nicki Minaj
Other achievements include five Global Awards, six MTV Europe Music Awards, a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award and two Teen Choice Awards.
The band had a total of six successful tours, they were due to be touring this year for their Summer 2020 Tour but it was cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis.
Only recently, the band had great success with both their brand new album Confetti as well as their talent show Little Mix: The Search.
The album reached Number 1 on the Official Irish Albums Chart while it peaked at Number 2 in the UK.
Amazing: Other achievements include five Global Awards, six MTV Europe Music Awards, a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award and two Teen Choice Awards (pictured in 2017)
